Date of Graduation

1987

Document Type

Dissertation/Thesis

Abstract

A critical issue in higher education today is that of student retention. Although attention has been given to the general quality of residence hall living as a factor in student satisfaction, little effort has been given to the study of resident assistants, a key component in residence hall living. The purpose of this study was to examine this central population of service providers to incoming students at West Virginia University. This study collected and presented basic descriptive data on 77 resident assistants employed at West Virginia University including: (1) demographics; (2) psychological type (Meyers-Briggs Type Indicator); (3) level of burnout (Maslach Burnout Inventory); and (4) level of job satisfaction (Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire). The variables of psychological type and demographic characteristics were examined as predictors of three criterion variables: (1) burnout, (2) job satisfaction, (3) supervisor rating. Multiple regression analysis indicated the following to be significant. Predictors of job satisfaction were: (1) sex; (2) seeing the resident assistant positions as useful to a future career; and (3) being motivated by a desire to be helpful to others. General predictors of burnout were: (1) fewer years of resident assistant experience; (2) higher grade point average; (3) greater number of students on the floor; (4) major; and (5) sex. The only predictor variable of supervisory rating was found to be grade point average. It was concluded that these findings formulate a basis for establishing local norms and have practical implications for the practitioner regarding guidelines for RA interviews, team assignment, and ongoing training and supervision.

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