Microsoft Word 2007 ichrie conference Proceedings Final-Final 06-06-07. doc

 
Instrumentation.
 
The data collection tool was a self-administered survey questionnaire that was mailed to 
all alumni of the participating programs. A four-page survey instrument was designed, developed, and tested, 
specifically for this study, using a previously developed instrument as a template. The survey was developed in two 
parts. The first part of the questionnaire presented a series of items with numerical scale responses. Sequentially, 
alumni were asked to respond to questions about their first employment experience after graduation, their co-
op/internship experience, and then their current employment. The second part of the survey used categorical 
response items and focused on the personal profile information needed to control for differences between programs 
due to the demographics of the students graduating from the programs. The industry preparedness scale, developed 
by the researcher, asked questions of preparedness and preview with regard to the demands and expectations of the 
hospitality industry. The job satisfaction survey questions focused on those points that the literature review 
identified as being primarily responsible for turnover in the industry. Both of these categories used a 6-point scale, 
wherein 1=strongly disagree and 6 = strongly agree. The instrument was assessed for content validity and reliability.