Degree Date

10-2021

Document Type

Dissertation - Public Access

Degree Name

Ed.D. Doctor of Education

Academic Discipline

Counselor Education and Supervision

First Advisor

Dr. Joffrey Suprina

Second Advisor

Dr. Abdelaziz Elmadani

Abstract

To answer the research question – “What intrinsic and extrinsic factors increase job satisfaction in private practice, online counseling, and agency practice?” – a survey was administered to assess demographic information and to rate 25 intrinsic and extrinsic components of job satisfaction. Individual components of job satisfaction with the strongest correlation to overall job satisfaction were identified, for the entire study sample and within the three different work settings (agency practice, private practice, and online practice). Due to the small sample sizes of demographic and work setting groups, no correlations with individual components of job satisfaction were statistically significant (all such p values were greater than 0.26). Participants in this dissertation study reported higher overall job satisfaction than participants who completed the MSQ (1967), with a 95% statistical significance (p = 0.5). Nine individual components of job satisfaction with the strongest correlation to overall satisfaction were identified. The single most influential component, “Trust between employees and senior management”, by itself had a strong correlation (r = 0.76) with overall job satisfaction. Overall job satisfaction within each work setting was primarily influenced by the same nine most influential individual components. A small number of other individual components have the potential to influence job satisfaction within each work setting differently, but they are eclipsed by the influence of the nine most influential components.

Comments

Table of Contents

ABSTRACT ................................................................................................................ iv

LIST OF TABLES........................................................................................................ ix

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ……………………………………………………………. x

CHAPTER 1 – INTRODUCTION................................................................................ 1

Overview............................................................................................................ 1

Statement of the Problem................................................................................... 1

Need for the Study............................................................................................. 2

Purpose of the Study.......................................................................................... 2

Research Question............................................................................................. 3

Definitions of Terms.......................................................................................... 3

Summary ........................................................................................................... 5

CHAPTER 2 – LITERATURE REVIEW..................................................................... 7

Introduction........................................................................................................ 7

What Exactly is Job Satisfaction........................................................................ 7

Why is Job Satisfaction Important..................................................................... 9

What Can Organizations Do to Improve Job Satisfaction............................... 11

Myths About Job Satisfaction: What the Research Shows.............................. 12

Factors That Contribute to Job Satisfaction..................................................... 13

Job Characteristics............................................................................... 13

Social Information Processing: Organizational Characteristics.......... 16

Disposition (Worker Characteristics).................................................. 17

Burnout............................................................................................................ 19

Mental Health Counselors and Job Satisfaction.............................................. 23

Counseling Job Settings................................................................................... 24

Job Satisfaction Scales..................................................................................... 25

Global Job Satisfaction........................................................................ 25

Facet Job Satisfaction.......................................................................... 30

Combination Scales............................................................................. 33

Job Satisfaction Within the Three Job Settings............................................... 34

Online Counseling............................................................................... 34

Competencies....................................................................................... 35

Credentials........................................................................................... 36

Comparison of Job Satisfaction Scales............................................................ 38

Instrument Used for This Study....................................................................... 39

COVID-19 in Relation to this Research.......................................................... 39

Summary.......................................................................................................... 40

CHAPTER 3 – METHODOLOGY............................................................................. 42

Introduction...................................................................................................... 42

Statement of the Problem................................................................................. 43

Research Question........................................................................................... 44

Participants and Sample Size........................................................................... 44

Instrumentation................................................................................................ 44

Data Collection Procedures.............................................................................. 46

Statistical/Data Analysis.................................................................................. 46

Ethical Considerations..................................................................................... 47

CHAPTER 4 – RESULTS........................................................................................... 48

Introduction...................................................................................................... 48

Descriptive Data............................................................................................... 48

Participants, Missing Data, and Outliers.............................................. 48

Sample Size and Statistical Significance............................................. 49

Demographic Groups and Work Settings............................................ 49

Demographic Ratio Data...................................................................... 51

Overall Job Satisfaction................................................................................... 51

MSQ (1967) vs MSQ Plus (2021)....................................................... 51

Pre- vs. Post-COVID19....................................................................... 53

Notable Trends Within Demographic Groups................................................. 53

Race...................................................................................................... 53

Gender Identity.................................................................................... 54

Individual Components with the Strongest Correlation.................................. 55

Research Question........................................................................................... 57

Work Setting: Private Practice............................................................. 69

Work Setting: Online and Agency....................................................... 69

Summary.......................................................................................................... 60

CHAPTER 5 – DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS........................................................... 62

Introduction...................................................................................................... 62

Summary of the Study..................................................................................... 62

Overall Job Satisfaction................................................................................... 63

MSQ (1967) vs. MSQ Plus (2021)...................................................... 63

Pre- vs. Post-COVID-19...................................................................... 63

Demographic Factors....................................................................................... 64

Asian Individuals................................................................................. 64

Genderqueer Individuals...................................................................... 65

Most Influential Factors Contributing to Overall Job Satisfaction.................. 66

Conclusions with Suggestions for Future Research......................................... 67

Research Question............................................................................... 67

Implications for the Profession............................................................ 68

Suggestions for Future Research......................................................... 69

Summary of Findings....................................................................................... 70

LIST OF TABLES

Table 1. Comparison of Job Satisfaction Scales

Table 2. Demographic Subgroups and Work Settings

Table 3. Overall Job Satisfaction: MSQ (1967) versus MSQ Plus (2021)

Table 4. Gender ID Trends

Table 5. Work Settings with the Highest Value for Each Factor

Included in

Counseling Commons

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