This study sought to determine if relationships exist in the educational preparation level and training/development activities of administrative professionals holding membership in the International Association of Administrative Professionals with selected demographic/organizational variables.
Findings indicated that one-third of respondents (33%) earned a high school diploma and had some additional college education to accompany that diploma. Respondents (194 or 42.9%) holding a college degree ranged from associate degree to master's degree.
Sources most often utilized for training/professional development by respondents were professional organizations (362 or 13.1%), including regular meetings and attending conferences. Workshops/seminars (333 or 12.1%) and in-house training (315 or 11.4%) followed as most popular sources for training/professional development. Human relations training/professional development activities (1,138) were most often sought by respondents, followed by software activities (830).
Statistical significance was found in the relationship between the educational preparation of IAAP members and their age, number of years in present position, number of years in field, and salary.
Spearman correlation was used to determine if there was a relationship between the type and source of training/professional development activities of IAAP members. Statistical significance was found in selected relationships between communication, human relations, hardware, and software activities with professional organizations, organization, and public education sources.
Conclusions based upon the research findings of this study include that the majority of IAAP members are female and at an average age of 52, that administrative professionals join professional organizations after having worked in the field for a number of years, that the majority of administrative professionals are employed in the service industry, and that most IAAP members do seek training/professional development at least every two years. In addition, statistical significance was found in the relationship between educational level of IAAP members and their age, number of years in present position, number of years in the field, and salary.
Recommendations were given for administrative support faculty and business/industry training functions. In addition, recommendations for study replication were also provided.
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