Explaining Teachers' Job Satisfaction, Intent to Leave, and Actual Turnover

193 Pages·2015·1.13 MB·English

Florida State University Libraries
Electronic Theses, Treatises and Dissertations The Graduate School
2008
Explaining Teachers' Job Satisfaction, Intent
to Leave, and Actual Turnover: A Structural
Equation Modeling Approach
Sung-Hyun Cha
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FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY

COLLEGE OF EDUCATION

EXPLAINING TEACHERS’ JOB SATISFACTION, INTENT TO LEAVE, AND ACTUAL

TURNOVER: A STRUCTURAL EQUATION MODELING APPROACH

By

SUNG-HYUN CHA

A Dissertation submitted to the
Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies
in partial fulfillment of the
requirements for the degree of
Doctor of Philosophy

Degree Awarded:
Spring Semester, 2008

Copyright © 2008
Sung-Hyun Cha
All Rights Reserved
The members of the Committee approve the dissertation of Sung-Hyun Cha defended
on March 7, 2008.

Lora Cohen-Vogel
Professor Directing Dissertation

Betsy Becker
Outside Committee Member

Jeffrey S. Brooks
Committee Member

Patrice Iatarola
Committee Member

Approved:

Gary Crow, Chair
Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies

The Office of Graduates Studies has verified and approved the above named committee members.
ii
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The success of this dissertation was made possible by the constant guidance and
encouragement of many people. First, I would like to thank the members of my doctoral
committee, Dr. Lora Cohen-Vogel, Dr. Jeffrey Brooks, Dr. Patrice Iatarola, and Dr. Betsy
Becker, for their support and guidance along the way. They have provided thoughtful
comments and intellectual guidance without which I would not have come this far.
Particularly, I am grateful to my advisor, Dr. Lora Cohen-Vogel. She has provided emotional
guidance and feedback throughout my study. I deeply appreciate all her efforts to help me to
succeed. I also would like to thank Department Chair, Dr. Gary Crow, and the member s of
staff in the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies for their financial and
administrative support throughout my years at Florida State University.
My special thanks go to my wife, Sujung Lee, for accompanying me through the
journey and for sharing my stresses and frustrations; to my lovely kids, Mirae, Junseo, and
Eunseo, whose arrival brightened my life; and to my mom and brother in Korea for their love,
understanding, and support.
I would also thank the external foundations that supported this study. This research
was supported by a grant from the American Educational Research Association which
receives funds for its “AERA Grants Program” from the National Science Foundation and the
National Center for Education Statistics of the Institute of Education Sciences (U.S.
Department of Education) under NSF Grant #REC-0310268. Opinions reflect those of the
author and do not necessarily reflect those of the granting agencies. Thanks to all of you that I
named and to all that I did not take the time to name from the bottom of my heart.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

List of Tables ........................................................................................................................... vii 
List of Figures ........................................................................................................................... xi 
Abstract .................................................................................................................................. xiii 

CHAPTER I 
INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................................... 1 
Background of the Study ........................................................................................................... 3 
Statement of the Problem ........................................................................................................ 10 
Purpose of the Study ................................................................................................................ 12 
Research Questions.................................................................................................................. 13 
Significance of the Study ......................................................................................................... 13 
Limitations of the Study .......................................................................................................... 14 

CHAPTER II 
LITERATURE REVIEW AND CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK ......................................... 16 
Theories Related to Teacher Turnover ..................................................................................... 16 
Human Capital Theory ....................................................................................................... 16 
Social Learning Theory ...................................................................................................... 20 
Dual-Factor Job Satisfaction Theory ................................................................................. 22 
The Characteristics of the Teacher Labor Market .............................................................. 23 
Factors Related to Teacher Turnover ....................................................................................... 25 
Salary ................................................................................................................................. 25 
Working Conditions ........................................................................................................... 27 
Professional Training Experiences ..................................................................................... 31 
Teacher Characteristics ...................................................................................................... 33 
School Characteristics ........................................................................................................ 34 
Job Satisfaction .................................................................................................................. 35 
Turnover Intention ............................................................................................................. 37 
Conceptual Framework............................................................................................................ 38 

