Examination of the Service Quality Perceptions and Academic Engagement Levels of the Students of the Faculty of Sport Sciences

The purpose of this study is to examine the perceptions of service quality and academic engagement of athletic department students according to the variables of gender, age, department, class, type of education, athletic status, and origin from different states; to determine if there is a relationship between perceptions of service quality and academic engagement; and finally, to determine if service quality predicts academic engagement. The study was conducted using the survey model with quantitative approaches. 298 students of Karamanoğlu Mehmet bey University, Faculty of Physical Education voluntarily participated in the study. The service quality scale, academic engagement scale, and a personal information form prepared by the researchers were used for the study. The T-test, Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), Pearson's Correlation Coefficient, and Linear Regression analysis were used to analyse the data. According to the results, significant differences were found in the overall scale of service quality and/or its sub-dimensions depending on the variables other than the type of education. Significant differences were found in the academic engagement scale in relation to other variables, except for the variables of age and type of education. It was also found that there was a positive and moderately significant relationship between athletic department students' ratings on the quality of service scale and academic engagement. In addition, it was found that 22% of these students' academic engagement was determined by service quality and service quality was a significant contributor to the prediction of academic engagement. As indicated by the result, a high perception of service quality has a positive effect on academic engagement.Keywords: Academic Engagement, Higher Education, Service Quality