Date of Award
Winter 1-1-2024
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Education (Ed.D.)
Department
Education: Curriculum and Teaching
First Advisor
Sarah Bonner, PhD
Second Advisor
Marshall George, EdD
Third Advisor
Nicora Placa, PhD
Academic Program Adviser
Sarah Bonner, PhD
Abstract
Continued professional learning is a consistent focus of attention for the field of student affairs within higher education. Yet, very little research has been conducted on the factors that influence the motivation of student affairs professionals to pursue continued professional learning, especially professionals within community colleges. This study utilized a quantitative research design to examine the physical and psychological factors of the work environment that can influence a community college student affairs professional’s motivation to pursue continued professional learning. Through the theoretical lens of Lewin’s Field Theory and Eccles’ Expectancy-Value Theory, I designed a 58-item survey (N = 41) that measured both the physical (institution orientation, institution policy, supervisor support, and coworker support) and psychological (expectancy, value, cost) factors within the work environment. Analysis of the survey results suggest that the institution’s orientation toward continued professional development has the strongest relationship with a student affairs professional’s motivation to pursue continued professional development. Secondary factors include supervisor support and expectancy, or an individual’s self-efficacy towards learning. Both showed to have moderately strong relationships to plans to participate in continued professional learning.
Recommended Citation
Ginese, Joseph M., "MOTIVATION, LEARNING, AND THE WORKPLACE: A STUDY OF COMMUNITY COLLEGE STUDENT AFFAIRS PROFESSIONALS AND CONTINUED PROFESSIONAL LEARNING" (2024). CUNY Academic Works.
https://academicworks.cuny.edu/hc_sas_etds/1091
Included in
Adult and Continuing Education Commons, Community College Leadership Commons, Other Teacher Education and Professional Development Commons, Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Commons, Training and Development Commons