The study aims to analyze the level of student satisfaction with the MA Degree Program in Leadership and Organizational Studies at Fresno Pacific University in order to assess the effectiveness of the program. To achieve this objective, the study has incorporated a cross-sectional, quantitative research design where data is collected through a survey received from a sample of 23 students. Results show that students are quite satisfied from the program where variations are noticed on the basis of demographics and the different aspects of the program studied.
In this regard, while assessing the paper for its writing style and structure, it is conspicuous that the work is well presented which adheres to the APA format. However, although the required segments of a research report such as introduction, objectives, methodology, results and analysis are coherent in this paper, the research has not incorporated a reference list which lowers the authenticity of the work done and the sources referred. Apart from this shortcoming, the paper is well structured where it elucidates a detailed picture of the dimensions of studying the effectiveness of the program consulted and aids it with visual diagrams such as charts and graphs. Although the tables and figures are not properly labeled, the appendix is in place (Burns, A. & Bush, R., 2009). Moreover, the paper presents a detailed demonstrative analysis of the practical limitations of the study and also suggests ways in which it could have been minimized. Apart from addressing these weaknesses, the recommendation section could have also added in new ways to conduct the similar study or expand upon it. Some of the suggestions include, the use of a longitudinal, qualitative design, incorporating a comparative analysis technique to measure the way satisfaction level differs across demographic features or expanding upon the view of assessing the satisfaction level and program effectiveness on the basis of student performance. Recommending such ideas widens the scope of a study.
In contrast to the presentable outlook of the research, the paper has some spelling mistakes and although it follows an appropriate required sequence, it is slightly difficult to differentiate one section from the other. Therefore, in order to reduce this weakness, headings should be in bold so that it not only catches the attention of the reader/evaluator, but it acts as a determinant of distinguishing one part of the paper from the other. Adding in a reference list along with correcting the spelling and grammatical mistakes would further add value to the paper.
Proper analysis of data
While analyzing the data obtained from a study, it is highly important to relate the findings with the research objectives of the work being conducted. Since the aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of Leadership and Organization program at Fresno Pacific University, the research was focused to find the satisfaction of the students. The survey measured a number of different themes catering to the satisfaction of the program which were essential in measuring the effectiveness of the program. The research report has used various statistical measures to analyze the data obtained from the survey. This is done in a very fine, elaborate manner by the use of descriptive statistics. In this regard, the mean of different questions has not only been discussed but visually displayed in order to provide the reader with a more coherent picture of the results obtained. In addition, the report has also incorporated the outliers and discussed the extreme cases along with those which were not following the general trends. This is done in a very efficient manner in order to clear out any questions that may arise by looking at the fluctuating results.
Although, the analysis of data is done in a precise summated manner for the clear and broad picture of the results, it would have been better to divide the data into themes and discuss it. Regardless of the data being divided into themes as depicted by the tables presented in the appendix, the analysis section should have followed the same pattern while discussing the results. In this way, the reader could have gotten a detailed explanation about the satisfaction associated with curriculum, teachers, students, and other similar themes. Discussing the data via this manner would have also presented a comparative picture about the level of satisfaction with the different aspects of the program.
Although the analysis section includes the analysis and shows the different responses accredited to location, the results could have also been analyzed by examining the difference in satisfaction level because of age and gender. This could have been done using correlation and cross-tabulation statistical options. Analyzing the satisfaction level with respect to demographics of the respondents will help in generalizing the results of this study to a greater extent.
Proper definition of problem
The paper starts with a broad view of the importance of marketing research followed by the study program and ultimately highlighting the key features of it. The problem of this study appears to be the measurement of the overall satisfaction level of the graduate students in the MA Degree Program in Leadership and Organizational Studies at Fresno Pacific University as this program is in it its intial stages of development. Due to the nature and status of the Leadership and Organizational program, there is a need to ask the students about their level of satisfaction with the program in order to measure its effectiveness and predict its growth and the product.
