Barry A. Friedman, Paula E. Bobrowski and Dana Markow
The purpose of this paper is to identify factors of parent satisfaction, then identify predictors of overall school satisfaction among three groups of variables: district…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to identify factors of parent satisfaction, then identify predictors of overall school satisfaction among three groups of variables: district characteristics, parent demographics, and school satisfaction factors. Despite the importance of parents in the success of schoolchildren, few empirical studies address the complexities and factor structure of parent satisfaction with their children's school.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper reports findings from a survey of 30,279 parents from 121 schools in 27 school districts across the USA conducted by Harris Interactive, Inc. The researchers employed factor analysis to identify factors of parent satisfaction, and then regressed overall satisfaction on district characteristics, demographic variables, and satisfaction factors.
Findings
In this paper three parent satisfaction factors were found: the extent to which parents received adequate information from the school about their children, and the degree of involvement the school and teachers afforded them, the adequacy of school resources, and the extent to which school leadership (Board of Education and School Superintendent) was effective and managed the school budget well. These factors significantly predicted overall parent/school satisfaction even after district and demographics were controlled.
Originality/value
The study increases one's understanding of the underlying factors that explain parent satisfaction, and demographic, and district characteristics that predict parents' satisfaction. The findings suggest factors that school administrators manage these factors in order to improve parent satisfaction.
Details
Keywords
Barry A. Friedman, Paula E. Bobrowski and John Geraci
Parent satisfaction with their children's school is an important issue in today's competitive educational environment characterized by school choice and government standards;…
Abstract
Purpose
Parent satisfaction with their children's school is an important issue in today's competitive educational environment characterized by school choice and government standards; however, few empirical studies address school satisfaction similarities and differences among parents from different ethnic groups. The purpose of this paper is to determine empirically similarities as well as differences in the factors important to parents from different ethnic backgrounds.
Design/methodology/approach
This article presents a conceptual model of parent satisfaction with schools that was derived from the literature as well as researchers at the Harris Interactive Poll Organization. The article reports the findings from a survey of 27,605 African‐American, Asian, Caucasian, and Hispanic parents from 121 schools in 27 school districts across the US. Regression analyses identified factors that contribute to overall school satisfaction among the ethnic groups.
Findings
Ethnic parental groups share attributes with respect to school satisfaction; however, the importance groups place on such school characteristics as parental involvement, school administration, and technology varies. Across ethnic groups, parents' school satisfaction was influenced most by their rating of school safety, followed by the school budget and teacher effectiveness. Factors more proximal to children's school experience (e.g. safety, teachers, and facilities) had greater influence on parents' school satisfaction than factors of lesser proximity (e.g. district administration).
Originality/value
The study furthers our understanding of parent's school satisfaction with their children's schools, especially with respect to ethnicity. The study findings have practical implications for school administrators who must first understand parents' school satisfaction across and among ethnic groups, set priorities, and take action to increase parent school satisfaction.
Details
Keywords
B. Andrew Cudmore, Paula E. Bobrowski and Tinatin Kiguradze
Commercial healthcare and hospital‐based web sites appear to exhibit distinctive formats. This paper aims to compare two award winning medical web sites with two top commercial…
Abstract
Purpose
Commercial healthcare and hospital‐based web sites appear to exhibit distinctive formats. This paper aims to compare two award winning medical web sites with two top commercial healthcare web sites in an effort to determine significant predictors of positive attitudes toward the web sites when actively searching for healthcare information.
Design/methodology/approach
Three linear regressions were utilized to test the paper's hypotheses. Subjects entered a computer laboratory and were given search tasks for health information to complete within four web sites (two commercial and two hospital‐based web sites – order randomized).
Findings
The study shows how user perception, attitude and gratification are revealing of the strengths and weaknesses of hospital‐based vs commercial healthcare web sites as a means of providing users with healthcare information. Commercial healthcare web sites are viewed significantly more positively than hospital‐based web sites, revealing that overall web site quality and ease of use to be the dominant predictors of positive attitudes toward the web sites.
Research limitations/implications
The ecological validity of using real web sites presents challenges in terms of controlling for alternative explanations stemming from within web site type. Future research could explore different tasks that can be facilitated by medical web sites and assess the attributes of the web sites accordingly.
Practical implications
The paper can help design and develop better hospital‐based and commercial healthcare web sites.
Originality/value
This research explored actual information search behavior and the resulting web site user perceptions in an effort to bring academic inquiry into practice. Nothing similar to the hypotheses or this methodology has been found within the web site effectiveness literature, neither generally nor specifically within the healthcare industry.