Date of Graduation
1997
Document Type
Dissertation/Thesis
Abstract
This study was designed to examine the relationships between the method of selection and length of service of department chairs and degree of faculty support as measured by the Department Evaluation of Chairperson Activities for Development (Decad) instrument. The database contains rankings of all chairs (n = 1312) rated with the Decad from 1977-1991. The database contains departmental evaluations from over 120 institutions located throughout the United States and Canada. After all identifying characteristics were removed from this database, the database was analyzed using the Statistical Analysis (SAS) program to calculate departmental mean scores of perceived initiating structure and consideration behaviors of the department chair. The study's findings support the conclusion that there is a significant relationship between the method of selection of department chairs and faculty support as indicated by initiation of structure and consideration scores. Faculty elected chairs enjoy significantly higher faculty support. These findings support the literature. The study's findings do not support the conclusion that there is a significant relationship between the length of service of department chairs and faculty support. The findings concerning the length of service of chairs is not supported by the literature. Ancillary analysis suggests that other factors may serve as predictors to faculty support, method of selection and length of service of department chairs. Suggestions for further study based on the findings of this study include investigating: (a) the method of selection with the length of service, (b) additional categories for method of selection such as "appointed with joint authority of the faculty and administration" in further studies, (c) hiring practices and degree of support, (d) the degrees offered by the department and the length of service of the chair, (e) highest degree offered by the department and the length of service of the chair, (f) whether significant formal training prior to becoming chair results in higher faculty support (g) how the preceptions of the faculty concerning the orientation of the chair's position as to whether the position is administrative or faculty-oriented and faculty support.
Recommended Citation
Ditchen, P Michael, "The relationship between the method of selection and length of service of department chairs and degree of subordinate faculty support." (1997). Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports. 8762.
https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/etd/8762