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Dissertation
A Study on Work Satisfaction of Special Education Paraprofessionals Based on the Index of Work Satisfaction Questionnaire
University of West Florida Libraries
Doctor of Education (EDD), University of West Florida
2008
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to determine whether a difference existed in the perceptions and attitudes toward work satisfaction between special education paraprofessionals employed at exclusively special education centers and special education paraprofessionals employed in special education programs located in regular education facilities. Further, this study sought to determine whether a difference existed in the perceptions and attitudes of the two groups relative to age, gender, ethnicity, educational level, and years employed. The Index of Work Satisfaction (IWS) measure was utilized to collect the data in this mixed method study. The IWS focused on pay, organizational policies, task requirements, interaction, and professional status. A sample of 214 special education paraprofessionals employed by the Escambia County School District in Florida participated in the study. The data analysis included a one-way ANOVA, a MANOVA, and descriptive statistics. Results of the ANOVA showed that on the IWS subscales of pay and organization policies there were statistically significant differences between special education paraprofessionals employed in exclusively special education centers and special education paraprofessionals employed in special education programs located in regular education facilities. Results of the MANOVA revealed a significant difference on the subscales of years plus tasks requirements, ethnicity plus years with interaction, and education plus level and plus years with autonomy between the two groups. Results of the analyses of the personal interviews found that the participants loved working with special needs students, but felt paraprofessionals were underpaid for their responsibilities. Other significant findings pointed to concerns of paraprofessionals such as lack of inclusion in the affairs concerning students, being treated with little respect, level of knowledge and skills, and the lack of autonomy. The interconnectivity of the IWS subscales suggested that further research is warranted to ascertain which of the subscales has the greatest impact on work satisfaction.
Details
- Title
- A Study on Work Satisfaction of Special Education Paraprofessionals Based on the Index of Work Satisfaction Questionnaire
- Resource Type
- Dissertation
- Publisher
- University of West Florida Libraries
- Format
- pdf
- Number of pages
- 159
- Copyright
- © 2008 Peggy Lou Beach Akerman
- Identifiers
- 99380090749906600
- Academic Unit
- School of Education
- Language
- English
- Awarding Institution
- University of West Florida; Doctor of Education (EDD)
- Theses and Dissertations
- Doctor of Education (EDD), University of West Florida