Publication Date

1973

Document Type

Dissertation/Thesis

First Advisor

Walker, Albert, 1920-

Degree Name

M.A. (Master of Arts)

Legacy Department

Department of Journalism

LCSH

Public relations

Abstract

A questionnaire was sent to hospital and sample manufacturing public relations directors in the geographic area defined by the North Suburban Association for Health Resources (NSAHR). The questionnaire was designed to determine significant differences between hospital and manufacturing public relations directors with regard to age, title, educational background and experience, types of duties and responsibilities as well as other data which indicate the types of programs these public relations directors deliver. The 13 NSAHR hospitals are in a geographic area in Illinois which includes north Cook County and over half of Lake County. The 13 matching sample manufacturing public relations directors are from a total population of 1,772 manufacturing firms in 77 cities and villages (including a portion of Chicago) within the boundaries of the NSAHR. Manufacturing samples were matched and stratified to the hospitals according to number of employees. Stratification was in five divisions of 400 from 100-499 employees to 1,700-2,099 employees. Tests of characteristics of hospital and manufacturing public relations directors were hypothesized to show differences between the two groups and the programs they deliver. The Chi Square Test together with the Yates Correction Formula was used to determine any significant differences between hospital and manufacturing public relations directors. In 40 tested areas of possible differences, manufacturing public relations directors were not found to be significantly different from hospital public relations directors. In the other 13 tested areas of possible differences, significant differences indicated hospital public relations directors are better prepared for their profession than are manufacturing public relations directors. In the literature portion of this study, hospital public relations directors are generally considered to be less prepared for public relations than are manufacturing public relations directors. However, this study demonstrates that in the test population, hospital public relations directors are at least equal to their counterparts in manufacturing in all 53 tested areas and are better prepared in 13 of the tested areas. Further study can proceed in two directions. The same population can be tested further in other areas of possible differences. Of greater importance, however, would be similar studies of other hospital and manufacturing populations. This would determine whether the findings of this study are unique to the population studied or whether they represent overall data throughout the country.

Comments

Includes bibliographical references (pages 132-133)

Extent

147 pages

Language

eng

Publisher

Northern Illinois University

Rights Statement

In Copyright

Rights Statement 2

NIU theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from Huskie Commons for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without the written permission of the authors.

Media Type

Text

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