THE EFFECT OF PERSONAL AND SOCIAL BELIEFS ON TEACHER ASSOCIATION LEADERS' STATED INTENTION TO SUPPORT SITE-BASED DECISION MAKING

YALE S. WISHNICK AND KATHLEEN WISHNICK


DOI: 10.2190/K3E0-N7A7-6MUG-YGFM

Abstract

Research investigating teacher attitudes toward programs to increase the involvement of teachers in the decision-making process, while providing useful descriptive data, have contributed little to explain the disposition of teachers to support or not support changing decision-making relationships. To investigate teacher association leaders' attitudes toward site-based decision making (SBDM), the theory of reasoned action was used to identify variables that may explain the behavioral intention of teacher association leaders to support SBDM in their school district. Results showed the attitude component was a primary determinant for the criterion, behavioral intention, to plan to support SBDM in respondents' school district during the 1996-97 school year. Respondents were found be more concerned with the specific outcomes associated with their intention to support SBDM than with the opinions other persons or groups hold about the criterion, behavioral intention. The poor showing of the social influencing component may help explain why teachers have been reluctant to participate in school reform efforts requiring cooperation and teaming.

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