Semester

Summer

Date of Graduation

2002

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Type

EdD

College

College of Education and Human Services

Department

Curriculum & Instruction/Literacy Studies

Committee Chair

Paul Leary.

Abstract

This study examined the relationship between the preferred leadership styles, the levels of computer anxiety, and the selected personal attributes of sex, age, and computer training upon the computer use of West Virginia public school principals. A one shot case study design was used to examine the relationships. Three instruments the Leadership Behavior Description Questionnaire-Self (LDBQ-Self), the Computer Anxiety Rating Scale-C (CARS-C), and the Levels of Computer Use (LCU) survey, along with a cover letter and a short personal attribute questionnaire were mailed to randomly selected sample of 160 West Virginia principals. Responses were received from 93 (58.1%) of the principals. Data analysis revealed a statistically significant relationship between the principals' levels of computer anxiety and their levels of computer use. A statistically significant relationship was also discovered between the principals preferred leadership style of consideration and the principals' level of computer anxiety. It was also found that a larger percentage of female principals were functioning at the higher computer usage level of integration than male principals. This study provided mixed results. The significant negative relationships found between the principals' computer anxiety and computer use and between the principals' leadership style of consideration and computer anxiety confirmed earlier research. However, the absence of a significant relationship between the principals' leadership style and computer use, the principals' age and computer use, the principals' sex and computer use, and the principals' computer training and computer use were contrary to earlier research findings. The results of this study may be beneficial to educational leaders at the local, and state levels as well as higher education in the planning for, and implementation of computers in schools. The results of this study may also be of use in the planning of principal inservice.

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