Dimensions and Determining the Satisfaction of Students at an Institution of Higher Education

Abstract

Several academic papers seek to validate attributes, dimensions, and constructs of student satisfaction at Institutions of higher education. Inside of this scope, the current paper has the fundamental goal of measuring the level of satisfaction for students at an Institution of higher education, to identify both the latent dimensions and the determinants for this satisfaction. This research took place at a recently established campus. The data were collected through an assessment scale, which consisted of 31 variables. The sample contained 139 students (p=0.50; e=0.08; 1- α=0.95) and the scale achieved a Cronbach's α coefficient of 0.92. An Exploratory Factor Analysis (extraction of the principal components) with Varimax orthogonal rotation was used to extract and summarize data dimensions. The procedure extracted six factors that explain 59.04% of the total variability: "Attitudes of the teachers" (eigenvalue=4.60), "Extracurricular Factors" (eigenvalue=3.99), "Support for university activities" (eigenvalue=3.40), "Teaching method" (eigenvalue=3.01), "Training of the teachers" (eigenvalue=1.69) and "Ancillary Activities" (eigenvalue=1.61). In general, the highest average was found in the dimension "Training of the Teachers" and less on "Extracurricular Factors". The overall satisfaction score was 50.07% (low) indicating the need for improvement in several areas of the institution. The multiple linear regression model (R 2 =0.97) was significant at 1% probability. The dimension "Attitudes of the teachers" was the largest contributor to the level of student satisfaction.