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Measuring School Culture in Higher Education: A Multi-Method Approach

Ney, Boris (2013) Measuring School Culture in Higher Education: A Multi-Method Approach.

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Abstract:This study aims to define and measure dimensions of the broad concept of school culture. Three studies have been conducted in order to approach this endeavor. Experienced teachers were interviewed investigating the questions what reliability, commitment, responsibility and enthusiasm mean to them. Moreover, the teachers were pleased to identify typical student behavior which mirrors reliability, commitment, responsibility and enthusiasm. Based on the results of the interviews, items were generated which were related to reliability, commitment, responsibility and enthusiasm. These items served as input to the second study, the pilot study. This study was carried out among students in the Netherlands. After factor loadings of the items were examined, items for the final questionnaire were selected following strict criteria. Ten scales were crafted measuring levels of intrinsic motivation, honesty, effort, commitment, demand, responsibility, proactive attitude, enthusiasm, pleasure and challenge of students. The final questionnaire was disseminated among 317 students in the Netherlands. Analysis of the data revealed that the ten scales are internally reliable, measuring various levels of cultural dimensions in schools among students. Moreover, it was examined whether various demographic variables have influence on the scores of the ten different student school culture scales. Various findings with mixed results are reported. Correlations between the student school culture scales were examined and a varimax rotation analysis was carried out in order to test, how the scales relate to one another. A discussion on the topic, summarizing the most important findings and indicating suggestions for further scientific research in the field follows. Conclusively, limitations of the study are provided and advice to schools management staff on how to steer culture within schools is given.
Item Type:Essay (Master)
Faculty:BMS: Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences
Subject:77 psychology
Programme:Psychology MSc (66604)
Link to this item:https://purl.utwente.nl/essays/63486
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