Employee Motivation: Public School Teachers in Saudi Arabia - Research Proposal Example

EMPLOYEE MOTIVATION AND ITS RELATIONSHIP TO JOB SATISFACTION AMONG PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS IN SAUDI ARABIA by Student’s Name Code + Name of Course Institution City/State Professor Date Table of Content Introduction 3 Research Background 4 Aim & Objectives 6 Research Aim 6 Research Purpose 6 Research Questions 6 Research Objectives 7 Following are study objectives, which have been set to answer the study aim and attain the study purpose. 7 1.To perform a critical description of literature concerning motivation and job satisfaction, with a reflection on the manner the theoretical implications in different manner applies to male and female public school teachers working in an educational setting. 7 2.To perform a gap assessment between present and anticipated job satisfaction levels as well as motivation drivers of public school teachers, both male and females individually. 7 3.To come up with a theoretical framework for measuring the levels of job satisfaction as well as motivation drivers of public school teachers in Saudi Arabia emerging from disparities in job fulfillment and motivational drivers. 7 4.To elaborate on any disparities in the levels of inspiration as well as job fulfillment of public school teachers in the Saudi Arabian education scheme. 7 5.To offer educators in Saudi Arabia some recommendations elaborating the manner motivational levels and job fulfillment can be improved among the male and female teachers. 8 Methodological Framework 8 Overview of the Proposed Methodological Framework 9 Sample and Data Collection 9 Data Analysis 10 Plan, Ethical Considerations & Critical Analysis 11 Plan 11 Ethical Considerations 12 Potential Challenges and Limitations 13 Reference List 14 Introduction This research proposal aims to assess the dissimilar motivation factors and their relationship with job contentment of public school teachers (males and females) in Saudi Arabia. The motivation behind this research is to cover all the areas in Saudi Arabia because previous studies have concentrated on specific regions and left out others; therefore, it will be comprehensive to bridge the gap in previous researchers. There are very few published documentations on the issues of employees motivation as well as its association with job satisfaction among public school teachers in Saudi Arabia (Zembylas & Papanastasiou 2004). The study’s aim will be achieved by sampling 152 respondents from public schools from four cities in Saudi Arabia; these will represent the entire nation. These will include primary, secondary, and universities in the selected four cities and will be performed in 3 months (September 2013 to November 2013). The major measureable parameter is gender but other parameters will also be considered, such as age. The methodology to employed will be a mixed framework in which case the qualitative data will be first gathered with a focus group as well as using semi-structured interviews. The second phase, collection of data will be done quantitatively using questionnaires, which will be based on the outcome of the first phase, that is, the qualitative stage. Consequently, data will be analysed in two phases: the data from the first step will be analysed using thematic qualitative techniques, which will be facilitated with the help of NVivo software. On the other hand, data from the second step will be analysed statistically using SPSS software. Research Background The concern for the demanding nature of the work done by public schools teachers has been increasing intensely. Consequently, there is need to analyse as well as address the issue regarding public school teachers’ job satisfaction. The past studies have concentrated on head teachers only in Saudi Arabia thereby excluding other teachers. Previous researchers found certain factors that justify the significance of job satisfaction; for instance human values that orient an organization through respecting as well as treating the employees fairly, which consequently reflect favourably on their emotions (Alagbari 2002). The conduct of a firm’s employees influences on its operations. Importantly, the evaluation of staff satisfaction is vital in the identification of areas requiring improvement. This issue regarding job satisfaction dates back to the 20th century following the emergence of Maslow’s hypothesis (Alonazi 2001). The significance of job satisfaction is increasingly becoming an urgent need in the education sector as teachers are handling the future of their society (Dinham & Scott 2000; Buitendach & De Witte 2005). Researching motivation as well as job satisfaction among public school teachers in Saudi Arabia is important to address some reasons. For instance, negative phenomena including absenteeism and turnover, which are related to low satisfaction levels (Oplatka & Mimon 2008; Saiti 2007). Second is the strong relationship between work satisfaction and the general value of life in the community. Last entails new challenges; for instance, modernization, advanced technology, as well as increased accountability, which impose pressure on teachers thereby the need to be attentive to job satisfaction (Sari 2004). The need to perform this study is prompted by the fact that the nature of Saudi