The Relationship between Educational Attainment and Satisfaction with Ones Work - Research Proposal Example

The Relationship between Educational Attainment and Satisfaction with One’s Work/Employment Name: Grade Course: Tutor’s Name: 7th September, 2010 Introduction Finding out the relationship between education attainment and satisfaction in one’s work is trying to find out what influences one factor has on the other. For example, the question could be that, what the influences educational attainments have on job satisfaction. A researcher could also argue that, what are the influences of job satisfaction on education attainment. Such arguments can bring out how one factor influences the other hence the relationship between the two. There are several research studies that have been conducted with information about education attainment and job satisfaction most of them describing theories about the relationship between the two. Jurik, Halemba, Musheno, and Boyle for example analyzed the impact of increasing educational attainment among correlation officers (1987). The research study had three expectations which are; that higher education increased job satisfaction, that higher education led to increased job dissatisfaction and that work environment works against the importance of the educational background of a worker. The research results showed that the association between education attainment and job satisfaction was negative so that high educational attainment led to high levels of dissatisfaction (Jurik et al, 1987). Some have focused on finding out the effects of education of job satisfaction like (Fabra & Cesar, (2009) and Fabra & Vila Lladosa, (2007) that focused on both the direct and indirect effects of education on job satisfaction. All the research studies bring out a relationship between education attainment or education and job satisfaction as having a negative association (Jurik et al, 1987 & Fabra & Vila Lladosa, 2007) or a positive association (Fabra & Cesar, 2009), but one issue is left out. The reason why such relationships result has not been much explored. It is only in Fabra & Cesar’s research study where the reason why there is a positive relationship between educational attainment and job satisfaction is explained (2009). This proposal aims at finding out the reasons why there is positive relationship between educational attainment and job satisfaction in cases where there are positive relations found, and to find out the reasons why there is negative relationship between education attainment and job satisfaction in cases where there are such relations. Research Question: Why does educational attainment affect job satisfaction positively or negatively? A Statement of the Research Question Job Satisfaction is very important in the society and so whatever influences it should also be of concern to the society. Job satisfaction motivates employees to work hard and improve productivity and improved productivity improves the economy. Several studies have been conducted regarding the relationship between education and job satisfaction most of them focusing on the effects of education and educational attainment on job satisfaction. This can help the society have the right information to make decisions on what steps to make concerning how to create job satisfaction. There is however a controversy in the research studies that have been conducted. Some researchers (Jurik et al, 1987, & Fabra & Vila Lladosa, 2007) from their findings argue that educational attainment negatively affects job satisfaction while others argue that increased educational attainment lead to job satisfaction (Fabra & Cesar, 2009). Because of such a controversy, it is important to find out what causes the negative and positive relations. Objectives: To find out the effect of relationship between one’s qualifications and type of job on job satisfaction To find out the difference between lower levels educated employees’ expectations and higher level educated employees’ expectations in relation to job satisfaction To determine the effect of employee expectation on job satisfaction To find out why the relationship between educational attainment and job satisfaction turns out negative in each defined group of employees (poorly educated and highly educated) To find out why the relationship between educational attainment and job satisfaction turns out positive in each defined group of employees (poorly educated and highly educated) Literature Review Importance of job satisfaction It is because of the importance of job satisfaction that any effects on it are also of importance. Job satisfaction is one of the motivation factors of employees in an organization and motivation improves organizational performance. There are several factors that influence job satisfaction for example, when an employee expected the working conditions in an organization to be good and finds out they are not comfortable, when the employer does not recognize the efforts of the employee, the culture of an organization, the leadership style of the managers of the organization and several others (Kumar & Sharma, 2001). Education attainment is also affects job satisfaction as discussed above. Any factor therefore that affects employee job satisfaction affects the performance of the organization. Education and Job Satisfaction As stated earlier, several studies have been conducted to find out the effects of education on job satisfaction most of which have the significance of finding ways to improve employee job satisfaction. According to Fabra & Cesar, education is of economic value and very little knowledge is known about that (2009). Because of that, these researchers conducted a study that aimed at finding out both the direct and the indirect effects of education on job satisfaction. The results showed that those people with higher levels of formal education were more satisfied with their jobs than those with low levels of formal education. The main reason why this group of people was considered to be more satisfied in their jobs is because jobs that require higher level of qualification have characteristics that offer greater satisfaction (Fabra & Cesar, 2009). In another study, the researchers aimed at resolving a controversy on research studies results that supported or opposed the view the educational system of the United States provided a healthy, cultured and happy society. In resolving the controversy, the relationship between educational attainment and several factors that are considered healthy, cultured and that make the society happy was analyzed. They were; health satisfaction, life satisfaction, general happiness, job satisfaction and general happiness. The results showed no significant relationship between educational attainment and job satisfaction, a negative relationship with life satisfaction and positive relationship with the other three variables (Hartman, 2005). This study shows that job satisfaction is not affected much by education as opposed to other results from different researchers, but still it acknowledges that there is a relationship between job satisfaction and education attainment. Ross and Reskin considers the relationship between educational attainment and job satisfaction null. The researchers