ERIC Number: ED518965
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2010
Pages: 176
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: ISBN-978-1-1241-8418-0
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Development of the Student Affairs Officers Work Environment Perception Scale
Haynes, Derrick E.
ProQuest LLC, Ph.D. Dissertation, Colorado State University
The qualitative and quantitative study developed and validated a questionnaire to measure Student Affairs Officers' (SAO) perceptions of the work environment. A review of the literature identified five major categories and 25 elements having an impact on SAOs' perceptions of the work environment. The test instrument (questionnaire) was developed through a focus group informed by the literature with Student Affairs Leaders (SAL). The process yielded a test instrument with 125 items. During February 2010, 1,723 SAOs who are members of Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education (NASPA) were invited to respond to the Student Affairs Officers Work Environment Perception Scale (SAOWEPS) questionnaire. Of those invited, 702 SAOs responded, yielding a 41% response rate. SAOWEPS was administered online using SurveyMonkey. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was conducted to analyze data. EFA identified five factors (relationship between SAL/SAO, job design and ability to do the work, job engagement and satisfaction, workgroup effectiveness, and organizational climate and commitment). In addition, the items were reduced from 125 to 59. The Cronhach's alpha of 0.962 was found for the 59 items and these items account for 52.3% of the variance with five factors. Data from the validated questionnaire was analyzed to determine if differences between work environment perceptions exist for SAOs who have 1-4 years (n = 215) and 5 or more years of experience ( n = 487). An independent samples "t" test was conducted with the two groups and no significance was found. The researcher then split the two groups into three groups (SAOs with 1-4 years of experience, n = 215 (M = 41.12, SD = 11.90), for SAOs with 5-10 years of experience, n = 322 ( M = 43.33, SD = 12.30), and n = 165 (M = 42.55, SD = 12.40) for SAOs with 11+ years of experience) and conducted a one-way ANOVA to see if differences existed. However no significant differences were found. The outcome of the study developed and validated a questionnaire, which measures SAOs' perceptions of the work environment. The questionnaire is useful as it provides SALs with a way to assess a student affairs department or division. Ultimately, SAOWEPS provides insight into the work environment as perceived by SAOs. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2222/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]
Descriptors: Focus Groups, Questionnaires, Factor Analysis, Work Environment, Organizational Climate, Job Development, Student Personnel Services, Test Construction, Student Personnel Workers, Administrator Attitudes, Validity, Organizational Effectiveness
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Publication Type: Dissertations/Theses - Doctoral Dissertations
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A