Graduates, Employers and the Academy: Perceptions
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GRADUATES, EMPLOYERS AND THE ACADEMY: PERCEPTIONS OF THE QUALITY AND UTILITY OF EXTERNAL DEGREES OVER TWENTY FIVE YEARS by Glenn Robert Puffer A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Education in Education MONTANA STATE UNIVERSITY Bozeman Montana November 2005 8 COPYRIGHT by Glenn Robert Puffer 2005 All Rights Reserved iii APPROVAL of a dissertation submitted by Glenn Robert Puffer This dissertation has been read by each member of the thesis committee and has been found to be satisfactory regarding content, English usage, format, citations, bibliographic style, and consistency, and is ready for submission to the College of Graduate Studies. Dr. Richard Howard Approved for the Department of Education Dr. Robert Carson Approved for the College of Graduate Studies Dr. Joseph Fedock iv STATEMENT OF PERMISSION TO USE In presenting this dissertation in partial fulfillment of the requirements for a doctoral degree at Montana State University–Bozeman, I agree that the Library shall make it available to borrowers under rules of the Library. I further agree that copying of this dissertation is allowable only for scholarly purposes, consistent with "fair use" as prescribed in the U.S. Copyright Law. Requests for extensive copying or reproduction of this dissertation should be referred to Bell & Howell Information and Learning, 300 North Zeeb Road, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48106, to whom I have granted "the exclusive right to reproduce and distribute my dissertation in and from microform along with the non-exclusive right to reproduce and distribute my abstract in any format in whole or in part." Glenn Robert Puffer November, 2005 v ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I wish to acknowledge the unstinting patience and advice of the members of the Graduate Committee: Professor Richard Howard, Chair Dr. Larry Baker Dr. Scott Davis Dr. Boyd Dressler I especially wish to express my appreciation to Professor Richard Howard for his unfailing confidence and guidance, and to Dr. Larry Baker for his wise counsel, boundless encouragement and unflagging support throughout the dissertation process. A special thanks, too, to Paula Dressler for her superb editing. vi TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. INTRODUCTION ................................................1 Problem ........................................................4 Purpose of the Study .............................................. 5 Theoretical Framework for the Study ................................. 5 Research Question ................................................ 7 Significance of the Study ........................................... 7 Definition of Terms ............................................. 12 Assumptions, Limitations, and Delimitations .......................... 16 Assumptions ...............................................16 Limitations ................................................17 Delimitations ...............................................17 Plan of the Study ................................................ 17 Data Collection Method....................................... 18 Criteria for Selection of Articles ................................ 18 Data Analysis Method ....................................... 19 Timeframe for the Study ...................................... 19 Chapter Summary ............................................... 20 2. LITERATURE REVIEW ......................................... 21 Problem and Purpose of the Study ................................... 21 Outline of the Chapter ........................................ 22 History of External Studies or Distance Education ................. 22 Synthesis of the Literature ......................................... 31 Criteria for Selection of the Literature ........................... 32 Context of the Problem ....................................... 32 Current Understanding of the Problem ........................... 35 Practical Considerations of the Problem .......................... 38 Previous Research and Findings ................................ 39 Review of Previous Research, Findings, and Opinions .............. 47 Review of Research Methodologies ............................. 48 Evaluation of the Literature ........................................ 50 Summary of the Review ...................................... 50 Overall Weaknesses and Strengths .............................. 51 Gaps and Saturation Points .................................... 53 Avenues for Further Inquiry ................................... 54 Chapter Summary ............................................... 55 vii TABLE OF CONTENTS (Cont’d) 3. METHODOLOGY .............................................. 58 Problem .......................................................58 Purpose of the Study ............................................. 59 Research Question ............................................... 59 Theoretical/Conceptual Framework ................................. 59 Method of Selection of Literature for Review ..................... 59 Validity and Reliability ....................................... 67 Validity ................................................ 67 Reliability .............................................. 68 Variables ..................................................69 Research Design ................................................ 71 Rationale ..................................................71 Invalidity and Minimization ................................... 72 Procedure .................................................73 Analysis Strategy ........................................... 74 Chapter Summary ............................................... 76 4. RESULTS .....................................................78 Problem and Purpose ............................................. 79 Data Collection ............................................. 80 Data Summary ............................................. 82 Data Audit ................................................. 83 Results ....................................................84 Discussion of the Meaning of the Results ............................. 95 Statistical versus Practical Significance .......................... 95 Trends ....................................................96 Supplementary Analysis ...................................... 97 Relationship to Prior Research ................................. 98 Findings .................................................101 Uncontrolled Factors Influencing Outcomes ..................... 102 Observations on the Data .................................... 103 Incidental Findings ......................................... 104 Summary of Results ............................................. 107 Chapter Summary .............................................. 108 viii TABLE OF CONTENTS (Cont’d) 5. CONCLUSIONS ...............................................110 Problem and Purpose ............................................ 111 Review of Methodology ......................................... 112 Summary of the Results .......................................... 113 Discussion of Broader Implications ................................. 115 External Degrees and Outcomes ............................... 115 External Degrees and Economics .............................. 117 External Degrees and Credentials .............................. 120 Implications of Incidental Findings ............................ 123 Limitations of the Study ..................................... 124 Summary of the Findings ......................................... 125 Answer to the Research Question .............................. 125 Recommendations for Further Research ............................. 126 Procedural Adjustments ..................................... 128 Replication ...............................................128 Summary .....................................................129 REFERENCES .....................................................130 APPENDICES .....................................................144 APPENDIX A: INCLUDED ARTICLE ARCHIVE ..................... 145 APPENDIX B: UNDETERMINED ARTICLE ARCHIVE ............... 176 APPENDIX C: INDIVIDUAL SEARCH RESULTS BY YEAR .......... 229 APPENDIX D: SYNDICATED CARTOONS ......................... 234 ix LIST OF TABLES Table Page 1. Cumulative Search Results by Year ................................ 85 2. Incidental Findings ............................................ 104 x LIST OF FIGURES Figure Page 1. Research Methodology Schematic ................................. 65 2. Example: Archive Entry ......................................... 65 3. Example: Individual Article Archive Table .......................... 66 4. Example: Cumulative Article Archive Table ......................... 66 5. Quality and Utility - Total Perceptions .............................. 87 6. Graduates, Employers, Academy Total Perceptions ................... 88 7. Graduates, Employers, Academy Positive vs. Negative Perceptions ....... 88 8. Number of Articles 1979-2001 .................................... 89 9. Quality and Utility 1979-2003 .................................... 90 10. Graduates’ Perceptions .......................................... 91 11. Employers’ Perceptions ......................................... 91 12. Academy’s Perceptions .......................................... 92 13. Comparison of Positive Perceptions ................................ 93 14. Comparison of Negative Perceptions ............................... 94 15. Frequency of Articles by Year 1979-2003