Access Type

Open Access Dissertation

Date of Award

1-1-1999

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Ed.D.

Department

Curriculum and Instruction

First Advisor

Dr. Burnis Hall

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine if leadership styles and personality types differed among elementary school principals in schools that were accredited by the State of Michigan and those that were nonaccredited. Accreditation from the State of Michigan indicated that students have attained a level of mastery, while nonaccreditation meant the students were not performing academically. The role of the principal needed to be investigated to determine if specific leadership styles could be linked to academic performance and if principals in high achieving schools had different types of leadership. A total of 18 principals in accredited schools and 19 principals in nonaccredited schools completed three instruments, Least Preferred Co-Worker Scale to measure leadership style, Myers-Briggs Type Indicator to determine personality styles, and a short demographic survey to obtain information regarding the personal and professional characteristics of the principals and collect data about the parents and the schools. In addition, information on the percentage of free and reduced lunch program qualifiers was obtained from the Michigan Department of Education via the Internet. The results of the analysis provided no evidence of differences between principals in accredited and nonaccredited schools in regards to personality types or leadership styles. As all of the principals were found to exhibit relationship-oriented leadership styles, a comparison of personality type by type of leadership style was not completed. Ancillary analysis compared the percentage of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch over a three-year program between the accredited and nonaccredited schools. The results of these analyses were statistically significant indicating that accredited schools had significantly fewer students qualifying for free or reduced lunch programs than schools that were not accredited.

Download

Share

COinS