Date of Award
Summer 5-17-2017
Degree Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership for Learning Dissertations
Department
Educational Leadership
Committee Chair
TC Chan
Committee Chair/First Advisor
BinBin Jiang
Second Committee Member
Earl Holliday
Third Committee Member
Arvin Johnson
Abstract
This study sought to examine the effects of instructional leadership behaviors on teacher efficacy. The body of literature examined influenced the nature and implementation of this study. Previous studies were used to shape the lens of this body of work. The focus was at the elementary level examining the perceptions of principals and teachers. The two forms of instrumentation included the Principal Instructional Rating Management Scale developed by Phillip Hallinger and used in similar studies cited in this work. The teachers completed the Teacher Self-Efficacy Scale based on the work of Tschannen-Moran and Woolfolk-Hoy. The perceptions of participants were examined through these surveys with an additional open-ended question to provide a qualitative piece. Examination of the results was through a Multiple Regression Analysis including the variables of gender and years of experience. Although the results did not indicate a significant impact of instructional leadership on teacher efficacy, recommendations were made for school administrators, teachers and education programs to increase the perception of teacher efficacy.
A significant finding of this study was shown by the qualitative questions included on the two survey instruments. The teachers and principals had strong feelings on the behaviors that impacted efficacy the most. They held beliefs about why these behaviors and actions were significant to their efficacy.
The findings of this study should add new dimensions to the educational research on instructional leadership and teacher efficacy. It should serve as an impetus for educators to examine their practice and craft with respect to instructional behaviors and their effects on efficacy. It should increase the reflection of leaders on their impact on teacher efficacy.