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Career decision-making self-efficacy, occupational preferences, and gender: A study of undergraduate students at King Saud University in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Title
Career decision-making self-efficacy, occupational preferences, and gender: A study of undergraduate students at King Saud University in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Creator
Aleidan, Mohamed Abdullah, Florida Atlantic University, Nyhan, Ronald C., Thai, Khi V.
Abstract/Description
After many years of substantial investments by the Saudi Arabian government in the education of its citizens, the results, especially in the area of employment, are felt by many to be less than satisfactory. While various factors may be contributing to the rising problem of unemployment in the country, the one focused on in this study was the relationship between self-efficacy and career choices. Specifically, the study examined the relationships between career decision-making self-efficacy,...
Show moreAfter many years of substantial investments by the Saudi Arabian government in the education of its citizens, the results, especially in the area of employment, are felt by many to be less than satisfactory. While various factors may be contributing to the rising problem of unemployment in the country, the one focused on in this study was the relationship between self-efficacy and career choices. Specifically, the study examined the relationships between career decision-making self-efficacy, occupational preferences, and gender. Career decision-making self-efficacy was measured with an existing scale (CDMSES-SF). An instrument was designed in this study to measure occupational preferences. The surveys were administered to 476 male and 424 female undergraduate students at King Saud University in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The results of the study found no significant relationship between gender and career decision-making self-efficacy. There were, however, a significant relationship between gender and career preferences for such occupations as accounting/finance, administration, computer technology, engineering, security, and social services fields; while in the education, health, and law fields no significant relationships were found. Career decision-making self-efficacy was not related to occupational preferences for any of the fields in this study. The relationship between career decision-making self-efficacy and occupational preferences is not affected by gender. The results show that, for males and females, there is no relationship between career decision-making self-efficacy and occupational preference within gender for traditionally male-dominated fields, for traditionally female-dominated fields, or for the neutral fields. The negative results of the study provide evidence that the general level of CDMSE is low for males and for females. The study concluded that the results of this study were inconsistent with previous studies that have reported gender differences in career self-efficacy in general and in self-efficacy for the female-dominated versus the male-dominated occupations. The study concludes with policy recommendations directed at helping students improve their CDMSE scores. These recommendations are career development programs, career counseling, job fairs, database information, and government financial support. Further research is suggested to enhance the findings and validity of this study.
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Date Issued
2002
PURL
http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/11986
Subject Headings
College students--Saudi Arabia, Vocational guidance--Sex differences, Self-efficacy
Format
Document (PDF)
interrelationships of organizational commitment, trust and participatory decision-making practices in public organizations
Title
The interrelationships of organizational commitment, trust and participatory decision-making practices in public organizations.
Creator
Nyhan, Ronald C., Florida Atlantic University, Martin, Lawrence L.
Abstract/Description
This research study seeks to link empirically organizational commitment, trust and participatory decision making (PDM) practices and test their interrelationships. The research uses the Meyer & Allen (1984) Affective Commitment and Continuance Commitment Scale (ACCS) to measure organizational commitment and develops new scales to measure trust and PDM practices. The study hypothesizes multidimensional components for organizational commitment and trust; statistically significant associations...
Show moreThis research study seeks to link empirically organizational commitment, trust and participatory decision making (PDM) practices and test their interrelationships. The research uses the Meyer & Allen (1984) Affective Commitment and Continuance Commitment Scale (ACCS) to measure organizational commitment and develops new scales to measure trust and PDM practices. The study hypothesizes multidimensional components for organizational commitment and trust; statistically significant associations among organizational commitment, trust and PDM practices; and trust as a preceding and intervening variable between PDM practices and organizational commitment. The research uses Pearson correlations, exploratory factor analysis and structural equation modeling to test the hypotheses. The research results support the multidimensionality of organizational commitment and trust; interrelationships among organizational commitment, trust and PDM practices; and the temporal role of trust. However, the research results do not support trust as an intervening variable between PDM practices and organizational commitment. The study concludes with opportunities for future research.
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Date Issued
1994
PURL
http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/12387
Subject Headings
Management--Employee participation, Organizational effectiveness, Interpersonal relations, Industrial relations
Format
Document (PDF)
Measuring performance in the public sector: An examination of benchmarking paramedic response times
Title
Measuring performance in the public sector: An examination of benchmarking paramedic response times.
Creator
Moeller, Bruce J., Florida Atlantic University, Nyhan, Ronald C., Clare, Donald A.