Although, the problem as well as the purpose of the study is clear from the report, a separate heading or even a separate statement of the problem would have created a better image of the actual direction being addressed by the study.
Use of marketing research process
The research design of this study is cross sectional, descriptive which involves a positivist approach. It is a quantitative study which uses a questionnaire as a data collection tool which is efficiently designed to address all the aspects related to the satisfaction of students of Leadership and Organizational studies. Since the population of the study is 70, it initially aimed to encompass all the students for this research. However, the response rate was quite low which has been justified on the basis of time and other resource constraint. The study could have been improved if the data collection had started earlier in order to get the maximum number of responses which would positively influence the way results are generalized.
The research methodology does not mention the specifics of sampling method, instrument selection, variables, and the software employed. This shortcoming is further highlighted through the results where participants are unevenly distributed across different locations; majority of the respondents belonging to the North campus. Such results often skew a research. To improve this shortcoming, sampling techniques such as cluster or stratified sampling could have yielded equal or considerable number of responses from every location which would then help in comparing the difference in the level of satisfaction between different students (Burns, A. & Bush, R., 2009). Regardless of this, the methodology is clearly designed to achieve each and every objective of the study from measuring the overall satisfaction towards the program to assessing the specifics of team building and understanding of leadership. Although this work incorporates a mono method of research by using a survey for a quantitative study, it could have further expanded the study by a use of an interview. Since resource was a limitation of this study and the use of focused group and interviews was in the list of recommendations, this study could have interviewed teachers in order to know their opinion about the effectiveness of the program, its impact on students and the areas of improvement. Using a qualitative as well as a quantitative research design would have helped in a detailed analysis of the effectiveness of MA Degree Program in Leadership and Organizational Studies. Despite its benefit, it would have conceived a lot of time and effort which was a major limitation of the study. Keeping in mind such limitations, mailing the surveys to the respondents was a very intelligent approach to collect the authentic data for this study.
Survey Design
The survey has been appropriately design thereby taking care of almost all of the essential requirements. First of all, the survey had a consent form which is vital for every research while collecting data in order to ensure confidentiality of the responses in order to eradicate all the privacy concerns of the participants. Not only this, the research also outlines the objectives and the purpose of the study by acknowledging the participation in a very polite and an appreciating manner. The questions are quite precise, structurally correct and properly formatted which pleases the participants who are often hesitant in filling out extra long questionnaires in which many questions are unclear. Also, the use of language is easy and straightforward where jargons and words with many connotations are avoided. Moreover, the questions are all in the same positive direction which makes it easier for the respondents to understand and answer. The survey uses a 6 point likert scale without an option of ‘neutral’ which aids in clear analysis of the favorable unfavorable response. Same scale being used throughout the survey increases the reliability and the structure of the survey design (Burns, A. & Bush, R., 2009). Instructions are proper and the survey questions are in line with the objectives to be achieved.
Although the questions cater to the different aspects of satisfaction of the program being studied, it would be better if the questions were divided into different themes; where each theme was highlighted in the form of a heading and contained equal number of questions. This would not only simplify the presentation or the responses being received, but would also make it easier to measure the results. In addition to the space provided for individual comments, the survey could have added an open ended question for responses/feedbacks regarding the ways in which the program could have been improved. This section is important as although currently framed questionnaire is successfully measuring the level of satisfaction and dissatisfaction of students towards the university program which would ultimately assess its effectiveness, it misses out a part for the opinion on improvements. Consequently, the responses gained from this segment would help examine and thereby improve the aspects which undermine the program.
Thus, like every other research, although this study also has some shortcomings in the way data is analyzed and depicted along with the way the report is written, the study has been successful in achieving its objective and in presenting the findings. Hence, it demonstrates a clear, descriptive view of the results which are essential in order to examine and understand the level of student satisfaction with the MA Degree Program in Leadership and Organizational Studies at Fresno Pacific University
Reference
Burns, A. & Bush, R. (2009). Marketing Research. 6th Edition. Prentice Hall
