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ERIC Number: ED643236
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2021
Pages: 173
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: 979-8-8193-3506-2
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
A Comparative Case Study of the Experience and Satisfaction of Business Management Majors at a Small, Private Liberal Arts College and a Large, Public Research Institution
Tres Loch
ProQuest LLC, Ed.D. Dissertation, University of Florida
The purpose of this qualitative comparative case study is to explore the similarities and differences of the lived experiences and satisfaction of undergraduate business management majors attending a small, private, liberal arts institution and those attending a large, public, research university. Through the utilization of document analysis and interviews, common themes as well as differentiators between the experiences and satisfaction levels of students pursuing their bachelor's degree at the two dissimilar institutions are developed. The research question for this study is: what are the similarities and differences between the experiences and satisfaction of undergraduate business management majors attending a small, private, liberal arts institution and those attending a large, public, research institution? An overarching theme tied to student satisfaction, and a differentiator between the two institutions in this study, is size- class size, faculty size and overall school size. This proved to be a double edged sword for participants, in the sense that in some ways, bigger was better, and in other ways, size decreased satisfaction. A common theme across several of the categories of responses to the interview questions was that participants often felt overall satisfaction in a particular area, but vividly recalled one or two bad experiences. The qualitative data suggests that bad experiences tend to make a strong and lasting impression on students. Perhaps not unlike satisfaction with other aspects of life, participants in the study often expressed their perception of satisfaction with certain experiences, even if they had not actually engaged directly with those experiences. A key finding revealed in the research that was not anticipated nor a purposeful part of the study is that business students tend to underutilize some of the key resources provided by colleges and universities, namely the library and related library services, career services and computer labs. Given the impact of student satisfaction on areas including (but not limited to) retention, completion rates, alumni engagement and overall institutional reputation, and the increasingly competitive landscape of recruiting and retaining college students, higher education institutions should be mindful of the experiences and satisfaction levels of their students and consider making adjustments as needed and appropriate. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com.bibliotheek.ehb.be/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]
ProQuest LLC. 789 East Eisenhower Parkway, P.O. Box 1346, Ann Arbor, MI 48106. Tel: 800-521-0600; Web site: http://www.proquest.com.bibliotheek.ehb.be/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml
Publication Type: Dissertations/Theses - Doctoral Dissertations
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A