Arabian education sector has a different approach to the significance of public school teachers’ satisfaction. Education requires intensive effort as well as fulfillment of duties towards the entire society, not just the students (Thomas 2006). Nonetheless, the Saudi Arabian central system has a trend of minimizing teachers’ autonomy as well as their participation in administrative matters at the expense of the professional aspect (Faragher, Cass & Copper 2005). Another need to perform this study is to cover all the areas in Saudi Arabia because previous studies have concentrated on specific regions and left out others; therefore, it will be comprehensive to bridge the gap in previous researchers. In addition, previous studies focused on head teachers without regard to other junior teachers who are the main pillars in education success. Therefore, this study will give all public teachers in Saudi Arabia a chance to display their outlooks, feelings, as well as emotions concerning their work contentment using mixed methodological framework. Notably, the education sector in Saudi Arabia is under extensive transformation, which is being done by the government together with the Ministry of Higher education. This encompasses a program worth $2.4 billion purposed to transform the manner of teaching Saudi Arabian students (NUSSAC n.d). Nevertheless, these initiatives to change the system are being faced by tension as well as resistance (Alotabi 2000; Croosman & Harris 2006). In spite of such challenges and gender-related problems in Saudi Arabian education scheme, academic studies are yet to examine the potential influence of employee motivation as well as job satisfaction among teachers in Saudi Arabia particularly with regard to their gender disparities (Aloryali 2002). In this regard, with reference to employee motivation, it is believed that the motivation drivers of female teachers differ from those of their male counterparts. Thus, this research will be interested in examining the drivers of motivation as well as job satisfaction with a distinguished focus on likely disparities amid female and male Saudi Arabian public school teachers. While performing the research, core motivation theories will be drawn, which apply to job satisfaction in an education setting. Overly, the relationship between the employees and the employers is critical to ensuring efficiency in their work places. Therefore, there is need to recommend some solutions to ensure that teachers receive proper treatment to motivate them, such as a good pay, and promotions to those who deserve co-workers supervisions among others. This will eventually create determination and motivation within the public schools education in Saudi Arabia. Aim & Objectives Research Aim The aim of this research will be to assess the dissimilar motivation factors and their relationship with job contentment of public school teachers (males and females) in Saudi Arabia. Research Purpose This study purposes to assist educators in Saudi Arabia to obtain the most out of the public school teachers (employees). In the achievement of this purpose, the current levels as well as drivers of motivation and work satisfaction among male and female public school teachers in Saudi Arabia will be identified. In addition, the needed levels and motivation as well as job satisfaction drivers will be identified and recommendations provided for improvements after performing a gap assessment. Research Questions The proposed study aims to answer the questions below: 1. To what extent are public teachers in Saudi Arabia satisfied with their work? 2. What are the major factors of job fulfillment for Saudi Arabian public school teachers? 3. What are the contributory factors to satisfaction as well as dissatisfaction among the respondents? 4. Does an association exist between overall motivation and work satisfaction? 5. Is the variance between satisfaction and motivation based on parameters, such as gender or age among others? Research Objectives Following are study objectives, which have been set to answer the study aim and attain the study purpose. 1. To perform a critical description of literature concerning motivation and job satisfaction, with a reflection on the manner the theoretical implications in different manner applies to male and female public school teachers working in an educational setting. 2. To perform a gap assessment between present and anticipated job satisfaction levels as well as motivation drivers of public school teachers, both male and females individually. 3. To come up with a theoretical framework for measuring the levels of job satisfaction as well as motivation drivers of public school teachers in Saudi Arabia emerging from disparities in job fulfillment and motivational drivers. 4. To elaborate on any disparities in the levels of inspiration as well as job fulfillment of public school teachers in the Saudi Arabian education scheme. 