International Association of Educators   |  ISSN: 1949-4270   |  e-ISSN: 1949-4289

Volume 13 Issue 3 (September 2018)

Original Articles

Understanding Democratic and Distributed Leadership: How Democratic Leadership of School Principals Related to Distributed Leadership in Schools?

Derya Kılıçoğlu

pp. 6 - 23   |  DOI: 10.29329/epasr.2018.150.1

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine democratic and distributed leadership perceptions of teachers in their school and to explore the relationship between democratic and distributed leadership. This study intended to enrich and expand scholarly reflections on democratic and distributed leadership as regards considering the association between them, thereby deepening our understanding of leadership. Correlational research design was used as a research design in the study. Study population included teachers working at high schools in Eskisehir district in Turkey. Stratified sampling was used as a sampling method. The study sample included 462 teachers working at high schools. Descriptive statistics for democratic leadership suggested that respondent teachers perceive democratic leadership in their school in moderate level. Support and supervision were perceived as distributed leadership functions of the leadership team in schools. Regarding the leadership team characteristics, it was concluded that leadership teams are moderately perceived as coherent. The study results also revealed that there is a strong relationship between democratic leadership, distribution of leadership functions and coherent leadership team characteristics.

Keywords: democratic leadership, distributed leadership, school principals

The Effect of Motivational Language on School Culture and Work-Related Quality of Life in Turkish School Settings

Hamit Ozen & Remzi Yıldırım

pp. 24 - 44   |  DOI: 10.29329/epasr.2018.150.2

Abstract

The relationship between motivational language, school culture and work-related life quality was researched by structural equation modeling (SEM) in this study. The population of the research was composed of 378 school teachers teaching at different schools of in Manisa province of Turkey. The volunteer teachers were selected using convenience sampling method. A qualitative design of correlational research model was employed. The correlations among the variables, and the research questions were tested employing SEM. We offered three models. The first model was not verified but the second and the third models were verified according to the data obtained from the survey. As a result of the research, the motivational language (ML) did not have a correlation with school culture (SC) and work-related life quality (WRQoL) in model 1. WRQoL did not show a correlation with ML but it had a relationship with SC in the model 2. SC showed a good correlation with work-related life quality but it did not show a relation with ML in model 3.

Keywords: Motivational language, school culture, work-related life quality, school principal, structural equation model.

Analysis of the Relationship between Pre-service Teachers' Value Orientations and Empathic Tendencies

Mehmet Ali Akın

pp. 45 - 73   |  DOI: 10.29329/epasr.2018.150.3

Abstract

This research aimed at analyzing pre-service teachers' value orientations and empathic tendencies. It was based on quantitative, descriptive and relational approach. Pre-service teachers' value orientations and empathic tendencies were evaluated according to the variables including gender, subject area and types of education. Following this evaluation process, the correlation relationship between value orientations and empathic tendencies was examined. According to the independent variables, it was found that pre-service teachers' value orientations show significant differentiations for some value dimensions as opposed to the other value ones. Besides, pre-service teachers' empathic tendencies show significant differences with regard to gender, subject area and types of education variables. Based on gender variable, a significant difference occurs in favor of the female pre-service teachers and a significant difference takes place in favor of those pre-service teachers graduated from non-formal education in respect to types of education variable. The correlation value for pre-service teachers' value orientations and empathic tendencies are significant and low. It was revealed that the relationship between the value orientations and the empathic tendency dimensions are positive and low for some value dimensions and negative and low for the other ones.

Keywords: Pre-service teacher, value orientation, empathic tendency.

Determining the Difficulties Female Managers Experience in Higher Education and the Factors Supporting Them

Nazife Karadağ

pp. 74 - 88   |  DOI: 10.29329/epasr.2018.150.4

Abstract

The purpose of the study is to analyse managerial process of women managers in higher education institutions. The study was conducted with qualitative research methods and descriptive case study design was used. The study group of the research consists of 15 instructors determined with criterion sampling techniques within purposive sampling methods. The criteria taken into consideration during the determination of the sampling were the instructors to be woman and they should have the managerial positions in higher education. Data of the study were collected by the interview form prepared by the researcher. The participants were reached via telephone or e-mail. The participants answered the open-ended questions prepared in a semi-structured form. Content analysis technique was used in analysing of the data. While conducting content analysis, codes were initially created in accordance with the data.  In line with the findings, it was observed that management process of female managers were shaped as the factors effective in becoming manager, sources of motivation, the barriers they encountered in their managerial process, the reflection of management process on their private life, the perceptions and attitudes towards female managers and the precautions to be taken for increasing the effectiveness of female managers.The purpose of the study is to analyse managerial process of women managers in higher education institutions. The study was conducted with qualitative research methods and descriptive case study design was used. The study group of the research consists of 15 instructors determined with criterion sampling techniques within purposive sampling methods. The criteria taken into consideration during the determination of the sampling were the instructors to be woman and they should have the managerial positions in higher education. Data of the study were collected by the interview form prepared by the researcher. The participants were reached via telephone or e-mail. The participants answered the open-ended questions prepared in a semi-structured form. Content analysis technique was used in analysing of the data. While conducting content analysis, codes were initially created in accordance with the data.  In line with the findings, it was observed that management process of female managers were shaped as the factors effective in becoming manager, sources of motivation, the barriers they encountered in their managerial process, the reflection of management process on their private life, the perceptions and attitudes towards female managers and the precautions to be taken for increasing the effectiveness of female managers.

Keywords: Leadership, female managers, higher education.

Thinking Development Techniques Used By Pre-service Turkish Language Teachers in Informative Text Writing

Didem Çetin, Nigar İpek Eğilmez & Mustafa Volkan Coşkun

pp. 89 - 99   |  DOI: 10.29329/epasr.2018.150.5

Abstract

The purpose of the current study is to determine the pre-service Turkish language teachers’ level of using thinking development techniques while writing informative texts. In the study, descriptive analysis-based qualitative method was employed. The study group determined by means of purposive sampling method is comprised of a total of 33 fourth-year students attending the Department of Turkish Language Teaching at the Education Faculty of Muğla Sıtkı Koçman University in the spring term of 2015-2016 academic year. In order to collect the data in the study, discussion and video display activities were performed with the pre-service teachers and then they were asked to write informative texts. The produced texts were analyzed to explore their level of using thinking development techniques. At the end of the study, it was concluded that the pre-service Turkish teachers had used the providing examples technique the most while writing informative texts and it is followed by the defining, showing witness and comparing techniques. Moreover, it was found that the pre-service teachers were limited to some certain thinking development techniques in terms of their level of using thinking development techniques.

Keywords: Writing instruction, text, informative text, thinking development techniques