scholarly journals Activities and characteristics of instructional school leadership from the perspective of elementary school principals

2021 ◽  
Vol 70 (2) ◽  
pp. 31-56
Author(s):  
Vesna Kovač ◽  
Monika Pažur
Keyword(s):  
Elementary School ◽  
Content Analysis ◽  
School Leadership ◽  
Elementary School Principals ◽  
School Principals ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Thematic Content Analysis ◽  
Instructional Goals ◽  
Research Questions ◽  
Interpretative Research

This paper shows results of an empirical study on characteristics of instructional school leadership conducted on the sample of 30 Croatian elementary school principals. Two research questions were asked: 1. How elementary school principals describe and comment instructional school leadership activities that they conduct in their schools, observing them from their own role’s perspective and instructional goals that they want to achieve and 2. How elementary school principals describe and experience circumstances that have an impact on initiation and implementation of previously described instructional school leadership activities. In regards to set questions, elementary qualitative interpretative research approach was used. Data was gathered using written interview, whereas the results of thematic content analysis revealed two key thematic categories: the list of most conducted instructional school leadership activities and key interactions of principals during the implementation of instructional school leadership. Variabilities in the implementation of instructional school leadership in several aspects were observed, out of which key instructional school leadership’s contents and outcomes focused on the strengthening of students’ and teachers’ capacities are singled out as well as roles and principals’ relationship in interaction with various subjects.

Shadowing school principals: what do we learn?

2017 ◽  
Vol 47 (1) ◽  
pp. 91-109 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pierre Tulowitzki
Keyword(s):  
School Leadership ◽  
School Principals ◽  
Business Management ◽  
Management Research ◽  
Research Questions ◽  
Leadership Research

While shadowing as a method has been analysed and discussed, these discussions have often been focused on (business) management research as opposed to school leadership research. Additionally, little attention has so far been paid to the parameters of shadowing. Without knowledge of these matters, the validity, merits and difficulties of shadowing and data collected through shadowing are impossible to assess. This contribution aims at tackling these issues. First, it attempts to offer an overview of shadowing. Next, studies on school principals making use of shadowing are analysed, guided by the following research questions: What are the aims of the studies? How is shadowing defined by the author(s)? What are the parameters of the shadowing activities (duration, observers, observed persons)? What are the categories of observation? In conjunction with what other – if any – methods is shadowing used? What – if any – merits or pitfalls of shadowing are discussed? Finally, implications of the current use of shadowing are discussed and suggestions are offered to address desiderata uncovered during the analysis as well as to further develop the method.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document