Degree Type
Dissertation
Date of Award
2010
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy
Department
Educational Leadership and Policy Studies
First Advisor
Larry H. Ebbers
Abstract
"During the past two decades, two-year and four-year colleges have increased their reliance on part-time faculty" (Antony & Valadez, 2002, p. 41). The hiring of part-time faculty started as a convenient way to meet the demands for instruction while remaining financially responsible during tough budgetary times. Currently "...hiring part-time faculty now has become a more permanent strategy for colleges and universities--one that has made part-time faculty a substantial group among the professoriate" (p. 41).
The purpose of this study was to examine the demographics and current level of job satisfaction of adjunct faculty at Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC), and to determine if variables can be used to predict adjunct faculty satisfaction in institutional support for teaching improvement and professional development and if variables can be used to predict overall job satisfaction. The population of adjunct faculty members included all adjunct faculty employed at DMACC during the 2008-2009 academic year. A total 930 adjunct faculty members were eligible to participate. A final sample of 325 participants was included in the data set.
The survey respondents' ratings on how institutional support for teaching improvement and professional development was perceived were regressed on six independent variables associated with job satisfaction (i.e., gender, age, benefits, instruction, relationships, and physical environment). These accounted for 61.5% of the variance explained in the regression model and were statistically significant. Findings revealed a strong relationship between independent variables and the dependent variable, institutional support for teaching improvement and professional development.
The survey respondents' ratings on how overall job satisfaction was perceived were also regressed on the same six independent variables associated with job satisfaction accounted for 60.1% of the variance explained in the regression model and were statistically significant at the last step. Findings revealed a strong relationship between independent variables and the dependent variable, overall job satisfaction.
The findings of this study provide valuable information to college administrators, faculty leaders, human resource directors and state leaders. Empirical data can be used to inform hiring practices, professional development practices, programming decisions to improve teaching improvement and overall job satisfaction of adjunct faculty at DMACC.
Copyright Owner
Margi Ann Boord
Copyright Date
2010
Language
en
Date Available
2012-04-30
File Format
application/pdf
File Size
120 pages
Recommended Citation
Boord, Margi Ann, "Analysis of adjunct faculty at Des Moines Area Community College: Use and application of Herzberg's motivation-hygiene theory to predict job satisfaction in teaching improvement and professional development" (2010). Graduate Theses and Dissertations. 11739.
https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/etd/11739
