Table 1 Four sets of predictor variables
Predictor Set 1. Demographic characteristics | |
Gender (Dichotomous) | |
Age in years (Continuous) | |
Parent’s owned a farm (Dichotomous) | Parents Farmed |
Veterinary school (Categorical) | School A, B, C, D, E |
Program level (Categorical) | Entry, Mid, Final |
Predictor Set 2. Self-rated animal handling experience | |
“Please rate your animal handling experience at this point in time for the following … ” where 1 = none and 5 = very experienced | |
Cattle; Sheep, goat, camelids, deer; Horses | AHE Hooved# |
Cats, Dogs | AHE Cats Dogs# |
Fish, crustaceans, molluscs; Wildlife (birds, reptiles, natives, frogs, amphibians); Rabbits and/or rodents | AHE Aquatic Rodents Wildlife# |
Predictor Set 3. Preferred animal species groups to work with after graduation | |
“Please indicate the animals you would PREFER to work with on completion of the course … ” where 1=strongly disagree and 5 = strongly agree | |
Food/fibre (dairy, beef, sheep, goat, alpacas, llamas, deer); Horses | PREF Hooved# |
Intensive (pigs/poultry) | PREF Intensive |
Companion Animals (dogs, cats, pocket pets, birds) | PREF Companion |
Aquaculture; Laboratory animals | PREF Aqua Lab An# |
Wildlife, zoo, exotic | PREF Wildlife Zoo |
Predictor Set 4. Attitudes to non-technical aspects of professional life | |
“Please tell us how important the following are to you personally … in my professional life … ” where 1 = will not be applicable at all and 5 = will be very important | |
Animal welfare | IMP An Welfare |
Effective communication; Self-care; Working in a team | IMP Inter Pers# |
Income; Financial knowledge | IMP Inc Fin Knowl# |
Being a leader | IMP Leadership |
“How interested are you in engaging in the following activities in the next 5 – 10 years...” where 1 = very little and 5 = a great deal | |
Continuing education | INT Cont Ed |
“After graduation I expect to work…” where 1 = very little and 5 = a great deal$ | |
In the same state as my vet program | WRK Uni State |
“In a capital city/metropolitan area; In a position with NO requirement to do after hours emergency calls or care for patients in hospital” | WRK Metro NoAH# |
In a country town or rural area | WRK Rural |