Job Satisfaction as an Outcome Measure of the Effectiveness of an Agricultural Communications Academic Program

Abstract

Agricultural communications is an academic program area that has evolved from its early beginnings in print-based agricultural journalism. Due to the changing nature of technology and the need to communicate to diverse, increasingly urbanized audiences, agricultural communications has evolved to include public relations, marketing, broadcasting and Webbased communications, consequently impacting the role and responsibilities of many professional agricultural communicators. Although most of the research that has been conducted on agricultural communicators has focused on their perceptions as to how to improve educational programs and curricula, few studies have looked at the job satisfaction of graduates once they leave the programs that prepared them for their subsequent careers. A descriptive survey of a population of recent graduates of the University of Florida's agricultural communications program was conducted to assess how satisfied respondents were with their jobs, as well as explore the relationships between facets of job satisfaction and graduates' perceptions as to the effectiveness of their educational preparation. Results of the study indicated that the majority of respondents were generally satisfied with their positions. Respondents' perceptions of their opportunities for promotion, their co-workers and the work itself were also positively correlated with their evaluations of the effectiveness of the university's educational preparation.

Relationship between Socio-Demographic Characteristics and Job Satisfaction: Evidence from Private Bank Employees

“…Human resource policies are positively related with human capital development (Ahmed, 2015). Irani (2002) conducted a study to the University of Florida's agricultural communications program to assess how satisfied respondents were with their jobs, as well as explore the relationships between facets of job satisfaction and graduates' perceptions as to the effectiveness of their educational preparation. Results of the study indicated that the majority of respondents were generally satisfied with their positions.…”

Needed communication skills during initial employment as perceived by graduates of the West Virginia University Davis College of Agriculture, Forestry and Consumer Sciences

“…"As the profession of agricultural communications continues to develop and refine its mission in society, we must relate this mission to our academic programs" (Buck & Paulson, 1995, p. 1, as cited by Irani & Scherler, 2002).…”

“…Paulson and Metzger (1990) stated that if agriculture curriculums were to meet the needs of the industry, then communication programs must maintain contact with professionals in the field to ascertain the needs and skills required for a career in agricultural communications. Historically there have been studies conducted to identify educational and curricular needs of the agricultural communications student and perceptions as to how to improve programs (Irani & Scherler, 2002). However, an indepth review of research exhibits a lack of exploration into determining communication skills used during initial employment by students who were educated in agricultural communications.…”

Untitled

“…It is necessary to examine the long-term outcomes of programs for school counseling studies with regard to the professional identity and satisfaction of the graduates. Satisfaction with one's workplace and job may reflect the effectiveness of a training program and its response to the needs of the profession, and may indicate possible changes that should be made to the program and how it should be developed (Grilli & Rampichini, 2007;Irani & Scherler, 2002). The differences between students' satisfaction with school counseling programs and programs' effectiveness in college and university settings has not been explored in Israel and therefore many questions remain concerning these topics.…”