Marketability of the textile and apparel master's graduate to business and industry employers

183 Pages·2016·3.6 MB·English

Iowa State University Capstones, Theses and
Retrospective Theses and Dissertations
Dissertations
1995
Marketability of the textile and apparel master's
graduate to business and industry employers
Deborah Jane Colton Meyer
Iowa State University
Follow this and additional works at:https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/rtd
Part of theBusiness Commons,Educational Sociology Commons,Home Economics Commons,
and theOther Education Commons
Recommended Citation
Meyer, Deborah Jane Colton, "Marketability of the textile and apparel master's graduate to business and industry employers " (1995).
Retrospective Theses and Dissertations. 11031.
https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/rtd/11031
This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Iowa State University Capstones, Theses and Dissertations at Iowa State University
Digital Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in Retrospective Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Iowa State University
Digital Repository. For more information, please [email protected].
U M I
MICROFILMED 1995
INFORMATION TO USERS
This manuscript has been reproduced from the microfilm master. UMI
films the text directfy from the original or copy submitted. Hius, some
thesis and dissertation copies are in typewriter face, while others may
be from any type of con^uter printer.
Hie quality of this reproduction is dependrat upon the quality of the
copy submitted. Broken or indistinct print, colored or poor quality
illustrations and photographs, print bleedthrough, substandard margins,
and inqn-oper alignment can adverse^a ffect reproduction.
In the unlikely event that the author did not send UMI a complete
manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if
unauthorized copyright material had to be removed, a note wiD indicate
the deletioa
Oversize materials (e.g., maps, drawings, charts) are reproduced by
sectioning the original, beginning at the upper left-hand comer and
continuing from left to right ise qual sections with small overlaps. Eadi
original is also photographed in one exposure and is included in
reduced form at the back of the book.
Photogr^hs induded in the original manuscript have been reproduced
xerographically in this copy. Higher quality 6" x 9" black and white
photographic prints are available for any photographs or illustrations
appearing in this copy for an additional charge. Contact UMI directly
to order.
A Bell & Howell information Company
300 North Zeeb Road. Ann Arbor. Ml 48106-1346 USA
313.'761-4700 800.'S2l-0600

Marketability of the textile and apparel master's graduate
to business and industry employers
by
Deborah Jane Colton Meyer
A Dissertation Submitted to the
Graduate Faculty in Partial Fulfillment of the
Requirements for the Degree of
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY
Department: Textiles and Clothing
Major: Textiles and Clothing
Approved:
Signature was redacted for privacy.
In Char^ofMajor Work
Signature was redacted for privacy.
Signature was redacted for privacy.
Iowa State University
Ames, Iowa
1995
Copyright © Deborah Jane Colton Meyer, 1995. All rights reserved.
UHI Number: 9606638
Copyright 1995 by
Meyer, Deborah Jane Colton
All rights reserved.
OHI Microform 9606638
Copyright 1995, by DHI Company. All rights reserved.
This microform edition is protected against unauthorized
copying under Title 17, United States Code.
UMI
300 North Zeeb Road
Ann Arbor, MI 48103
To Bill
iii
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
LIST OF TABLES vii
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ix
ABSTRACT x
CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION 1
Background 1
Statement of the Problem 2
Research Approach 3
Theoretical Perspective 3
Definitions 4
Assumptions 4
Limitations 5
Three-Phase Master's Degree Research 5
Dissertation Organization 6
CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW
Introduction g
Master's Degree Employment Studies 8
Master's Degrees 8
Need for Master's Graduates 9
Purpose of Master's Education 9
Previous Master's Degree Employability Studies 11
Employer Expectations 14
General Studies of Employer Expectations 16
Knowledge 16
Educational Coursework 16
Work Experiences 16
Skills 17
Personal 17
Interpersonal 17
Abilities 18
Intellectual 18
Physical 19
Master's Degree Employer Expectation Studies 19
Academic Master's Programs 19
Applied Master's Programs 20
Previous Master's Employer Expectation Studies 20
Textiles and Clothing Studies 23
Exchange Theory 26
Economic Exchange 26
Social Exchange 27
Marketing As an Exchange Theory 27
Central Concepts of Exchange 28
Conditions for Exchange 29
iv
Value of Exchange 30
Value Assessment 31
Criticisms of Marketing as Exchange 33
Studies Using Exchange Theory 34
Research Questions and Hypotheses 35
Research Questions 35
Hypotheses Tested 36
CHAPTER 3: METHOD
Survey 38
Questionnaire 38
Cover Page 38
Attitudes Toward Master's Degrees 38
Scenarios 39
Textiles and Apparel Hiring Record 41
Characterisitics of Respondents 42
Population and Sample 42
Prescreened Sample 43
Non-Prescreened Sample 43
Cover Letter 42
Data Collection 44
Questionnaire Pilot Testing 45
Prescreened Sample 46
Nonprescreened Sample 46
Data Analysis 47
Measures of Central Tendency and Dispersion 47
Correlational Analyses 47
Factor Analysis 48
Multiple Regression 49
Discriminant Analysis 49
Human Subjects 49
CHAPTER 4: FINDINGS 50
Sample Selection and Response Rates 50
Invited Samples 50
Prescreened Sample 50
Non-prescreened Sample M
Accepting Sample 51
Response from Prescreened Sample 51
Response from Non-prescreened Sample 51
Combined Samples 54
Overall Participant Demographics 54
Company Characteristics 54
Human Resource Participant Characteristics 56
Company Value of Graduate Education 56
Educational Incentives 58
Hiring and Promotion Policies 59
Factor Analysis of Hiring and Promorion Practices Items 61
Respondent Characteristics and Company Values 62
Reasons for Not Hiring Master's Graduates 64
Graduate Degrees Currently Represented in Industry 65
V
Implications 66
Scenarios 67
Applicant A 67
Importance of Previous Work Experience: Applicant A 69
Applicant B 70
Importance ofPrevious Work Experience: Applicants 71
Applicant C 73
Importance ofPrevious Work Experience: Applicant C 74
Applicant D 76
Importance of Previous Work Experience: Applicant D 77
Implications 79
Knowledge Emphasis 79
Work Experience 79
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities of Textiles and Clothing Graduates 80
Perceptions of Textiles and Clothing Master's Graduates 81
Knowledge Areas 81
Skills and Abilities 84
Hiring Decisions 87
Value of a Master's Degree 88
Differences Between Categories 90
CHAPTERS: SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS 92
Summaiy of Research 92
Summary of Results 94
Company Value of Graduate Education 94
Employer Expectations 95
Knowledge 95
Educational Coursework 95
Perceptions of Textiles and Clothing Master's Graduates'Knowledge
Areas 97
Work Experience 97
Abilities 99
Intellectual Abilities 99
Skills 100
Interpersonal 100
Hiring Practices and Decisions 101
Application of Exchange Theory 102
Limitations 103
Contributions to Research 104
Recommendations for Future Research 104
Final Conclusions 105
REFERENCES 108
APPENDIX A: Categories and Subcategories 118
APPENDIX B: Invited Companies 122
APPENDIX C: Questionnaire and Correspondence Materials 130
APPENDIX D: Telephone Procedures 148