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Implications from the Diagnosis of a School Culture at a Higher Education Institution

Year 2013, Volume: 4 Issue: 1, 47 - 59, 01.01.2013

Abstract

Probing into the school culture is the first step for the enhancement of the effectiveness of any school. Conducted in an English-medium private university in Turkey, this study aims at exploring teachers’ perceptions of existing school culture to provide enriched and contemporary understandings of that culture, as well as making implications regarding understanding and improving school culture. Quantitative data was collected using the School Culture Survey (SCS) developed by Gruenert and Valentine, and the School Culture Triage, developed by Wagner and Masden-Copas; and qualitative data was collected through semi-structured interviews conducted with a sample group of teachers from the school. The results suggest that three dominant aspects of the culture of the school studied are collegial support and collaboration, collaborative leadership and unity of purpose. The outcomes of this research study facilitate a ‘personal critique’ for the given school, and implications can be extended to institutions operating in similar settings

References

  • Bambino, D. (2002). Critical friends. Educational Leadership,59(6), 25-27.
  • Barnett, K., & McCormick, J. (2003). Vision, relationships and teacher motivation: A case study. Journal of Educational Administration,41(1), 55–73.
  • Barth, R.S. (2002). The Culture Builder. Educational Leadership, 59(8), 6-11.
  • Barth, R.S. (1990). Improving schools from within. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
  • Bean, W. (2003). Relationship between teacher learning and school culture. M.Ed. Thesis, University of Wollongong.
  • Brinton, C.M. (2007). Comparing perceptions about collaborative culture from certified and non- certified staff members through the adaptation of the school culture survey-teacher form. PhD Diss., University of Missouri-Colombia.
  • Brownwell, M.T., Adams, A., Sindelar, P., Waldron, N., & Vanhover. S. (2006). Learning from collaboration: The role of teacher qualities. Council for Exceptional Children, 72(2), 169-185.
  • Burrello, L.C., & Reitzug, U.C. (1993). Transforming context and developing culture in schools. Journal of Counselling & Development,71(6), 669-677.
  • Cavanagh, R.F., Dellar, G.B., & Graham, B. (1998). The development, maintenance and transformation of school culture. Paper presented at the 1998 Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association, April 13-17, San Diego, CA.
  • Davis, D.R., Ellett, C.D., & Rugutt J.K. (1999). School level differences in teachers’ perspectives of multiple dimensions of school culture. Paper presented at the 1999 Annual Meeting of the Mid-South Educational Research Association, November 17-19, Alabama, USA.
  • Engels, N., Hotton, G., Devos, G., Bouckenooghe, D., & Aelterman, A. (2008). Principles in schools with a positive school culture. Educational Studies,34(3), 159-174.
  • Fullan, M.G. (1991). The new meaning of educational change. New York: Teachers College Press.
  • Gruenert, S., & Valentine, J.W. (1998).
  • The school culture survey. Columbia, MO:
  • University of Missouri-Columbia.
  • Jurasaite-Harbison, E., & Rex, L.A. (2010). School cultures as contexts for informal teacher learning. Teaching and Teacher Education, 26, 267-277.
  • Jurasaite-Harbison, E. (2009). Teachers’ workplace learning within informal contexts of school cultures in the United States and Lithuania. Journal of Workplace Learning, 21(4), 299-321.
  • Kruse, S. D. (2001). Creating communities of reform: Continuous improvement planning teams. Journal of Educational Administration, 39(4), 359-383.
  • Leech, N.L., & Onwuegbuzie, A.J. (2009). A typology of mixed method research designs. Quality & Quantity, 43, 265–275.
  • Maslowski, R. (2006). A review of inventories for diagnosing school culture. Journal of Educational Administration, 44(1), 6-35.
  • Mayring, P. (2000). Qualitative content analysis. Forum: Qualitative Social Research, 1(2). Retrieved July 10, 2012 from http://www.qualitativeresearch.net/index.php/fqs/article/view/1089/ 2386.
  • Miles, M.B., & Huberman, A.M. (1994). Qualitative data analysis. California, USA: Sage Publications.
  • Patton, M. (2001). Qualitative research & evaluation methods. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
  • Peterson, K.D. (2002). Positive or negative. Journal of Staff Development, 23(3), 10-15
  • Robson, C. (2001). Real world research. Massachusetts, USA: Blackwell Publishers.
  • Rousseau, D.M. (1990). Assessing organizational culture: The case for multiple methods. In B. Schneider (Ed.), Organizational Climate and Culture (pp. 153-193), San Francisco: Jossey- Bass Publishers.
  • Sandelowski, M. (2003). Tables or Tableaux? The challenges of writing and reading mixed methods studies. In A. Tashakkori and C. Teddlie (Eds.), Handbook of Mixed Methods in Social and Behavioural Research (pp. 321-350), Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
  • Schein, E.H. (1985). Organizational culture and leadership: A dynamic view. San Francisco: Jossey- Bass Publishers.
  • Schein, E.H. (1997). Organizational culture and leadership. Retrieved April 7, 2010 from http://www.tnellen.com/ted/tc/ schein.html.
  • Schneider, B. (Ed.) (1990). Organizational climate and culture. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass Publishers.
  • Strahan, D. (2003). Promoting a collaborative professional culture in three elementary schools that have beaten the odds. The Elementary School Journal, 104(2), 127-146.
  • Wagner, C.R., & Masden-Copas, P. (2002). School culture triage survey. Retrieved February 16, 2010 from www.schoolculture.net.
  • Westhuizen, P.C.V.D., Mosoge, M.J., Sawnepoel, L.H., & Coetsee, L.D. (2005). Organizational culture and academic achievement in secondary schools. Education and Urban Society, 38(1) 89- 109.
  • Westhuizen, P.C.V.D., Oosthuizen, I., & Wolhunter, C.C. (2008). The Relationship between an effective organizational culture and student discipline in a boarding school. Education and Urban Society, 40(2), 205-225.
Year 2013, Volume: 4 Issue: 1, 47 - 59, 01.01.2013

