Date of Graduation
2002
Document Type
Thesis
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to identify the predominant self-perceived brain hemispheric cognitive styles and leadership styles of principals of schools identified as a West Virginia School of Excellence and to compare these with principals of schools that have not been identified as a West Virginia School of Excellence. The following research questions provided the focus for this study: Is there a difference between West Virginia principals of schools identified as a West Virginia School of Excellence and principals of schools not identified as a School of Excellence who perceive themselves as: (1) Right brain hemispheric cognitive style and initiating structure style of leadership? (2) Right brain hemispheric cognitive style and consideration style of leadership? (3) Left brain hemispheric cognitive style and initiating structure style of leadership? (4) Left brain hemispheric cognitive style and consideration style of leadership? The Herrmann Brain Dominance Instrument determined principal brain hemispheric cognitive style and principal leadership style was determined by the Leadership Behavior Description Questionnaire-Self. The population for this study consisted of two distinct and mutually exclusive samples created by identifying all of the West Virginia school principals (K-12) employed during the 1991-1997 school years, whose schools were identified as a School of Excellence during their tenure as principal of that school. The second sample was identified by utilizing a table of random numbers to establish an appropriate sample size of school principals who had never been the principal of an identified School of Excellence during their tenure as principal of that school. The data was aggregated into frequency distributions and comparisons were made by utilizing chi-square. There were no significant differences between the principals in terms of brain hemispheric cognitive style and leadership styles. There was a significant difference (p < .01) between male and female principals of schools not identified as a West Virginia School of Excellence. Female principals preferred a right brain hemispheric cognitive style and the males preferred a left brain hemispheric cognitive style.
Recommended Citation
Varner, James Perry, "The relationship between West Virginia school principals' self-perceived brain hemispheric cognitive styles/leadership styles and identified schools of excellence." (2002). Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports. 9940.
https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/etd/9940