Date
8-9-2024
Department
School of Education
Degree
Doctor of Philosophy
Chair
Sharon Farrell
Keywords
employability, job satisfaction, degree value, affordability, labor market
Disciplines
Education
Recommended Citation
Hartwell, Jonathan D., "Perceived Degree Value Amongst Two-Year Technical School Graduates, and Regional Employers: A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Study" (2024). Doctoral Dissertations and Projects. 5871.
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/5871
Abstract
The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to gain an in-depth understanding of how graduates of Zion Mountain Institute of Technology (pseudonym), perceive the value of their two-year technical degrees as it relates to job satisfaction. In this research, job satisfaction is defined as the perceived value of the associate degree awarded. The theories that guided this study were Herzberg’s two-factor theory and Holland’s theory of vocational choice, as they both relate to job satisfaction or perceived degree value due to the correlation between employability, hygiene issues, motivators, and personality characteristics. The participant sample consisted of 10 recent graduates from a technical college in the southeastern United States. Individual interviews, focus groups, and a letter-writing assignment were used to collect data from these recent graduates, to understand their perspectives on the value of a two-year technical degree. All collected data were analyzed independently, and then collectively configured and arranged through NVivo to enable comparisons, such as defining themes, procuring participant backgrounds, and developing coded excerpts with relevant data points on the focus of the study. The primary themes developed from the research highlight key theoretical implications concerning two-year technical degrees, including Herzberg's theory of motivation, which was reflected in the high levels of job satisfaction and intrinsic motivation reported by graduates. Additionally, Holland's theory of vocational choice aligned with the strong personality fit and career fulfillment experienced by many participants. Each theme underscores significant findings from the study and aligns with or extends existing theoretical frameworks in the field.
