A Qualitative Inquiry of Research Administrator Perceptions of Job Satisfaction in a Central Research Administration Unit at the University of Denver

<p>The Sponsored Programs Administration (SPA) team provides critical research administration services for the research community at the University of Denver. As research funding continues to rise at the University of Denver, retention of research administrators is critically important. Job satisfaction is key to employee engagement and retention. Higher job satisfaction contributes to several positive outcomes for institutions, including lower turnover, higher productivity, lower costs, and employee loyalty. The need to retain experienced research administration professionals is highlighted by the fact that few formal educational routes exist that prepare employees for a career in research administration; rather, developing expertise takes a long period of on-the-job training. Consequently, strategies to increase employee retention are more important than ever for research administration leadership. Utilizing a qualitative inquiry methodology, this evaluation identified the nature of a research administrator’s work and explored how the elements of the work affect job satisfaction. Self-determination theory, a broad framework for the study of human motivation, links the concerns of organizational performance and employee satisfaction and wellness by suggesting that both are impacted by the type of motivation that employees have for their job activities. Evaluating the work environment of a research administration unit through the lens of self-determination theory provides the conceptual framework to guide the formation of processes and practices that positively impact both the organization and the employees. Several findings on the nature of the work and its effect on job satisfaction point to four recommendations as well as broader implications for practice. The four recommendations include increasing the frequency and clarity of communications with the SPA team; prioritizing employee retention across the institution; addressing the SPA team’s workload; and implementing more effective training programs.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Ed.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation in Practice

Year

2023

Author dc:creator

• Strom, Noelle L.

Contributors dc:contributor

• Mike Hoa Nguyen
• Michele Tyson
• Laura Sponsler

• Evaluation
• Higher education staff
• Job satisfaction
• Research administration
• Education
• Educational Administration and Supervision
• Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research
• Higher Education
• Higher Education Administration
• Other Education

Statement dc:rights

• <p>Copyright is held by the author. User is responsible for all copyright compliance.</p>

Language dc:language

English (eng)

Repository record dc:identifier

https://digitalcommons.du.edu/etd/2323

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:digitalcommons.du.edu:etd-3315