The use of descriptive statistics by campus principals : implications for principal preparation programs /
Data-driven planning and decision-making are vital to effective school operation and improvement. Literature and administrative training programs resound with the importance of making data-driven decisions. However, little attention has been given to the need to adequately prepare school principal...
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| Format: | Thesis Book |
| Language: | English |
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[Place of publication not identified] :
[publisher not identified] ;
2000.
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://proxy.library.tamu.edu/login?url=http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?did=728323431&sid=1&Fmt=2&clientId=2945&RQT=309&VName=PQD |
| Summary: | Data-driven planning and decision-making are vital to effective school operation and improvement. Literature and administrative training programs resound with the importance of making data-driven decisions. However, little attention has been given to the need to adequately prepare school principals with the basic statistical and data analysis skills necessary to effectively accomplish the task. A void exists in the preparation of school administrators, especially principals, with regard to the lack of emphasis placed on basic descriptive statistics. Traditionally, university statistics courses in graduate schools of education are not designed for practitioners, but for theorists. McNamara and Thompson (1996) propose an alternative strategy for teaching basic statistics that develops appropriate data analysis skills for prospective and practicing principals. They suggest that statistics courses for principals should move closer to the needs of principal preparation and development programs, away from the traditional conception of statistics as mathematical theory, and closer to the conception of statistics as a process of discover through data analysis. Their proposal elaborates seven specific guidelines for their alterative strategy which emphasizes descriptive rather than inferential statistics. This purpose of this inquiry was to test the feasibility of the McNamara and Thompson (1996) proposal. To this end, the researcher identified possible data analysis opportunities from her practicing professional environment as an assistant principal of a large high school. Nine proposed case studies that included 21 data analysis opportunities were identified and analyzed with respect to the data analysis skills necessary to complete them. Finally, a comprehensive case study was concluded utilizing data from the school and descriptive statistical methods. Based on the research it can be concluded that principals can effectively utilize descriptive statistics and data analysis skills to evaluate the academic progress of their students. The information gleaned from this study supports the McNamara and Thompson (1996) proposal for an alternative model for teaching statistics in principal preparation and development programs. |
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| Item Description: | Vita. "Major Subject: Educational Administration". |
| Physical Description: | xii, 143 leaves : illustrations ; 28 cm. Issued also on microfiche from University Microfilm Inc. |
| Bibliography: | Includes bibliographical references (leaves 138-142). |