believed that the level of job satisfaction in every employee considering the level of education alone is the same. According to Ross and Reskin, well educated people are engaged in work that provide control over money, over one’s work and control over people which raises their expectations on job satisfaction yet decreases job satisfaction (1992). By this the researchers mean that the highly educated have jobs characterized by control over one’s work, over money and over people which are characteristics of job satisfaction, therefore are more satisfied than the poorly educated but considering the expectations the highly educated people have, the job satisfaction of each level will be the same (Ross & Reskin, 1992). Other information about educational attainment and job satisfaction indicate that; people with higher levels of education are more satisfied with their work that those with lower educational attainment (Fabra & Cesar, 2009), that educational attainment negatively affects job satisfaction (Jurik et al, 1987), that the effects of educational attainment depend on the job characteristics and that job mismatches also affect job satisfaction (Fabra & Vila Lladosa, 2007). From the information provided above, it is clear that there is no clearly defined effect of educational attainment on job satisfaction making the determination of the relationship between the two factors difficult. The results give negative, positive, null or insignificant relationship. It is however possible to determine a clear relationship by studying the levels of educational attainment in relation to the job, the type of educational attainment in relation to the job and the reason why job dissatisfaction or satisfaction arises in each level and each type, that is, studying why lowly educated employees are satisfied with their jobs or not considering level of education (other factors held constant) and studying why highly educated employees are satisfied with their jobs or not considering level of education and other factors held constant. This can give the different causes of job dissatisfaction among the lowly educated and the highly educated. Hypotheses (propositions): That the type of job in relation to one’s qualifications determines the relationship between job satisfaction and educational attainment That the expectations of job satisfaction differ in every level of education and determine the type of relationship between job satisfaction and educational attainment That positive or negative relationship is dependent on individual expectations on job satisfaction The Methods to be used: The research will use an in-depth interview method that will help achieve optimal data on individuals’ experiences and personal perspectives (fhi, n.d). The aim of this research study is to find out why the relationship between job satisfaction and educational attainment is negative in some instances and positive in some cases. Any other data that will give additional information about the relationship between the two factors will be incorporated in the results and used to build recommendations but based on the information about job satisfaction and educational attainment, more information about the controversy should be researched. A quota sampling method will be used to select the participants of the study (fhi, n.d.). The study involves two categories of employees, the highly educated and the lowly educated. A specific number of people will be selected for the research (80) with no consideration to the profession but only the level of education. The type of job considered for research in this research is not based on one’s profession but the positions and job characteristics such as working conditions, power associated with the job and the amount of control associated with the job. Data Collection: As indicated above, data will be collected through in-depth interviews and videotaped for analysis (fhi, n.d). Analysis: Data will be analyzed using the coding method where data will be classified based on what information it gives in relation to the objectives of the study. After coding, further analysis will be done to produce recommendations and conclusions for further study or for improvement purposes when applicable (Babbie, 2009). Anticipated Problems, And Possible Solutions, in Conducting the Research There may be problems with getting people to answer the questions because of time. Some participants since it is an in-depth interview, may not want participate for fear that the interview may take long. Field researchers will be recruited to ensure that they have a clear idea of what they are suppose to explore so that each interview is planned to take a maximum of 15 minutes. Some people may feel threatened about their jobs and may not want to participate. In every company, employer-employee relations are different and job security issues are also different. Some employees may think the field researchers sent to gather information are informants to their employers. To ensure that there is no misunderstanding, during the recruitment process, field research officers will be taught about effective communication. This will help them in convincing the employees about who they are. Some participants may want to give wrong answers. In any research that makes use of interviews as a means of collecting data, there are chances of some participants not telling the truth hence affecting the research results. This again will depend on the researchers sent to the field. It will be their duty to convince the participants that the truth told by them is between the researcher and the participant unless the researcher approves that such information should be shared with others. Explanation about the importance of the research to the participant and the society to the participant will also be done to reduce such cases. References Babbie, E. R., 2009, The Practice of Social Research, 12th Ed., Stamford, Connecticut; Cengage Learning. Fabra, E. F. and Cesar, C., 2009, Direct and Indirect Effects Of Education On Job Satisfaction: A Structural Equation Model For The Spanish Case, Journal of Economics of Education Review, 28 (5), 600-610. Fabra, E. F. and Vila Lladosa, L. E., 2007, Evaluation of the Effects Of Education On Job Satisfaction: Independent Single-Equation vs. Structural Equation Models: International Advances in Economic Research, Trade Journals. Viewed on 7th September, 2010: Family Health International (fhi), (n.d.), Qualitative Research Methods: A Data Collector’s Field Guide. Viewed on 7th September, 2010: Hartman, N., 2005, The Effects of Educational Attainment on Subjective Wellbeing, A Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Sociological Association, on 12th of August 2005 at the Marriott Hotel, Philadelphia. Jurik, C. N., Halemba, G. J., Musheno, M. C. and Boyle, B. V., 1987, Educational Attainment, Job Satisfaction, and the Professionalization of Correctional Officers, Journal of Work and Occupations, 14 (1), 106-125. Kumar, A. and Sharma, R., 2001, Personnel Management Theory and Practice, 3 Vols. Set, New Delhi, India: Atlantic Publishers & Distri. Ross, C. E. and Reskin, B. F., 1992, Education, Control at Work, And Job Satisfaction, Journal of Social Science Research, 21(2), pp. 134-148. Read More