Abstract/Description
Measuring performance in the public sector has been a topic of heightened concern during the past decade. While enthusiasm remains high for its use, performance measurement has also been subject to increasing scrutiny. In this research, problems with definitional ambiguity and concerns of conscious errors in the reporting of performance are theorized to limit the usefulness of performance measurement and benchmarking. The research examined the use of "response time" as a key benchmark in the...
Show moreMeasuring performance in the public sector has been a topic of heightened concern during the past decade. While enthusiasm remains high for its use, performance measurement has also been subject to increasing scrutiny. In this research, problems with definitional ambiguity and concerns of conscious errors in the reporting of performance are theorized to limit the usefulness of performance measurement and benchmarking. The research examined the use of "response time" as a key benchmark in the delivery of paramedic services in the State of Florida. The research used both quantitative analysis based on survey response data from 120 paramedic agencies and qualitative analysis based on field visits to six selected agencies. The major findings of the study were that definitional ambiguity exists and that it adversely affects the ability to conduct benchmarking. Definitional ambiguity existed from two perspectives. There was ambiguity in the definitions used among agencies---thereby limiting the ability to benchmark. There was also ambiguity between definitions used by agencies and the definitions they attribute to citizens and elected officials---thereby limiting accurate communication of performance results to the public. While the research was not designed to examine intentions of paramedic agencies, the findings were consistent with Juran's theory of conscious errors---the reporting of performance that provides a more favorable impression than may otherwise be justified.
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Date Issued
2001
PURL
http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/11942
Subject Headings
Emergency medical services--Florida, Public administration, Benchmarking (Management), Performance--Evaluation
Format
Document (PDF)
Does evaluation make a difference? The effect of evaluation on remedial education in Florida's community colleges
Title
Does evaluation make a difference? The effect of evaluation on remedial education in Florida's community colleges.
Creator
Lyes-MacLachlan, Shari., Florida Atlantic University, Leip, Leslie A., Nyhan, Ronald C., Holden, Eileen
Abstract/Description
Throughout the nation, many community college students arrive at the doors of public higher education without college-level skills. As the need for remediation over the years has grown, the controversy over who should be responsible for it---and whether it should be provided at all---has also grown. In Florida, more than 60 percent of all incoming college students must enroll in one or more remediation courses in the areas of reading, writing, or mathematics. Florida law requires students to...
Show moreThroughout the nation, many community college students arrive at the doors of public higher education without college-level skills. As the need for remediation over the years has grown, the controversy over who should be responsible for it---and whether it should be provided at all---has also grown. In Florida, more than 60 percent of all incoming college students must enroll in one or more remediation courses in the areas of reading, writing, or mathematics. Florida law requires students to take non-credit "College-Preparatory" classes if they score below mandated cut-off scores on state-approved placement tests. The central theory of this study is that ongoing, comprehensive and systematic evaluation that is effectively communicated and utilized in Florida's colleges can make a significant contribution to the College Preparatory program. While this study examines budgetary factors and student achievement rates, it focuses particularly on evaluation, the extent to which evaluation is being performed in the College Preparatory program, and how that evaluation throughout the state has changed over a five-year period. The study identifies four general areas of evaluation: (1) student-level evaluation, (2) program-level evaluation, (3) evaluation via communication in the organization and (4) utilization of evaluation in the organization. It analyzes the relationship between each area and the perceptions that faculty, administrators and staff have of remedial program success, and it distinguishes among faculty, administrator and staff perceptions of evaluation and preparatory program success. In the end, it is the synthesis of the four general areas of evaluation, along with input from its various stakeholders, which result in effects on remedial education.
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Date Issued
2004
PURL
http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FADT12105
Subject Headings
Curriculum evaluation, Community colleges--Evaluation, Education--Research--Methodology, Remedial teaching--Evaluation
Format
Document (PDF)
Charter School Closures in Florida, 2006-2016: A Population Ecology Perspective
Title
Charter School Closures in Florida, 2006-2016: A Population Ecology Perspective.
Creator
Jameson, Jorene, Nyhan, Ronald C., Florida Atlantic University, College for Design and Social Inquiry, School of Public Administration
Abstract/Description
As part of the education reforms of the 1990s, charter schools were proposed as a private alternative to public education, offering parents and their children greater choices. Publicly financed but privately operated, charter schools have now grown in numbers and influence. While there are many studies of student outcomes in charter schools demonstrating mixed results, one negative outcome of charter schools has been less examined. Since inception, 23% of charter schools nationally have...
