Date Approved
4-29-1999
Embargo Period
7-19-2016
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
M.A. in School Administration
Department
Educational Services and Leadership
College
College of Education
Advisor
Johnson, Ted
Subject(s)
School environment; School management and organization
Disciplines
Elementary and Middle and Secondary Education Administration
Abstract
Statement of Purpose:
The purpose of this study was to discover the organizational climate of Collingswood Middle School by using a survey of the students and the staff to evaluate the institutional climate. The data was used to target specific behaviors to make institutional changes that would hopefully improve the climate of the school. The result of these changes were then evaluated with a second survey to determine the effectiveness of the organizational changes.
Description of Methodology:
The study for the assessment of the organizational climate involved surveying the views of the school's administration, the staff, and the students of Collingswood Middle School. This intern used an existing instrument, the School Climate Survey by Human Systems Development, of Dayton, Ohio, to survey the staff. The student survey was written by the researcher based on the middle school student needs as identified by Kathy Vatteroot (1991).
The administrative changes were designed to improve the area of recognition at both the student and the staff level.
Major Findings and Conclusions:
The changes resulted in improved the scores in both surveys. This proved the researcher's hypothesis that the administration can improve the organizational climate of a school by instituting a behavioral change in his or her staff.
Recommended Citation
Beierschmitt, Joseph C., "A study of the educational climate of a suburban middle school and the effects administrative decisions have on that climate" (1999). Theses and Dissertations. 1767.
https://rdw.rowan.edu/etd/1767