Abstract

References

  • Bambino, D. (2002). Critical friends. Educational Leadership,59(6), 25-27.
  • Barnett, K., & McCormick, J. (2003). Vision, relationships and teacher motivation: A case study. Journal of Educational Administration,41(1), 55–73.
  • Barth, R.S. (2002). The Culture Builder. Educational Leadership, 59(8), 6-11.
  • Barth, R.S. (1990). Improving schools from within. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
  • Bean, W. (2003). Relationship between teacher learning and school culture. M.Ed. Thesis, University of Wollongong.
  • Brinton, C.M. (2007). Comparing perceptions about collaborative culture from certified and non- certified staff members through the adaptation of the school culture survey-teacher form. PhD Diss., University of Missouri-Colombia.
  • Brownwell, M.T., Adams, A., Sindelar, P., Waldron, N., & Vanhover. S. (2006). Learning from collaboration: The role of teacher qualities. Council for Exceptional Children, 72(2), 169-185.
  • Burrello, L.C., & Reitzug, U.C. (1993). Transforming context and developing culture in schools. Journal of Counselling & Development,71(6), 669-677.
  • Cavanagh, R.F., Dellar, G.B., & Graham, B. (1998). The development, maintenance and transformation of school culture. Paper presented at the 1998 Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association, April 13-17, San Diego, CA.
  • Davis, D.R., Ellett, C.D., & Rugutt J.K. (1999). School level differences in teachers’ perspectives of multiple dimensions of school culture. Paper presented at the 1999 Annual Meeting of the Mid-South Educational Research Association, November 17-19, Alabama, USA.
  • Engels, N., Hotton, G., Devos, G., Bouckenooghe, D., & Aelterman, A. (2008). Principles in schools with a positive school culture. Educational Studies,34(3), 159-174.
  • Fullan, M.G. (1991). The new meaning of educational change. New York: Teachers College Press.
  • Gruenert, S., & Valentine, J.W. (1998).
  • The school culture survey. Columbia, MO:
  • University of Missouri-Columbia.
  • Jurasaite-Harbison, E., & Rex, L.A. (2010). School cultures as contexts for informal teacher learning. Teaching and Teacher Education, 26, 267-277.
  • Jurasaite-Harbison, E. (2009). Teachers’ workplace learning within informal contexts of school cultures in the United States and Lithuania. Journal of Workplace Learning, 21(4), 299-321.
  • Kruse, S. D. (2001). Creating communities of reform: Continuous improvement planning teams. Journal of Educational Administration, 39(4), 359-383.
  • Leech, N.L., & Onwuegbuzie, A.J. (2009). A typology of mixed method research designs. Quality & Quantity, 43, 265–275.
  • Maslowski, R. (2006). A review of inventories for diagnosing school culture. Journal of Educational Administration, 44(1), 6-35.
  • Mayring, P. (2000). Qualitative content analysis. Forum: Qualitative Social Research, 1(2). Retrieved July 10, 2012 from http://www.qualitativeresearch.net/index.php/fqs/article/view/1089/ 2386.
  • Miles, M.B., & Huberman, A.M. (1994). Qualitative data analysis. California, USA: Sage Publications.
  • Patton, M. (2001). Qualitative research & evaluation methods. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
  • Peterson, K.D. (2002). Positive or negative. Journal of Staff Development, 23(3), 10-15
  • Robson, C. (2001). Real world research. Massachusetts, USA: Blackwell Publishers.
  • Rousseau, D.M. (1990). Assessing organizational culture: The case for multiple methods. In B. Schneider (Ed.), Organizational Climate and Culture (pp. 153-193), San Francisco: Jossey- Bass Publishers.
  • Sandelowski, M. (2003). Tables or Tableaux? The challenges of writing and reading mixed methods studies. In A. Tashakkori and C. Teddlie (Eds.), Handbook of Mixed Methods in Social and Behavioural Research (pp. 321-350), Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
  • Schein, E.H. (1985). Organizational culture and leadership: A dynamic view. San Francisco: Jossey- Bass Publishers.
  • Schein, E.H. (1997). Organizational culture and leadership. Retrieved April 7, 2010 from http://www.tnellen.com/ted/tc/ schein.html.
  • Schneider, B. (Ed.) (1990). Organizational climate and culture. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass Publishers.
  • Strahan, D. (2003). Promoting a collaborative professional culture in three elementary schools that have beaten the odds. The Elementary School Journal, 104(2), 127-146.
  • Wagner, C.R., & Masden-Copas, P. (2002). School culture triage survey. Retrieved February 16, 2010 from www.schoolculture.net.
  • Westhuizen, P.C.V.D., Mosoge, M.J., Sawnepoel, L.H., & Coetsee, L.D. (2005). Organizational culture and academic achievement in secondary schools. Education and Urban Society, 38(1) 89- 109.
  • Westhuizen, P.C.V.D., Oosthuizen, I., & Wolhunter, C.C. (2008). The Relationship between an effective organizational culture and student discipline in a boarding school. Education and Urban Society, 40(2), 205-225.
There are 34 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language English
Journal Section Articles
Authors

