Degree of Job Alienation Among Academic Department Heads and its Relation to Faculty Members' Level of Seriousness for Work

Abstract

Purpose: The study aimed to identify the degree of job alienation among academic department heads in Jordanian universities; and examine its relationship with faculty members' level of seriousness, to understand if there were differences due to variables like gender and years of experience. Method: The correlation descriptive approach was used to analyze the data collected through a validated questionnaire from a study sample of 306 faculty members, during the second semester 2022/2023. Findings: The results revealed a high degree of job alienation among heads of academic departments at Jordanian universities, from the point of view of faculty members, and a high and positive correlation between job seriousness and all aspects of job alienation. The results also indicated that differences in the study sample members' views of the degree of job alienation among heads of academic departments in Jordanian universities were influenced by variables of gender and years of experience. Implications for Research and Practice: The study findings would provide useful insights to academicians and policy makers to give attention to sample members' views of seriousness in work place, depending on gender and years of experience. The study recommends working on the best method of selecting the head of the academic department from among the faculty members who have the experience security, stability, and employment stability.