Oraganizational commitment and burnout levels: A field survey of academicians at foundation universities in İstanbul

In this research, the significance of organizatinal commitment and burnout concepts were emphasized through theoretical and conceptional analyses, and by determining organizational commitment and burnout levels (with their sub levels) of academicians at foundation universities, to what extent dependent variables differ and according to which demographical features, and whether there is a relation between sub levels composing two different dependent variables, were revealed.Within the scope of the research, the province of İstanbul in Marmara Region, being the densest region in terms of foundation universities, is the area of the research. Due to some obstacles, it had not been possible to reach all areas of the research; therefore, samples are given. In this context, a questionnaire as Personal Information, Allen-Meyer Organizational Commitment Scale and Maslach Burnout Inventory, composed of forty seven questions and three sections, was applied to 377 academicians at foundation universities in İstanbul in 2008-2009 academic year. Reliability, frequences, proportion and averages of data obtained by questionnaires were assessed, analyzed by t-test and One Way Anova, and in which groups differences exist was determined by Tukey PostHoc. The relations between sub levels, composing dependent variables, were determined through Pearson Product Moment Correlation Technique. The meaningfulness level of research was accepted as 0,05.At the end of reseach, it is determined that there exists inverse, meaningful relation between organizational commitment levels and burnout levels. It is found out that organizational commitment level of academicians is medium and their burnout level is low. It is determined that while organizational commitment level differs according to gender, marital status, age, years in occupation, years in institution, academic title and salary it does not differ as to work load per week. It is determined that while burnout level differs according to gender, marital status, age, years in occupation, academic title and work load per week, it does not differ as to years in institution and salary. However, it is determined that an inverse relation exists between salary and emotional exhaustion level.Key Words: Organizational Commitment, Burnout, Foundation Universities, Academician, Academician?s Organizational Commitment, Academician Burnout.