Abstracts Category : Other

Perceptions of interior design program chairs regarding credentials for faculty

by Beth Richardson Miller

The purpose of this study was to determine whether program chairs in interior design have a preferred degree credential for candidates seeking a full-time, tenure-track position or other full-time position at their institution and to determine if there is a correlation between this preference and the program chairs universitys demographics, their own credentials, or their acceptance of an online terminal degree. Data were collected for the 2 research questions using a quantitative survey instrument. Multiple regression analysis was used to analyze the relationship between the dependent variable, the Hiring Perception Scale and the independent variables, characteristics of the program. Multiple regression analysis was also used to analyze the relationship between the dependent variable, the Hiring Perception Scale and the independent variables, the program chairs credentials. The survey instrument was a self-administered online questionnaire divided into 5 sections. Some of the demographic categories utilized in the survey instrument were developed by the Interior Design Educators Council (2008) in their member survey. Other questions were designed based on questions used on a survey by Adams andDeFleur (2005). Their survey examined the acceptability of doctoral degrees earned online as credential for obtaining a faculty position. The group of participants for the survey was composed of interior design-program chairs in interior design programs accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation. The results from analyses appeared to show only institution type, Public and land-grant status predicted hiring perceptions. The five variables that were related to individual characteristics of the program chair did not predict hiring perceptions. This study has provided the preferred degree preference by interior design chairs for full-time positions. Findings revealed acceptance of online terminal degrees and the most-valued credentials preferred by interior design chairs. Advisors/Committee Members: Connie M. Forde (chair), Joe D. Wilmoth (committee member), James H. Adams (committee member), Chien Yu (committee member), Jianzhong Xu (committee member).