CHAPTER III 
METHODOLOGY .................................................................................................................. 44 
Research Hypotheses ............................................................................................................... 44 
iv
Data Source.............................................................................................................................. 45 
The 1999-2000 Schools and Staffing Survey .................................................................... 46 
The 2000-2001 Teacher Follow-up Survey ....................................................................... 47 
Analytic Sample ................................................................................................................. 48 
Sampling Weights .............................................................................................................. 51 
Discussion of the Constructs and Indicators............................................................................ 52 
Job Satisfaction .................................................................................................................. 52 
Turnover Intention ............................................................................................................. 53 
Actual Turnover ................................................................................................................. 54 
Salary ................................................................................................................................. 54 
Working Conditions ........................................................................................................... 54 
Professional Training Experiences ..................................................................................... 57 
Teacher and School Characteristics ................................................................................... 58 
Statistical Technique: Structural Equation Model Approach ................................................... 58 
Model Specification ................................................................................................................. 59 
Data Analysis Procedures ........................................................................................................ 63 
Preliminary and Descriptive Analysis ................................................................................ 63 
Exploration of Factor Structure of Indicators and Constructs ........................................... 64 
Establishment of the Measurement Model ........................................................................ 66 
Multi-group Analysis ......................................................................................................... 66 
Descriptive Results .................................................................................................................. 68 
Teacher Characteristics ...................................................................................................... 68 
School Characteristics ........................................................................................................ 71 
Exploration of the Factor Structure of Indicators .................................................................... 75 
Factor Structure of Salary .................................................................................................. 75 
Factor Structure of Working Conditions ............................................................................ 80 
Factor Structure of Professional Training Experiences ..................................................... 87 
Exploration of the Measurement Model .................................................................................. 97 
Preliminary Analysis .......................................................................................................... 97 
Evaluation of the Measurement Model Fit ........................................................................ 98 
Assessment of Validity and Reliability of Constructs and Indicators .............................. 100 

CHAPTER IV 
RESULTS ............................................................................................................................... 103 
Tests of the Relative Weights ................................................................................................. 103 
Tests of the Mediating Effects of Job Satisfaction and Turnover Intention .......................... 107 
Multi-Group Analysis ............................................................................................................ 122 
v
The Final Structural Model .............................................................................................. 123 
Teacher Characteristics .................................................................................................... 125 
School Characteristics ...................................................................................................... 137 

CHAPTER V 
DISCUSSION ........................................................................................................................ 144 
Summary of Findings ............................................................................................................ 145 
The Impact of Working Conditions ................................................................................. 145 
The Impact of Salary ........................................................................................................ 147 
The Impact of Professional Training Experiences ........................................................... 148 
Policy Implications and Recommendations .......................................................................... 149 

APPENDIX A. THE 1999-2000 SASS ITEMS AND CODING .......................................... 152 
APPENDIX B. THE FINAL STRUCTURAL MODEL WITH INDICATORS.................... 162 
REFERENCES ...................................................................................................................... 163 
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH ................................................................................................. 179 