5. To offer educators in Saudi Arabia some recommendations elaborating the manner motivational levels and job fulfillment can be improved among the male and female teachers. Methodological Framework The previous studies have numerous inadequacies with the major one being the inability to dig deeper into the Saudi educational issue and failed to offer public school teachers a chance to display their perceptions concerning their satisfaction. Thus, mixed methods will be adopted for this research; especially the sequential exploratory mixed approaches will be the methodological framework for performing this research. This methodological framework necessitates the use of two major phases for collecting data and analyzing it. Given that the incident of job fulfillment is majorly qualitatively motivated, then, the qualitative model will dominate (Tashakkori & Teddlie 2003; Weisner 2005). According to Driscoll, Alua, Philip and Douglas 2007, p.24), mixed methodology is advantageous because it can augment as well as elaborate complex survey responses. The methodology will be employed while putting in mind the emotional and physical feeling of the teachers and other employees in public schools. This will be based on the relationship as well as motivational factors of employees in the public institutions. Thus, the qualitative data will be first gathered with a focus group as well as using semi-structured interviews. This is the most appropriate methodology for this study as it is easy to use, less time is spent in its development, it is cheap, and can enable the collection of large data sets among other benefits (Gratton & Jones 2010). However, the major limitation with the focus method is inaccurate provision of answers thereby necessitating the validation of the method. During the second phase, collection of data will be done quantitatively using questionnaires, which will be based on the outcome of the first phase, that is, the qualitative stage. The mixed methodological framework to be employed will be important for triangulation. Triangulation is the case in which a sample is measured using different methods to establish the same variable but different respondents (Gratton & Jones 2010; Kaplowitz 2000). This is just as in the case above: the initial procedure entails collection of data from a sub-set of the sample using interviews and a second one, at the same time, using questionnaires in a different group of the sample. It entails the use of different data sources. If the data from the interview and questionnaire provide similar conclusions, then, the confidence in results will rise. This is when the procedure is done correctly; otherwise, more errors would appear. Researchers have always been for triangulation as it increases the validity of the study. It helps the researcher to withstand possible critique as the process helps to show that the independent measures agree. Therefore, triangulation eliminates bias in addition to allowing the dismissal of reasonable challenge explanations: for instance, a true suggestion that a phenomenon can be created. Overview of the Proposed Methodological Framework Sample and Data Collection This study will employ three methods of collecting data in a sequence with a random sample comprised of 32 public school teachers. This figure will constitute a considerable part of the population of public schools in Saudi Arabia. The sampled population will include four cities in Saudi Arabia, which will be a representative of the entire nation. The cities will include Jeddah, Medina, Riyadh, and Buraidah; 8 participants will be sampled from each of the cities. The public schools will include primary, secondary, and selected public universities. The 32 participants will take part in four focus groups interviews. Additionally, a sample comprising 24 public school male and female teachers will take part in semi-structured interviews. Lastly, 88 female and male teachers from the selected schools will take part in answering the questionnaire. The response received will be employed in final data analysis. The questionnaire will be created based on the qualitative outcomes once validity as well as reliability will be established through the application of Cronbach alpha. According to Andrew, Pedersen, and MacEvoy (2011, p.202), Cronbach alpha has been a popularly known validity testing method. The values are between 0-1 ranges with 0.7 values being desirable whereas those beyond 0.9 may be undesirable. Additionally, reliability of the methodology will be ensured using correlation coefficient by Pearson with the significance value at P=0.05, which will indicate an increased internal consistency level. The factors in the questionnaire statements will be personalized and will include an order of general job fulfillment. The respondents will respond to every aspect through a 5-point Likert gauge with a range of strongly differ, i.e., 1 to 5 (strongly consent) as an ordinal range. Data Analysis Because of the mixed methodology using two methods, data analysis will be carried in two phases. The first stage will involve data collection using focus groups as well as semi-structured interviews, which will be analysed through thematic scrutiny of qualitative data and will be aided by NVivo software that will assist in the identification of the main as well as sub-themes plus the associated contentment and discontent factors. The coding procedure will consider each response, negative or positive, with an objective of decreasing the effect of likely researcher bias. In the similar lines, the main as well as sub-themes that will come up will be connected to the pertinent coded passages; to ensure the findings’ trustworthiness plus the coding accuracy. The result from this first