RESEARCH PROPOSAL : Headmaster’s Leadership Style and Job Satisfaction among Teachers in Primary School

FACULTY OF EDUCATIONEDUCATIONAL IN MANAGEMENT AND LEADERSHIP

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY(EDU 702)

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION

     1.0       Background of The Study

School leadership is one of a challenging profession. Be a leader that has been formally elected in organization, headmaster is a person who should play their roles as a leader and manager in the school. Leadership holds the key reins of an organization in bringing success in managing the organization. The one that be a leader must have credibility in the organization of uniting to help each other, work together, to ensure continuity and structure of the existing system, but they should be able to move their subordinates to go hand in hand and sensitive facing changes and the current host of problems plaguing the system of education. (Mohd Nor Jaafar & Jazmi Md Isa, 2005)

Headmaster is a person who is brings the school towards achievement through their skill, dedication and characters. A headmaster should have the mission and vision to make the school as outstanding learning organization. They are the person who should strive to develop students holistically that has a wide range of skills, ability and willing to facing rivalry and challenges. According to Bardford (1981), leaders are less able to lead will lead to dissatisfaction at work among teachers. Leaders determine the degree of influence effectiveness of the school’s plan, decision and action strategies. A leader's actions not only affect the organization under his leadership but also in terms of job satisfaction staff especially teachers under his control should also be emphasized because it involves a person's credibility.

The great headmaster is the person who effectively implements the trust and responsibility by providing a solid foundation and conducive environment in order to liven up the excellent learning culture. Even during the observation by Fred M.Hechinger, who is education editor at The New York Times from 1959 to 1990 stated about the importance of teacher’s role in schools led to success. Fred Hechinger said that :

"I've never seen a progressive school governed by weak teachers, or school underdeveloped administered by an efficient teachers. I ever look underdeveloped schools successfully developed but the sad part is there are some advanced schools declined dramatically. In each case, the fate of the school is largely due to the quality of headmaster"   (Davis & Thomas 1989:17)

Based on the above expressions by Fred Hechinger, clearly showed the leadership of headmaster influence school achievement. Headmaster who practiced effective leadership can only lead schools towards excellence. Headmaster’s duties in schools is not limited to routine administrative but they have to mobilize all resources whether material or human capital, especially among teachers so they can contribute to the committed and effective service.

The teaching profession is a profession that requires commitment and passion in order to produce human capital that is useful for society and nation. Performed by the process of educating teachers is a continuous process conducted in all ages begins at primary, secondary and tertiary levels. Educational institutions at all levels play a role in each stage in order to produce quality human capital based on the National Education Philosophy. Recently, the topic about job satisfaction has received considerable attention and is a major issue among teachers. Teachers are part of the supporter who performs tasks to achieve the goal. They are a hope of governments, administrators and education’s planners that they can build a society with a highly civilized culture.

Job satisfaction is an important element in improving the teaching in school education system, it requires educators who are creative, competent, highly motivated and prudence character. All this can be achieved when teachers are able to work in self-satisfaction and employment. Teachers' job satisfaction is also associated with leadership that brought by school headmaster. Critically, when some teachers are no longer able to manage their job dissatisfaction, they act to ignore the responsibilities entrusted to them or resign. If it continues, this case is not just cause damage cost of providing a trained teacher, and even result in loss of the cost of providing a trained teacher of the college.

However, every headmaster does not have the same leadership style. Hence, it affects the subordinates to work. There are some kinds of easy to follow style of leadership, but there is also being significant leadership style that is quite difficult to follow by subordinates. Therefore, this study will examine the manner of leadership brought about by the head influence on subordinates' job satisfaction. The scope of the study will look in teacher leadership style affect the quality of the work done by teachers in primary schools whether it is motivated the teacher to do better in their performance or vice versa.

1.1       Statement of Problem :

The success of an organization depends on the integrity and principals who become the leaders in institutions of learning in school. However, determines the success of a school is not only depend on the role of principal in controlling all activities administering, guide and supervise the school but the principals should be wise in influencing his subordinates to achieve organizational goals. Excellent in school organization has a relationship with job satisfaction among the leader and workers. Teachers get satisfaction when their needs are met and the leader gets satisfaction when employees can achieve a high level of productivity (Jaafar, 2007).            Deterioration of student learning is measured based on performance of school examinations that will be an image of the school. Student performance will be a measure to assess the quality of leadership showed by headmaster and job satisfaction among teacher. (Rahim,1999)

1.3       Research Objective :

This research will be done based on the following objectives :a)    To identify the leadership behavior perceived by teachers in primary schoolb)    To identify the level of teacher’s job satisfaction in primary schoolc)    To identify relationship leadership behavior of headmaster and teachers job

satisfaction among primary school teachers.