Show moreAs part of the education reforms of the 1990s, charter schools were proposed as a private alternative to public education, offering parents and their children greater choices. Publicly financed but privately operated, charter schools have now grown in numbers and influence. While there are many studies of student outcomes in charter schools demonstrating mixed results, one negative outcome of charter schools has been less examined. Since inception, 23% of charter schools nationally have closed and these closures are disruptive to parents, children, and their school districts. This paper addresses charter school closures from an organizational perspective. Applying theory from population ecology and resource dependency theory, the population of nonprofit charter schools is examined. What are the primary determinants of charter school success and failure? Florida, with the third highest number of charter schools nationally and, at the same time, the highest number of charter school closures in the United States, is a paradox. This study identifies the significant variables that are related to school survival and failure in the state of Florida over the years 2015-16 through 2015-16. Variables tested in this study, using Survival Analysis (SA), include age, management structure, size, school performance, grants, and density. All variables except density at founding were significant in explaining the unique variance in survival rates among charters. Charter schools sub-contracted by for-profit educational management organizations (EMOs) were larger, achieved higher grades, secured more grants and achieved higher survival rates than their counterpart nonprofit, independent, and charter management organization (CMO) led schools. These results contribute to our understanding of charter school survival and failure, thereby informing public policy options to strengthen the charter school population and the nation’s public education system overall.
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Date Issued
2017
PURL
http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004982, http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004972
Subject Headings
Dissertations, Academic -- Florida Atlantic University, Charter schools--Florida., Population ecology., Public policy.
Format
Document (PDF)
Reframing our understanding of nonprofit regulation through the use of the institutional analysis and development framework
Title
Reframing our understanding of nonprofit regulation through the use of the institutional analysis and development framework.
Creator
Vienne, Denise R., Nyhan, Ronald C., Florida Atlantic University, College for Design and Social Inquiry, School of Public Administration
Abstract/Description
Regulation of the nonprofit sector is a subject of significant debate in the academic and professional literature. The debate raises questions about how to regulate the sector in a manner that addresses accountability while preserving the sector’s unique role in society. Central to the debate is the role of self-regulation. The nonprofit sector is recognized and defended as a distinct third sector in society. Cultural norms and values differentiate the purpose of the sector from the...
Show moreRegulation of the nonprofit sector is a subject of significant debate in the academic and professional literature. The debate raises questions about how to regulate the sector in a manner that addresses accountability while preserving the sector’s unique role in society. Central to the debate is the role of self-regulation. The nonprofit sector is recognized and defended as a distinct third sector in society. Cultural norms and values differentiate the purpose of the sector from the governmental and commercial realms. The legal regime secures rights, establishes organizational structures, and provides tax benefits that enable, reinforce, and protect participation in nonprofit activities. Nevertheless, government regulation is thought to be antithetical to sector autonomy, as well as an obstacle to flexibility and innovation. Selfregulation protects the sector’s political independence and its distinctiveness through the cultivation of shared norms, standards, and processes for ethical practices. Although self regulation is considered to be consistent with the autonomous nature of the sector, it is also criticized as a weaker form of regulation. The ability to address regulatory issues expressed in the broader debate is limited by how we frame nonprofit regulation. The problem with advancing our understanding of self-regulation has to do with how we conceptualize nonprofit regulation. Government and self-regulation are conceptualized and studied as distinct options for regulating the sector. Missing in the nonprofit scholarship is a theoretical framework capable of reframing nonprofit regulation as a system of governance that depends on self-regulation. This represents a glaring gap in the research. Neglecting the institutional context that explains the structure and functioning of the nonprofit sector has led to an oversimplification of nonprofit governance. To study the effects of self-regulation on the functioning of the sector, I argue that we must first frame what is relevant about how the nonprofit sector is governed. The Institutional Analysis and Development (IAD) Framework outlines a systematic approach for analyzing institutions that govern collective endeavors. The objective of this dissertation is to introduce the IAD as an approach for examining self-regulation not as an alternative to government regulation but as an important part of nonprofit governance.
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Date Issued
2014
PURL
http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004231, http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004231
Subject Headings
Corporate governence, Non governmental organizations -- Management, Nonprofit organizations -- Finance -- Moral and ethical aspects, Nonprofit organizations -- Government policy, Nonprofit organizations -- Management, Public private sector cooperation
Format
Document (PDF)