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Dissertation Information for Mary Ann Affleck

NAME:
- Mary Ann Affleck

DEGREE:
- Ph.D.

DISCIPLINE:
- Library and Information Science

SCHOOL:
- Simmons College (USA) (1994)

ADVISORS:
- Peter D. Hernon

COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
- None

MPACT Status: Fully Complete

Title: Burnout among bibliographic instruction librarians

Abstract: The literature of library and information science suggests that BI librarians might be at risk for professional burnout stemming from role stress, to which lack of faculty
status and inadequate educational preparation contribute, and that this risk might be heightened by a lack of social support in the workplace. However, no published study has
systematically measured burnout among BI librarians; explored the relationship among burnout, role stress and factors contributing to role stress; or examined how workplace social support might modify the relationship between role stress and burnout. This study fills that void. Assessment of burnout in BI librarians is important in light of the high cost to individuals and institutions associated with the burnout syndrome.
The study used a multi-method design, collecting quantitative data via mailed survey and qualitative data through follow~up interviews on the sources of role stress with two survey respondents at each of three universities. Respondents at the three sites for follow-up interviews were at different points along a continuum from low to high role stress and burnout. The study population was all BI librarians at the 93 colleges and universities which are listed as comprehensive or liberal arts institutions in the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Learning (1987) and which offered BI. The survey contained 1) the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) (Maslach & Jackson, 1986) , which measures burnout, 2) the Role Questionnaire, constructed by Rizzo, House and Lirtzman (1970), which measures role stress, i.e., role conflict and ambiguity, 3) the Peer Cohesion and Supervisor Support subscales of the Work Enviromnent Scale (WES) (Moos, 1981), which measures social support, 4) questions on educational preparation for BI and faculty rank and status and 5) background information on the respondents.
The survey yielded 142 usable questionnaires, for a response rate of 75.1 % Analysis of the survey data indicated that BI librarians do suffer from burnout, with 52.8% reporting high burnout in one dimension of burnout and 8.5% showing high burnout in all three aspects of the syndrome. The study tested a conceptual model of the relationships among study variables. The analysis indicated that role conflict, but not role ambiguity, contributed to the emotional exhaustion and depersonalization dimensions of burnout. Perceived lack of educational preparation for the role of BI librarian was a significant predictor of role stress. The absence of faculty rank and status was not found to be associated with role stress nor did lack of social support modify the relationship between role stress and burnout. Data collected in the six interviews indicated that "boundary spanning," that is, crossing departmental boundaries to teach in a BI program, lack of
participation in decision making, changing roles, resource scarcity and lack of clear goals for BI programs may be sources of role conflict and ambiguity.
The study concluded with suggestions for future research and recommendations that education for academic librarians be reevaluated, that BI programs be reorganized, and that librarians replace their tentative commitment to BI with a firm one in order to alleviate role stress as a contributor to burnout in BI librarians.

MPACT Scores for Mary Ann Affleck

A = 0
C = 0
A+C = 0
T = 0
G = 0
W = 0
TD = 0
TA = 0
calculated 2008-01-31 06:33:21

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Students under Mary Ann Affleck

ADVISEES:
- None

COMMITTEESHIPS:
- None