step will be passed on to the respondents to evaluate the coded passages’s significance. This will lead to the identification of the aspects associated with job satisfaction as well as dissatisfaction that will form and develop the questionnaire. On the other hand, the data that will be collected quantitatively with questionnaire will be analysed statistically using SPSS software. This will be based on the quantitative research questions. Plan, Ethical Considerations & Critical Analysis Plan The proposed study is planned to take place between September 2013 and November 2013. The Gantt chart below presents the details of the plan. The first day will the selection of a convenient sample of male and female teachers in public schools in Saudi Arabia after approval by the ethics committee and training the assistants. The schools will be obtained through researching the Saudi Arabian databases, which provide a list of public schools in the nation wherein the participants will be sampled from. Population and Sampling activities: This will be choosing a convenient study sample among the selected schools. Issuing questionnaires: The male and female public school teachers in Saudi Arabian selected cities will answer interview questions and questionnaires to uncover the dissimilar motivation factors and their relationship with job contentment. Collecting filled questionnaires and interviews: The completed questionnaires will be collected. Data analysis: The questionnaires and interviews will be analyzed to reveal the study’s aspects being tested. Last, will be compiling the research. Weeks (September 2013 to November 2013) Activities                                           1- 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Approvals by Ethics Committee                         Group meetings                            Recruiting as well as training the research Assistants                         Collection of Data                         Data analysis                         Group and Team Meetings                         Reporting and Publications                         Ethical Considerations The mixed research methodology selected to be used in this study will be characterized by a proximal approach towards the respondents. The semi-structured interviews, focus group as well as questionnaire selected will be an intimate strategy into comprehension and insight of the life world of a public teacher’s work. In this reference, there are numerous aspects to consider during the investigation using such a mixed methodology. First consideration will be a rapport with the respondents as well as setting up a trustworthy atmosphere. The participants will require to be know the application and extra analysis of information offered in the interview. The respondents will be guaranteed of their anonymity. Their permission will be first sought and an agreement will be reached. The respondents will not be compeled to provide details if they will show the unwillingness to do so. The border the teachers will set will be accepted with regard to ethic considerations. The other ethical consideration will be the rejection of using material from the data collection tools that focused on a specific individual. In case an individual will need to know the person who issued a particular statement, it will be possible with the data offered in the book even if the name of the respondent will be kept secret. Potential Challenges and Limitations First, the major limitation is the use of mixed methodological framework. In most instances, scholars have claimed that the aim of selecting a mixed methodological framework is unclear thereby causing confusion in the study’s design phase (Buber, Gadner & Richards 2004). There is usually the lack of recognizing the full contribution made by each of the methods. The need for a mixed methodology may include corroboration, initiation, and or expansion. In cases where the study design is clear and is driven by theory, the substantive focal point becomes a superordinate aim that restricts tensions in mixing of the methods. The other challenge will be failure of some respondents to provide correct information. Consequently, the outcome of the study is likely not to yield the correct results representing the real situation. This may cause the lack of proper recommendations to improve the teacher’s situation. Further, lack of correct information can lead to response errors thereby resulting in bias. Other errors that may occur include random errors, which may result from approximation. The problem of the occurrence of these errors is their unpredictable nature and thus biasness cannot be overruled in the proposed study. Another limitation is that the study will derive all the findings from the respondent’s information; this may expose the study to likely bias as well as prejudice of the involved participants. Again, the study’s scope will be restricted to the public teachers in four cities in Saudi Arabia. With this reference, the results may change in case the research was to be conducted in dissimilar regions, demographic setting, or economies. The degree to which the study’s objectives could be attained may be affected by time restrictions. The research is proposed to take a period of three months, which may be uncertain. 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