Publication Date

1980

Document Type

Dissertation/Thesis

First Advisor

Walker, Albert, 1920-

Degree Name

M.A. (Master of Arts)

Legacy Department

Department of Journalism

LCSH

House organs

Abstract

The problem in this study was to determine the effectiveness of the employee publication of a Midwestern hospital. Although the hospital had issued an employee publication for many years, no attempt had been made to determine what employees thought of it. A questionnaire was developed and, coupled with a content analysis, several hypotheses about the publication were tested. A total of 207 employees were selected to receive the questionnaire. Participation was voluntary, and 140 employees completed and returned questionnaires, a 68 percent return. There were 11 hypotheses in all. The first dealt with the readership of the publication, and stated that more employees would indicate they read the publication "often" than those who indicate "occasionally" or never. It was accepted. The second hypothesis stated that most employees would indicate they receive the bi-weekly publication every other week rather than oftener or less frequently. The hypothesis was accepted. The third hypothesis stated that most employees would indicate they want the publication every other week. It was accepted. The fourth hypothesis dealt with the method of distribution, and stated that most employees would indicate they like to receive the publication with their paychecks. This hypothesis was accepted. The fifth hypothesis stated that more employees would check "employee profiles" as a best liked feature than any other feature. This hypothesis was rejected. The sixth hypothesis stated that more employees would check "hospital programs and projects" as the feature most useful in relation to their jobs than any other feature. This hypothesis was accepted. The seventh hypothesis stated that more employees would check "a significant source of information" than any other description of the publication. This hypothesis was rejected. The eighth hypothesis stated that more employees would select "fellow employees" as their primary source of information related to the hospital than any other source. This hypothesis was rejected. The ninth hypothesis stated that more employees would select "group meetings with administration" as their preferred source of information about the hospital than any other source. This hypothesis was rejected. The tenth hypothesis stated that the top "best liked" category selected by more employees would conform with the top category of the content analysis. This hypothesis was accepted. The eleventh hypothesis stated that the "most useful" category selected by more employees would conform with the top category of the content analysis. This hypothesis was accepted. The conclusions of the study were that the employees generally accepted the publication as an established communication medium within the hospital. They view the publication as their present and preferred source of hospital information. There was, however through questionnaire comments, an indication that the publication could be strengthened through some internal restructuring of format, content, and method of distribution.

Comments

Includes bibliographical references.

Extent

v, 83 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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