Scheduled for Sport Management/Measurement/Sociocultural Aspects of Physical Activity Posters, Friday, April 12, 2002, 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM, San Diego Convention Center: Exhibit Hall


Dimensions of Job Satisfaction Associated with Mid-level Collegiate Campus Recreation Program Administrators

Douglas DeMichele, Daniel P. Connaughton and James, J. Zhang, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL

Mid-level collegiate recreation administrators generally carry immense responsibilities in leading their day-to-day program operations and they are key to the success of campus recreation organizations. In recent years, rapid growth and the increasing comprehensiveness of campus recreation organizations have added greater anxiety and pressure for mid-level administrators to perform beyond the expectations of their senior-level administrators and students. In order to improve and/or maintain their high work productivity, it is necessary for institutions to seek procedures that ensure employee job satisfaction. Research has indicated that satisfied employees are more likely to commit to the organization, set higher performance goals, maintain better performance levels, accept more responsibilities, and take on leadership roles. However, to date no study has been found that specifically focused on this topic area. The purpose of this study was to examine the dimensions of job satisfaction associated with mid-level collegiate campus recreation program administrators. Based on a review of literature, interviewing four specialists in collegiate recreation administration, a test of content validity, and a pilot test, the Scale for Campus Recreation Administrator Satisfaction (SCRAS) was developed with 14 items in Likert 5-scale. Research participants (N=285) were mid-level campus recreation program administrators representing various types of colleges/universities in different geographical U.S. regions, who responded to a mail survey. A factor analysis with principal component extraction and varimax rotation was conducted. Based on the criteria of an eigenvalue equal to or greater than 1.0 and a factor loading coefficient equal to or greater than .40 without double loading, two factors emerged with all 14 variables retained: 'Satisfaction Toward Organizational Work Environment' (9 items) and 'Satisfaction Toward Individual Work Environment' (5 items). Alpha reliability coefficients were .86 and .68 for the factors, respectively. The resolved factors were consistent with the indications in the literature and the scale overall displayed good measurement characteristics. Utilizing the mean factor scores of the two dimensions, the research participants were classified into four job satisfaction quadrants, labeled as 'promising commitment', 'redefined focus', 'suppressed ambition', and 'probable abandonment.' Over 25% of the respondents were in the 'probable abandonment' group since they were low in both factors. The research findings imply that institutions may enhance job satisfaction levels of mid-level campus recreation program administrators by providing quality individual and organizational work environments. Particular efforts may be made to improve the work environments of those who are classified in the 'probable abandonment' quadrant.
Keyword(s): administration/mgmt, college level issues, sport management

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