Self-image, work commitment and attitudes among Australian professionals

In 1965 a longitudinal study, "Professions in Australia", commenced for students enrolled in law and engineering and in 1967 for students of medicine and teaching. This study was continued over twenty years, providing an immense source of information on the way in which students acquire the attitudes and values of their profession, and how they function as "mature professionals". A large number of studies have originated from the longitidinal data, including this dissertion. This thesis examines the professions in comparative perspective. Assuming that professions are affected by economic and political developments which may lead towards more uniform behavioural patterns, the main aim of this thesis is to examine homogeneity of professional groups in regard to their occupational commitment. Another related problem is that there is developing a set of common interests among the different professions