Principals' dispositions toward using a commercial protocol to screen teacher applicants

Date of Award

2015

Degree Name

Ph.D. in Educational Leadership

Department

School of Education and Health Sciences

Advisor/Chair

Advisor: Theodore J. Kowalski

Abstract

This study examined principals' perceptions toward the use of a prescreening protocol in teacher selection practices and the value that principals place on common teacher selection criteria. The researcher determined levels of association between dispositions and level of job assignment, years of teaching experience, and years of administrative experience. The study population was 47 school principals employed in three central Ohio districts that used the same commercial prescreening protocol during 2013 and 2014. Principals completed a paper survey administered by the researcher at administrative meetings in each district. The survey contained three sections with questions related to principals' dispositions toward the use of a prescreening protocol, the value principals placed on common teacher selection criteria, and level of job assignment and principals' years of experience in teaching and administration. Pearson's product-moment coefficients were computed to determine the strength of the associations, while a coefficient of determination was calculated to determine the association between the criterion variable and the predictor variables. The primary findings of the study are summarized in five findings. First, 91% of the principals had a positive or somewhat positive disposition toward using a commercial protocol. Second, while principals had more positive than negative dispositions toward the use of the protocol, five other selection criteria were rated as having higher value; those criteria were verbal communication skills, demeanor, quality of teaching experience, philosophy of education, and written communication skills. Third, principals agreed or strongly agreed that the protocol evaluation accurately identified persons who should be removed from an applicant pool. Fourth, principals placed a greater emphasis on personal qualities over professional criteria in teacher candidates. Last, there were only small levels of association between principals' attitudes toward protocols and each of three demographic variables (level of school assignment, teaching experience, and administrative experience). Implications of these findings for policy and further research are presented.

Keywords

School principals Ohio Attitudes, Teachers Selection and appointment Ohio, Employee screening Data processing, Educational Leadership, Principals dispositions, commercial protocol, teacher applicants, teacher selection, prescreening teacher applicants

Rights Statement

Copyright © 2015, author

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