vi
LIST OF TABLES

Table 3.1 Number of Selected Teachers and Response Rates .................................................. 47
Table 3.2 Number of Selected Schools and Response Rates ................................................... 47
Table 3.3 The TFS Final Teacher Status Matched with the SASS ........................................... 48
Table 3.4 Classification of Stayers by Main Assignments ....................................................... 49
Table 3.5 Occupational Status of Former Teachers in the TFS ................................................ 50
Table 3.6 Classification of Leavers by Main Assignments ...................................................... 51
Table 3.7 Sample Distributions of Leavers and Stayers within Teacher Characteristics ......... 70
Table 3.8 Sample Distributions of Leavers and Stayers within School Characteristics .......... 72
Table 3.9 Results of Mean Difference for the Selected Teacher/School Characteristics ......... 72
Table 3.10 Sample Distributions of Observed Variables for Turnover Intention ..................... 73
Table 3.11 Sample Distributions of Observed Variables for Job Satisfaction ......................... 74
Table 3.12 Sample Distributions of Teachers’ Additional Earnings ........................................ 76
Table 3.13 Results of Mean Difference in Additional Earnings .............................................. 77
Table 3.14 Results of Mean, Standard Deviation, Minimum, and Maximum for Salary ........ 78
Table 3.15 Results of Mean Difference between Leavers and Stayers in Salary ..................... 79
Table 3.16 Correlations among Indicators for Salary .............................................................. 79
Table 3.17 Results of Exploratory Factor Analysis for Working Conditions .......................... 81
Table 3.18 Results of Confirmatory Factor Analysis for Working Conditions ........................ 82
Table 3.19 Correlations among Working Conditions Factors .................................................. 83
Table 3.20 Mean, Standard Deviation, Minimum, and Maximum for Working Conditions
Indicators................................................................................................................ 84
Table 3.21 Result of the Chi-square Difference Test for One-Factor CFA for Working
Conditions .............................................................................................................. 87
Table 3.22 Sample Distributions of Participation of Professional Development Activities .... 88
Table 3.23 Sample Distributions of Participation of Professional Development Activities in
Content-Related Topical Areas .............................................................................. 89
Table 3.24 Results of Mean and Standard Deviation for Participation Hours and Usefulness in
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Topical Areas, and Overall Usefulness .................................................................. 90
Table 3.25 Sample Distributions of Support for Participation of Professional Development
Activities ................................................................................................................ 91
Table 3.26 Sample Distributions of Rewards after Completion of Participation of Professional
Development Activities .......................................................................................... 92
Table 3.27 Correlations among Composite Variables of Professional Training Experiences .. 93
Table 3.28 Mean, Standard Deviation, Minimum, and Maximum for Professional Training
Experience Indicators ............................................................................................. 93
Table 3.29 Results of Mean Difference between Leavers and Stayers in Professional Training
Experiences ............................................................................................................ 94
Table 3.30 Descriptive Statistics of Variables Considered for Structural Equation Modeling 96
Table 3.31 Assessment of Univariate Normality and Multicollinearity .................................. 97
Table 3.32 Correlations among Observed Variables ................................................................ 98
Table 3.33 Correlations among Latent Constructs ................................................................. 100
Table 3.34 Reliabilities and Validities for Constructs and Indicators .................................... 101
Table 4.1 Summary of the Results of the Relative Weights of Structural Relationships ....... 107
Table 4.2 Fit Indices for the Mediating Model of Job Satisfaction on the Effect of Salary on
Turnover Intention .................................................................................................. 111
Table 4.3 Fit indices for the Mediating Model of Job Satisfaction on the Effect of Working
Conditions on Turnover Intention .......................................................................... 113
Table 4.4 Fit Indices for the Mediating Model of Job Satisfaction on the Effect of Salary on
Actual Turnover ...................................................................................................... 114
Table 4.5 Fit Indices for the Mediating Model of Turnover Intention on the Effect of Salary
on Actual Turnover ................................................................................................. 116
Table 4.6 Fit Indices for the Mediating Model of Turnover Intention on the Effect of Salary
on Actual Turnover ................................................................................................. 117
Table 4.7 Fit Indices for the Mediating Model of Turnover Intention on the Effect of Working
Conditions on Actual Turnover .............................................................................. 119
Table 4.8 Fit indices for the Mediating Model of Turnover Intention on the Effect of Job
Satisfaction on Actual Turnover ............................................................................. 120
Table 4.9 Standardized Direct, Indirect, and Total Effect for the Final Structural Model ..... 124
Table 4.10 Results of Test of Invariance of Measurement Model for Gender ....................... 126
viii
Table 4.11 Results of Test of Invariance of Measurement Model for Race ........................... 127
Table 4.12 Structural Path Coefficients between White and Other Racial Teachers ............. 128
Table 4.13 Results of Test of Invariance of Structural Model for Race ................................. 128
Table 4.14 Results of Test of Invariance of Measurement Model for Degree ....................... 128
Table 4.15 Structural Path Coefficients between Teachers with a B.A and a M.A ................ 129
Table 4.16 Results of the Test of Invariance of Structural Model for Degree ....................... 129
Table 4.17 Results of Test of Invariance of Measurement Model for Certification .............. 130
Table 4.18 Structural Path Coefficients between Teachers with Regular and/or Advanced
Certificate and Teachers without Certificates and/or Regular Certificate ........... 130
Table 4.19 Results of Test of Invariance of Structural Model for Certification .................... 131
Table 4.20 Results of Test of Invariance of Measurement Model for Years of Teaching
Experience ............................................................................................................ 132
Table 4.21 Structural Path Coefficients between Teachers with Less than 3 Years of Teaching
Experience and More than 3 Years of Teaching Experience ................................ 132
Table 4.22 Results of Test of Invariance of Structural Model for Years of Teaching
Experiences .......................................................................................................... 132
Table 4.23 Results of Test of Invariance of Measurement Model for Age ............................ 134
Table 4.24 Structural Path Coefficients between White and Other Racial Teachers ............. 134
Table 4.25 Results of Test of Invariance of Structural Model for Age .................................. 134
Table 4.26 Results of Test of Invariance of Measurement Model for Subject Areas
(Math/Science and Others) .................................................................................. 135
Table 4.27 Structural Path Coefficients between Math/Science Teachers and Others .......... 135
Table 4.28 Results of Test of Invariance of Structural Model for Subject Areas (Math/Science
and Others) ........................................................................................................... 136
Table 4.29 Results of Test of Invariance of Measurement Model for Subject Areas (Special
Ed and Others) ..................................................................................................... 136
Table 4.30 Structural Path Coefficients between Math/Science Teachers and Others .......... 136
Table 4.31 Results of the Test of Invariance of Structural Model for Subject Areas (Special Ed
and Others) ........................................................................................................... 137
Table 4.32 Results of Test of Invariance of Measurement Model for School Level ............. 138
Table 4.33 Results of Test of Invariance of Structural Model for School Level ................... 138
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