The purpose of the study was to develop a methodology of collecting data pertaining to the dental tasks taught and the responsibility levels to which they are taught in the curricula of educational institutions preparing dental assistants, hygienists, and laboratory technicians. The sample group consisted of Faculty and Preceptor respondents from dental auxiliary programs in sixteen accredited institutions of higher education in a midwestern State. They were asked to respond to a Dental Task Inventory of 625 dental task assignments to identify the level of responsibility to which they taught the task and the cumulative time spent teaching each task. The responses were keypunched and respondents' reliability determined by analyzing paired statement response. Faculty respondents had a high level of response stability but had difficulty deciding whether or not they taught a task. The Preceptors showed less response stability, knew whether or not they taught a task, but were unsure at which level they taught the task. No reliable responses were obtained to the question of time spent teaching each task. Task data coupled with biographical data and program profiles resulted in descriptions of the various programs. Approximately 100 pages of supportive material are appended to the document. (AG)