PREDICTORS OF STUDENT SATISFACTION WITH THE USE OF SIMULATION TRAINING AIDS IN POST-SECONDARY AUTOMOTIVE TECHNICIAN PROGRAMS

Veronica A. Martinez
City of Chicago, Department of Aviation and
Argosy University, Chicago
John C. Palmer
Argosy University, Chicago
Melissa C. Griswold
Maryville University, St. Louis

ABSTRACT

This study examines predictors of student satisfaction with simulation training aids in automobile repair courses. Based on a survey that was administered to automotive repair training participants at two Chicago area technical schools, the results indicated that satisfaction with simulation training aids was positively related to perceived skill development, perceptions of faculty quality, and student age, with older participants generally reporting the highest levels of satisfaction with training aids. However, in a multiple regression analysis that examined influences of predictor variables simultaneously, only perceived skill development was a significant predictor of student satisfaction indicating that this variable overwhelmed the potential influences of other personal and contextual factors that were considered in the model.

Keywords: Student satisfaction, skill development, faculty quality, simulation training aids