Masters Theses

Date of Award

12-1990

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

Major

Agriculture and Extension Education

Major Professor

Roy R. Lessly

Committee Members

Cecil Carter Jr, Anna Mae Kobbe

Abstract

The major purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between Tennessee Extension agents' perceptions of selected job conditions and their level of satisfaction of selected job conditions and their level of dissatisfaction of selected job conditions. Information obtained from the study can be useful in identifying areas where agents perceived higher or lower levels of job satisfaction. By identifying areas of perceived job dissatisfaction, this study can possibly assist administrators in planning and implementing work experiences designed to achieve maximum job performance.

Data were obtained from a mail questionnaire. The study specifically considered Tennessee Extension agents employed by the University of Tennessee in October 1989.

The analysis of variance F test and the t test were used to determine the strength of the relationships between the independent and dependent variables. The Scheffe's Post Hoc analysis was used to identify groups which were significantly different. The .05 level of probability was accepted as being statistically significant. Data were analyzed using the University of Tennessee Computing Center.

The major findings included the following:

1. Adult agricultural agents were more satisfied overall with their job than 4-H agents.

2. Adult agricultural agents were more satisfied with the amount of status and prestige received from the job than 4-H agents.

3. Adult agricultural agents were more satisfied with the number of hours they worked on the job and the demands of the job than 4-H agents.

4. Adult home economics agents were more satisfied with the number of hours they worked on the job than were dual role agents working with both adult and 4-H.

5. Adult agricultural agents were more satisfied with the flexibility of their office schedule than were 4-H agents or agents with dual roles.

6. Adult agricultural agents were more satisfied with the equitable treatment of males and females than were adult home economics agents, 4-H agents, and agents with dual roles.

7. Agents employed 21 or more years were more satisfied with the level of pay and the clarity of evaluation standards than agents employed 20 years or less.

8. Agents employed more than 5 years were more satisfied with relationships with clients than agents employed 5 years or less.

9. Male agents were more satisfied than female agents with job security, energy required for the job, hours needed to do the job, equitable treatment of males and females, overnight travel, demands of the job, flexibility of office hours, involvement, opportunity for advancement, direction from supervisors, and recognition from superiors.

10. Female agents were more satisfied with their relationship with clients than male agents.

11. Agents are concerned with the areas of job security, relationship with clients, pay, hours of work, overnight travel, the flexibility of office schedule, opportunity for advancement, and guidance from supervisors.

12. Agents with primary program responsibility in 4-H youth were more concerned than agents with other program responsibilities with status and prestige from the job, energy needed for the job, hours of work, overnight travel, how the job made them feel about themselves, demands of the job, flexibility of office schedule, involvement of the job, opportunity for advancement, guidance from supervisors, usefulness of inservice, clarity of performance evaluation, and recognition from superiors.

Download
Files over 3MB may be slow to open. For best results, right-click and select "save as..."

Share

COinS