Bahar Gün This is me

Esin Çağlayan This is me

Publication Date January 1, 2013
Submission Date February 6, 2015
Published in Issue Year 2013 Volume: 4 Issue: 1

Cite

APA Gün, B., & Çağlayan, E. (2013). Implications from the Diagnosis of a School Culture at a Higher Education Institution. Turkish Online Journal of Qualitative Inquiry, 4(1), 47-59.
AMA Gün B, Çağlayan E. Implications from the Diagnosis of a School Culture at a Higher Education Institution. TOJQI. January 2013;4(1):47-59.
Chicago Gün, Bahar, and Esin Çağlayan. “Implications from the Diagnosis of a School Culture at a Higher Education Institution”. Turkish Online Journal of Qualitative Inquiry 4, no. 1 (January 2013): 47-59.
EndNote Gün B, Çağlayan E (January 1, 2013) Implications from the Diagnosis of a School Culture at a Higher Education Institution. Turkish Online Journal of Qualitative Inquiry 4 1 47–59.
IEEE B. Gün and E. Çağlayan, “Implications from the Diagnosis of a School Culture at a Higher Education Institution”, TOJQI, vol. 4, no. 1, pp. 47–59, 2013.
ISNAD Gün, Bahar - Çağlayan, Esin. “Implications from the Diagnosis of a School Culture at a Higher Education Institution”. Turkish Online Journal of Qualitative Inquiry 4/1 (January 2013), 47-59.
JAMA Gün B, Çağlayan E. Implications from the Diagnosis of a School Culture at a Higher Education Institution. TOJQI. 2013;4:47–59.
MLA Gün, Bahar and Esin Çağlayan. “Implications from the Diagnosis of a School Culture at a Higher Education Institution”. Turkish Online Journal of Qualitative Inquiry, vol. 4, no. 1, 2013, pp. 47-59.
Vancouver Gün B, Çağlayan E. Implications from the Diagnosis of a School Culture at a Higher Education Institution. TOJQI. 2013;4(1):47-59.