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|
Correlation The researchers received 42 responses to the surveys in four days. Results reflect the officers, O-5 through O-6, perception of public affairs practitioners. The Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient statistical test was applied to determine if a relationship exists between the independent variables (rank, gender, years in service, extent of contact, and understanding of the public affairs mission) and the dependent variables (likeability, character, competence, attitude, trust). A positive correlation was found between senior officers understanding of the public affairs mission and several variables. The correlation between understanding and extent of contact is .537, which is significant at the .000 level. Between understanding and likeability of public affairs practitioners the correlation is .311, which is significant at .045. The last correlation between understanding and competence is .370, which is significant at .016. This indicates that as senior officers understanding of the public affairs mission increase, so to will the extent of contact, and likeability and competence of public affairs practitioners. The researchers also found that there is a positive correlation between the senior officers’ likeability and perception of character of the public affairs practitioners. The correlation between likeability and character is .518 and is significant at the .000 level. A positive correlation is also indicated between likeability and attitude of the public affairs program. The correlation between likeability and attitude is .568 and is significant at the .000 level. Therefore, as likeability of the public affairs practitioners increase, so to will the positive character of the public affairs practitioners. Likewise, as likeability of the public affairs practitioners increase, the positive attitude of the public affairs program will increase. In addition, a positive correlation was found between senior officers’ perception of public affairs practitioners character and competence. The correlation between character and competence is .377 and is significant at the .013 level. A positive correlation was also found between character and the attitude of public affairs program. The correlation between character and attitude is .367, which is significant at the .016 level. The senior officers’ positive perception of character of the public affairs practitioner will likely indicate a positive perception of competence and attitude of the public affairs program. The significance of correlation between gender, character and attitude is interesting here because only three out of 42 surveys were from female officers. A positive correlation was found between gender of senior officers and their perception of character of public affairs practitioners. The correlation between gender and character is .449, which is significant at .002. Gender also shows a positive correlation with senior officers attitude of public affairs program. The correlation between senior officers’ gender and attitude of public affairs program is .374, which is significant at the .014 level. This interesting result is cause for future research. Although most correlations were positive, the researchers found one negative correlation between the trust and character of the public affairs practitioners. This correlation is -.546, which is significant at the .05 level (2-tailed). This negative correlation is unusual and is reason for future research. |
|
Correlation
Test
|
|||||
|
|
Contact
|
Likeability
|
Character
|
Competence
|
Attitude
|
| Understanding |
.537
(.000)
|
.311
(.045)
|
-
|
.370
(.016)
|
-
|
| Likeability |
-
|
-
|
.518
(.000)
|
-
|
.568
(.000)
|
| Character |
-
|
-
|
-
|
.377
(.013)
|
-
|
| Gender |
-
|
-
|
.449
(.002)
|
-
|
.374
(.014)
|
|
Regression |
|
Regression
Test
|
|||||
|
|
Attitude
|
Trust
|
Competence
|
Character
|
Likeability
|
| Gender |
.026
|
.045
|
-
|
.003
|
-
|
| Understanding |
.126
|
-
|
.044
|
-
|
.153
|
| Predictors: Rank, Gender, Years, Understanding, Contact |