Date of Graduation

1997

Document Type

Dissertation/Thesis

Abstract

This study examined the relationship between grievant variables (case description, case issue, gender, seriousness of the case) and case determination (denied/granted). A disk copy of QA4 database years 1985 to 1995 was provided by the West Virginia Education and State Employees Grievance Board. The approximate 222 higher education synopses reports were read to locate the population. Fifty-five higher education discipline and discharge synopsis reports were isolated. Key words used by the Board assisted in isolating the population. The 55 higher education synopsis reports were printed out to compare to information on case decisions housed in the West Virginia Secretary of State's Office. At the Secretary of State's Office, higher education case docket numbers were used to locate all higher education case decisions. Higher education case decisions were reviewed to determine if the case involved discipline or discharge. Higher education case decisions involving discipline or discharge totaled 55. The 55 case decisions were photocopied and purchased. The synopses were compared to case decisions. The two sources were identical. The data were codified for computer analyses. Statistical analyses were conducted using Statistical Analysis Systems (SAS) and Statpak. Chi-square statistics were conducted at a significance level of.05 to determine the statistical significance of the alternative hypotheses. Hypotheses four and five could not be tested due to small cell frequencies. Grievant gender and case determination generated a statistically non-significant chi-square value of 0.003 and a probability of 0.957. Similar to studies conducted by Scott and Shadoan (1989), Bigoness and DuBose (1985), and Bemmels (1991) this study found that no relationship existed between grievant gender and case determination. Discipline (considered serious) and case determination generated a statistically non-significant chi-square value of 0.167. No relationship existed between discipline and case determination. Discharge (considered extremely serious) and case determination generated a statistically significant chi-square value of 5.452. A statistically significant relationship existed between discharge (considered extremely serious) and case determination. These findings are similar to those of Zirkel (1983), Katz and LaVan (1991), Breslin and Zirkel (1993), and Mesch (1995).

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