| Descript |
141 p |
| Note |
Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 67-02, Section: A, page: 0420 |
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Adviser: Pamela Eddy |
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Thesis (Ed.D.)--Central Michigan University, 2006 |
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Changing dynamics and increasing demands on schools have redirected the role of school leaders, especially principals. Ultimately, a principal's effectiveness is critical to the success of a school. A substantial measure of a principal's effectiveness is provided through subordinates' perceptions of their principal. One aspect of perception is formed based on the use of humor. The effective use of humor in the workplace has received limited research and that which has been undertaken is deficient in two regards: first, it is focused on a workplace of prior eras, and second, it does not take into consideration the effects of humor when employed in educational leadership. The purpose of this study was to determine if there is a relationship between a principal's use or non-use of humor and his/her effectiveness as perceived by subordinates |
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Quasi-experimental, post-test, quantitative survey methodology using hypothesis testing was utilized for this study. The entire staffs of 16 schools, including elementary, middle, and high schools within a specific county were surveyed. The survey instrument queried perceptions on leader effectiveness and leader use of humor. Demographic information was elicited to control for intervening variables in data analysis. The gender of both leaders and respondents was given special attention |
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The statistical results of the study demonstrated that there was not a significant relationship between a leader's use of humor and his or her effectiveness as perceived by the subordinates. In addition the demographic variable of gender, either of the leader or the subordinate, was not intervening in the subordinates' perceptions, thus there was not a relationship between gender and humor or effectiveness. Leaders were judged more effective by subordinates in instances in which the subordinates' personal needs were being met. The data also indicated that subordinates rated their principals lower in areas of external, visionary variables; however, they still ranked their principals high in their overall effectiveness. Even though this study concluded there was no link between humor and effectiveness or gender and effectiveness, the most critical factor in a subordinate's perception of a leader's effectiveness is the perception of the subordinate that his or her personal needs have been met. An implication for the results of this research is that leaders need to frame their external roles more clearly to subordinates and provide links between the day-to-day interactions within the school building and meeting the larger community needs |
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School code: 6006 |
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DDC |
| Host Item |
Dissertation Abstracts International 67-02A
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| Subject |
Education, Administration
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0514
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| Alt Author |
Central Michigan University
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