1.4       Research Questions:

This research were determined three question to purpose this study,a)    What are the leadership behaviors perceived by teachers towards headmaster in

primary school?b)    What are the perceived job satisfactions levels among the primary school?c)    How relationship of leadership style of headmaster with teachers’ job satisfaction

can bring the primary school towards education vision and mission?

1.5       Significance of Study :

This study will be investigating the relationship between leadership style of headmaster in produce job satisfaction of the teacher towards bringing the school to fulfill the education vision and mission. The behavior of leadership will give the different respond to people. The interaction between the style of leaders and their subordinates can either be an advantage or detriment. (Schein, 1970).

This study is expected to be able to benefit in upgrading the quality of school management and school standard when the relationship between the leadership of the headmaster and school teachers' job satisfaction are identified.

1.6       Limitations of Study :

The study will limit to primary school around Shah Alam, Malaysia. The primary school maybe limited only 4 schools that picked by excellent performances school and lower performance school. They will be measured by questionnaire and interview whether their performance based on leadership will bring differentiation towards their job satisfaction. There will be 20 per school that will be as respondents. The headmasters of school will be interviewed based on formal questions.

  

CHAPTER 2 : LITERATURE REVIEW

2.0       Introduction

In this chapter, researcher will elaborate about research review being done by previous researchers. In this section, the researcher uses several studies conducted by previous researchers about leadership style and job satisfaction, some books and articles related to researchers topics used as a reference. I also use of Internet search engines accessed via hyperlinks on my university’s library website. These hyperlinks search provide access to theses, academic journals and previous bachelor dissertations. The relationship between leadership and job satisfaction is increasingly important in today’s education organization (Loganatan, 2012). Therefore, the purpose of this study is to review the relationships between perceived leadership style and job satisfaction among teachers in primary school. This chapter focuses on reviewing literature that is

related to leadership style and job satisfaction specified in education of primary school, and then the literature within these topics as it relates to headmaster and teachers. Finally, the gaps of identification in the knowledge base and how this study able to fulfills them will be discussed.

2.1       Definition of Leadership

Leadership is defined as the process influencing others to facilitate the attainment of organizational relevant goals (Chan Fung Lan, 2009). Leadership also is a process includes influencing the task objectives with strategies to achieve the goal, influencing the group maintenance and identification, also to influence the culture of the organization (Yukl and Van Fleet, 1992). Gary Yukl (2006) has defines leadership as the process influencing others to understand and agree about what is needs to be done and what to do, and  the process in facilitating individual and collective efforts to accomplish shared objectives”

According to Peter Northouse (2007), leadership is a process whereby an individual influences a group of other individuals to achieve a common goal. These definitions suggest several key components to the phenomenon of leadership. Some of the components are :

(a) Leadership is a process,(b) Leadership involves influencing others,(c) Leadership happens within the context of a group,(d) Leadership involves goal attainment, and(e) Goals are shared in leaders and their followers.

Hence, leadership is a process of influencing others to follow instructions to achieve the goal. goal will be brought together in a group of leaders and followers. That means, every act done by leaders affect followers and act that will affect job satisfaction followers. Determine leadership as an act shows that leadership is not in character with just a few, certain people are blessed with at birth. Leadership is a transactional event that occurs between leaders and their followers. Viewing leadership as a process means that leaders influence and are influenced by their followers either positive or negative. It emphasizes that leadership is two-way, which interactive event between leaders and followers and instead, show a linear way in which the leader only affects followers. Determination of leadership as a process that makes it available to everyone, not just a select few are born with it. More importantly, it means that leadership is not limited to only the people in the group have a formal position of authority.

2.2       Theory of Leadership ( Full-Range Leadership Theory )

In order to make a study, the theoretical framework will be use Full Range Leadership Theory (FRLT) for the study. Full Range Leadership Theory (FRLT) is said the leadership approach that is widely accepted and studied in the 20th century and early 21st century (Antonakis & House, 2002). Bass (1985) argued that the existing theories of leadership have focused on his goals and clarification of roles and leaders how to reward or allowed his behavior. This transactional leadership was limited to only encourage exchange basis and followers.

