Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

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Open Access Dissertation

Keywords

Electronics--Study and teaching; Technical education; Technologists--Education;

Abstract

The objective of this study was to determine the fundamental electromechanical concepts needed by electromechanical technology graduates to perform efficiently at the entry-level employment in related industry. An extensive review of the literature indicated that it was necessary to prepare electromechanical technologists with emphasis given to the area of electrical/electronics technology, mechanical technology, fluids, and fiber optics. Thusly prepared, these graduates would be able to service modern industrial equipment and would have greater opportunities in the job market than at present.

A Likert format questionnaire was developed to gather the necessary data. The survey instrument consisted of 91 concept statements grouped under four area headings: electrical/electronics, mechanical, fluids, and fiber optics. Each concept statement was followed by a scale section in order to ascertain the degree of importance of each concept to the respondent's job.

The population targeted for this study consisted of all the affiliates of the Instrument Society of America (ISA) working in the fields of computer, instrumentation, automation, and robotics, in the United States. The randomly selected sample was made up of 589 members with the majority (479 or 81.32%) coming from the states of Texas, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Ohio, New York, Michigan, Louisiana, Wisconsin, and Indiana. Of the 589 questionnaires mailed, 329 (55.85%) were returned. Of these, 4 were incomplete and the remaining 325 (55.18%) questionnaires became the basis for this study.

The collected data were analyzed at the Academic Computing Services at the University of Northern Iowa, using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSSX). Mean values and standard deviations for each concept was determined as well as the grand mean value. The results of the study were presented in tabular form.

Forty-one concept statements were rated with a mean value equal to or greater than the grand mean value (2.80). The area of electrical/electronics technology had the highest number of important concept statements with 26 (63.41%) concepts, followed by the area of fluids with 10 (24.39%) concepts, next the area of mechanical technology with 4 (9.76%) concepts, and finally the area of fiber optics with 1 (2.44%) concept.

The results of this study were: (1) There is a need for electromechanical technologists to function effectively in the fields of computer, instrumentation, automation, and robotics. (2) Electromechanical technology programs should place most emphasis in the area of electrical/electronics technology followed by the area of fluids. (3) Contrary to the findings of the survey of literature, the area of fiber optics has been shown by this study to be of low importance for today's electromechanical technologists.

Year of Submission

1988

Degree Name

Doctor of Industrial Technology

Department

Department of Industrial Technology

First Advisor

Rex W. Pershing (Advisor)

Second Advisor

M. Roger Betts (Co-Advisor)

Date Original

7-1988

Object Description

1 PDF file (ix, 131 pages)

Language

en

File Format

application/pdf

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