Doctoral Dissertations

Date of Award

12-1989

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Education

Major

Educational Administration and Supervision

Major Professor

Robert K. Roney

Committee Members

William H. Coffield, Gerald C. Ubben, David M. Welborn

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to compare the perceptions of Tennessee legislators and educational lobbyists of Tennessee state universities regarding the degree of influence lobbyists have on decision making pertaining to the funding of state universities. Data were collected by administering questionnaires to the members of the 1987-88 Tennessee General Assembly and the educational lobbyists from Tennessee's state universities.

Frequencies and percents of each item were computed for each group. Additionally, frequencies and percents of each item were tabulated for legislators' level of education, legislative district, number of years in the legislature, and chamber membership. Frequencies and percents were also calculated for each item for the existence of a four-year public university in a legislative district, membership on an education committee, and party affiliation.

Analysis of the data indicated that the majority of respondents of both groups believed that lobbying activity by educational lobbyists from state universities in Tennessee results in more generous treatment by the General Assembly. The data further demonstrated that the provision of data was considered by a majority of both groups as the single most important function of an educational lobbyist.

There was disagreement between the groups regarding certain lobbying techniques. Lobbyists, for example, considered district level lobbying to be more influential; however, most legislators preferred to be contacted at the Capitol in Nashville. Furthermore, the majority of lobbyists considered entertainment to have a positive impact upon legislators while most legislators adamantly opposed this idea.

There was also disagreement among the legislative profile areas regarding certain items. Educational committee members were one of the few legislative sub groups to reject the idea that lobbying results in more generous treatment. Most Senators preferred "one-to-one" communication with the lobbyist while the majority of House members considered testimony at hearings by the lobbyist to be more influential. Finally, most Democrats felt that the Governor should be more influential that the Tennessee Higher Education Commission while the majority of Republicans were of the opposite view.

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