Bass 1985 suggests that a paradigm shift is needed to understand how leaders influence followers to transcend self-interest for the good of the unit and their organizations to achieve optimal performance. He refers to this type of leadership as transformational leadership. Bass's original theory included four transformational and transactional leadership are two factors. Bass and his colleagues (Avolio & Bass, 1991; Avolio, Waldman, & Yammarino, 1991; Bass, 1998; Bass & Avolio, 1994; Hater & Bass, 1988) extended the theory based on the results of the study. FRLT representing nine single factor of five transformational leadership factors and three transactional leadership factors, also a laissez-faire leadership non-transactional described below.

2.3.1   Transactional leadership

According to J. Antonakis et al. (2006), transactional leadership is based on the exchange process to fulfill its contractual obligations and is usually described as set of objectives monitoring and controlling the outcome. Transactional leadership is theorized to consist of the following three first-order factors:(a) Contingent reward leadership (transactions constructive) refers to leader behavior focused on explaining the role and job requirements and providing followers with material or psychological reward depends on the fulfillment of contractual obligations,(b) Management-by-exception active (transaction active correction) refers to the active   monitoring of the goals of the leader is to ensure that standards are met and,(c) Management-by-exception passive (passive correction transaction) only after the intervention of non-compliance has occurred or when the error occurred.

2.3.2   Transformational Leadership

According to J. Antonakis et al. (2006), transformational leaders are proactive, raising awareness for the collective interests of his transcendent, and his assistance to achieve extraordinary goals. Transformational leadership is theorized to consist of the following five first-order factors :(a) Idealized Influence (attributed) refers to the socialized charismatic leader, whether the leader is seen as confident and powerful, and whether the leader is seen as focused on the ideals that higher-order and ethics;(b) Idealized Influence (behavior) refers to charismatic leaders act based on the values, beliefs, and sense of mission;(c) Inspirational Motivation refers to the way energy leaders see their followers with 264 J. Antonakis et al. / Leadership Quarterly 14 (2003) 261-295future with confidence, stressing ambitious goals, projecting a vision of his superior and communicate that vision can be achieved;(d) Intellectual stimulation refers to the actions of leaders who appealed to his sense of 'logic and analysis by challenging followers to think creatively and find solutions to difficult problems and(e) Individual consideration refers to leader behaviors that contribute to his satisfaction with advising, support, and pay attention to the individual needs of followers, and thus enable them to develop and self-actualize.

2.5       Job Satisfaction           

Hoppock defined job satisfaction as any combination of physiological and psychological and environment that causes a person's true to say “i am satisfied with my job”, (Hoppock, 1935). According to this approach though job satisfaction is under the influence of many external factors, it is still something that has to do with internal how employees feel. That's the job satisfaction of presenting a set of factors that cause a sense of satisfaction.

Job satisfaction is an emotional and affective response that refers to feelings of dislike or like (Muchinsky, 1993). Much less with what Schultz (1979) has defined job satisfaction as a combination of attitudes, feelings of likes and dislikes for a job and it is influenced not only by factors related to the work but also personal factors.

According to Vroom (1964), job satisfaction is a complete combination and positive feelings shown by employees towards work being performed. Vroom also stated that level of job satisfaction enjoyed by an individual is different from another individual and is dependent on factors that affect the way it works.            Lumsden (1998) reported that the factors associated with higher job satisfaction are administrative support, good student behavior, leadership, a

positive school atmosphere and teacher autonomy. Workplace conditions and parental support were also positively related to job satisfaction. Salaries and benefits were found to be weakly factors related to job satisfaction.

2.6       Job Satisfaction Theory : Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

Anita Sarma and André van der Hoek (2003) stated that Maslow has created a hierarchy of needs for individuals. He put in a hierarchy of needs that only after the layer needs to be satisfied about the individual care needs of the next layer. They are using Maslow's hierarchy of needs to create a team. Anita Sarma and André van der Hoek determine the needs for software development teams to Maslow's needs are set for individual layers. In creating the methods they find interesting observation that most collaboration tools focused on improving the efficiency of the team and depends on the combination of words to create team cohesion.  

Chapter 3 Research Methodology

3.0 Introduction

This chapter describes the formation of the research design and methodology used to achieve the goals set for the study. In this study, researchers feel suitability for use both qualitative and quantitative data gathering techniques, the survey using a questionnaire as an instrument and supported by qualitative data obtained through structured interviews. The combination of the design for this study will help to provide more data for analysis and ultimately a more accurate assessment (O'Neill, 2006). According to Hemming (2008) Human geography is also increasingly using both approaches in their research.

Another reason for researchers to use both qualitative and quantitative data collection technique because  there is little documentation on the subject, it is  important for researchers to obtain primary information source so that each method can complement and support the other and make a solid decision. In summary, the strength of qualitative studies has shown for exploratory or descriptive research and emphasizes the importance of context, setting, and participants’ frame of reference (Marshall and Rossman, 2006).

