Factors of Satisfaction and Importance in an Academic Setting

Abstract

In order to examine aspects of Herzberg's two-factor theory of satisfaction in an academic setting, 262 students were studied. Specific aims of the study were: (a) identification of Motivation and Hygiene variables in an academic setting, and examination of the relationship between them; (b) identification of factors of importance and satisfaction, and examination of the similarity between them. The results do not support Herzberg's notion that gratification of Motivation factors contributes principally to the presence of satisfaction whereas non-gratification of Hygiene factors creates dissatisfaction. Furthermore, no support was found for the two-factor theory based on the factor analysis of satisfaction items. However, importance of satisfaction items could easily be divided into Motivation and Hygiene factors, suggesting that the two-factor theory may be more suited to the importance of variables than to satisfaction with them.

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