Education Commons^™

The Digital Self: A Qualitative Approach To Studying Female College Students' Use Of Social-Networking Platforms, Megan Christine Gore

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

The purpose of this research was to understand how female college students make use of social networks, specifically how they use the medium to connect with others. Researching socialnetworking use pertaining to the phenomenon of connection will give a richer understanding of female students’ lived experience of social networking. Many quantitative studies have been conducted about social networking, but more qualitative measures are needed to explore social networking. With the continuously changing social-networking platforms, there is little research that sheds light on social-networking use among female college students. My goal was to conduct a qualitative research study that examined female …

The Evolution Of Architecture Faculty Organizational Culture At The University Of Michigan, Linda Mills

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Understanding and navigating the multiple academic disciplines and administrative subcultures, which operate within higher education institutions, is challenging for both internal and external stakeholders who may be unfamiliar with the disparate normative, regulative, and cultural cognitive systems that guide social behavior of each area. Higher education leaders need to understand the cultures operating within the organizational groups and subgroups in order to coordinate, integrate, and foster collaboration toward organizational and institutional goal attainment activities. This case study, which focused on the emergence and evolution of the organizational culture of the architecture faculty at the University of Michigan, provides insights into …

Minority Administrators’ Perspectives On Leadership In Predominantly White Schools, Alexander C. Ofili

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

During a period of high expectations and accountability for public schools, some minority administrators have chosen to work in predominantly White schools. The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine the professional and personal experiences of minority administrators located in predominantly White suburban school districts in one affluent county located in southeastern Michigan. Through in-depth interviews, a focus group, and surveys, participants shared their experiences and perspectives on leadership as minority administrators in predominantly White schools. Using a phenomenological approach, the researcher analyzed the participants’ responses through the lens of the critical race theory.

Four themes emerged from the …

Leadership Traits, Divergent Thinking, And Innovation In Higher Education, Barbara S. Marini

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

The topic of leadership is critical today as leaders’ decision-making processes affect political, social, and economic conditions globally. Considering market fluctuations and shifts, political uncertainty, environmental threats, and global societal issues, the question of leadership is at the heart of issues faced today as leaders impact people at all levels of society. The discussion regarding leadership has centered on the need for high-level critical and creative thinkers and has shifted towards academia as a source for innovation. Educational institutions are under a high level of scrutiny and pressure to prepare graduates effectively for a volatile and unpredictable global market, yet …

Self-Efficacy And Instructional Leadership: Does Mentoring Make A Difference?, Julie Diane Helber

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

The responsibility of principals has shifted significantly over the past few decades. During 1960s and 1970s school leaders were expected to be organizers and managers of schools and to serve as buffers to the organization to protect a weak technical core. Standards-based reform, beginning in the 1980s, was in direct conflict with this mindset. Instead of protecting a weak technical core, school leaders had to focus on instruction guided by standards and demonstrate alignment to such standards. Today, there is an increased attention on academic achievement and accountability in schools (Leithwood, Jantzi, & Steinbach, 1999). Principals are being held responsible …

Perceived Barriers To Technology Integration, Adam J. Hartley

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

This mixed-methods study explores the potential barriers to change related to the integration of technology among elementary teachers. Data were collected through the use of a survey, interviews, and focus groups. The Concerns-Based Adoption Model (CBAM) developed by Hall and Hord (2001) was used to capture teacher perceptions of the technology integration. Additional qualitative data were gathered through an open-ended questionnaire, and followed up with interviews and a focus group with eight teachers from the district studied. Two teachers, from each of the four elementary buildings within the school district, were chosen. The population of this study consisted of approximately …

School Leadership Skill Development, Richard Arthur Weigel

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between what is currently understood about skills for school leadership and the need for a greater understanding of those skills. The importance of developing leadership skills to improve school performance and effectiveness is great. In the field of school leadership, most leaders enter their roles without an understanding of the skills needed to be effective.

There is a societal desire to improve the performance of children in schools, and that improvement relies on skill development for school leaders. Skill development for school leaders begins with skill recognition. The lack of …

The Motivating Factors Of Secondary School Assistant Principals In Southeast Michigan And Their Impact On Job Mobility, David M. Schmittou

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Recent research identified two broad categories of motivation, extrinsic and intrinsic. These two forms of personal motivation play a large role in determining individuals‟ level of job satisfaction. By affording a level of perceived empowerment, the environment of the workplace is a contributing factor toward encouraging or discouraging individual satisfaction.

This study demonstrates the relationships that exist between personal motivation needs, workplace empowerment, and the attempted job mobility or stability of assistant principals, a select group of public school administrators.

Prior studies have argued that when an individual possesses both high levels of personal intrinsic motivation needs and high levels …