A determination of the relative importance of tasks performed in selected entry level data processing jobs in Texas with curricular implications

Abstract

Purpose: The central purpose of this study was to determine the relative importance of tasks performed by personnel in selected entry level data processing job classifications in Texas. The following specific objectives were developed: 1. To determine the essential tasks performed in the data processing industry that could be provided through post-secondary and proprietary school training programs. 2. To rate in degrees of importance, tasks perceived by technicians, supervisors, and instructors as being essential to specific job classifications in business data processing. 3. To determine if a correlation existed among the technicians, supervisors, and instructors as being essential to specific job classifications in business data processing. Procedures: The procedures of this study involved the gathering of data from four populations: technicians, supervisors, post-secondary and proprietary instructors, concerning the perceived importance of twenty-five tasks associated with each of the following job categories: programmer, computer operator, and keypunch operator. Each population rated the tasks by job category and an analysis of variance technique was applied to four, three, and two population task rating comparisons. The resulting F ratios were tested to the .05 level of significance for acceptance of the null hypothesis of equal task ratings. Individual ratings by population were ranked for each job category and composite rankings were determined by industry and education. Major Findings 1. The three null hypotheses of equal population task means for four, three, and two population comparisons were accepted at the .05 level of significance for the following number of tasks associated with the job categories of programmer, computer operator, and keypunch operator: Four population comparison: Twenty-three programmer tasks, twenty-three computer operator tasks, and twenty keypunch operator tasks met the requirements for acceptance of hypothesis one.