This Is AuburnElectronic Theses and Dissertations

Examining Espoused Beliefs and Actions of Assistant Principals in Alabama

Date

2012-08-02

Author

Slater, Robert

Type of Degree

dissertation

Department

Education Foundation, Leadership, and Technology

Abstract

This quantitative research study examined beliefs and actions of assistant principals in Alabama. Assistant principals were the only group used in this study. From this research study, the researcher also wanted to explore what are barriers to prevent assistant principals from making behavioral, normative, and control beliefs match instructional and transformational actions. There are few empirical studies that focus on the assistant principals and their role within the school. According to some educational research, school leaders must be able to provide both transformational and instructional leadership (Darling-Hammond et al., 2010; Hallinger, 2005). Using Ajzens’s Theory of Planned Behavior (2002) the researchers developed an instrument and surveyed assistant principals in Alabama in regards to their educational beliefs and actions. Assistant principals control beliefs were strongly related to both their instructional and transformational actions. Through a standard multiple regression, results showed a strong positive correlation between assistant principal beliefs and instructional actions and a moderately positive correlation between assistant principal beliefs and transformational actions. The study additionally indicated that normative beliefs and control beliefs statistically and significantly predict instructional actions while behavioral beliefs and control beliefs statistically and significantly predict transformational actions.