The objectives of the study were to  identify the leadership behavior perceived by teachers in primary school, the level of teacher’s job satisfaction in primary school and to identify relationship leadership behavior of headmaster and teachers job satisfaction among primary school teachers.

3.1       Research Design

Research design essentially refers to the strategy or plan of shaping the research (Henn, Weinstein and Foard, 2006), that include the entire process of research from conceptualizing a problem to writing the research question, data collection, analysis, interpretation and report writing (Creswell, 2007).  In this study, the purpose is to examine the research objectives which are to identify the leadership behavior perceived by teachers in primary school, to identify the level of teacher’s job satisfaction in primary school and to identify relationship leadership behavior of headmaster and teachers job satisfaction among primary school teachers.

The descriptive research will be doing in this research. Descriptive research did not fit neatly with definitions of quantitative or qualitative research methodology, but it can utilize both elements often within same study.

3.2       Research Instrument

The purpose of this study is to see the relationship between leadership styles with job satisfaction. The independent variable is leadership style as perceived by teachers and the dependent variable is teachers’ job satisfaction. The demographics of the principal are also the independent variables. The study is based on descriptive methods, so the findings of the study should not be used in order to determine cause-effect relationship. The research will conducted using a descriptive method. The questionnaire is chosen as data collection instrument. The questionnaire included variety of question on the leadership and job satisfaction in school. The questionnaire is consisting of four sections which are section A, section B, section C and section D. Section A is aims to the demographic questions which is the general background of the participant. Section B is consist of the leadership perceived by teachers, section C is consist of the level of teacher’s job satisfaction and the last section will consist of the relationship leadership behavior of headmaster and teachers job satisfaction among school teachers. The information obtained could assist the researcher when interpreting the results in the end of research.

The study also uses the interview approach in order to collect the data. Interview is also an alternative methods in collecting the data survey

(Babbie,2007). Using the interview in study will obtain information and opinions from experts at early stages of the study. According to Henn, Weinsten and Foard (2006), one of the strengths in interview is the personal nature. If respondent has related with the interviewer, they will be more likely to share the views of large quantities of data quickly. Hence, the questions in the interview will tend to opinions, perceptions and attitudes towards number of topics related and closely around the respondents. What is important to in-depth interviews, no matter how new data emerge, is that they provide qualitative depth to allow the interviewees to talk about a subject within their own frame of reference. By doing so, the method allows the interviewer to maximize their understanding of the respondent’s point of view.

Reliability has direct related to the validity of the measure. Reliability and validity need to follow the important principles. First, tests can be considered reliable, but not valid. Second, the validity is more important than reliability. Finally, the most useful tool is both valid and reliable. Validity refers to how well a test measures what it is purported to measure. To achieve content validity, all the items were constructed based on the quantitative constructs. Reliability is the degree which is an assessment tool produces stable and consistent results. The reliability of questionnaires will observed from the consistency in responses. Test retest method was used to reveal the consistency. Test-retest reliability will be measured by the reliability obtained by administering the same test twice in a period of time to a group of individuals. Scores from Time 1 and Time 2 are then linked to evaluate the test for stability over time.

3.3       Research Subject (population & Sample)

The study focused on primary and secondary school in Shah Alam, Selangor. The population for the study will be cover headmasters and teachers who in chosen primary and secondary school around Shah Alam. The selection of schools will be selected on the basis of two secondary schools of which represents the most outstanding schools and low achievement and two primary schools that represent the school's most outstanding and low achievement in the district.

The identification of the sample will be generated from frame listed by Jabatan Pendidikan Selangor in the district of Shah Alam for the year 2013. The sample of 80 teachers and headmasters will be chosen as participants for answering the questionnaire and 8 teachers and headmasters will be as respondents for interview. Purpose of satisfying the generalization among headmaster and teachers for whole district of Shah Alam, the study choose

cluster sampling method to get a relevant data. The method will using a group that have heterogeneous members, then some are chosen in randomly and every members in randomly chosen will be studied.

3.4       Research Procedure        

After an appropriate approach to the study determined, the information obtained by the relationship of leadership behavior headmaster and teachers' job satisfaction will be collected for analysis. In this process, researchers must analyze the information obtained through the process of data collection procedures. All information received must be combined to produce a complete and accurate data. The information obtained from the scientific literature provides important information and ideas to researchers to continue this study. By means of literature, too, the researchers had the idea to ask questions to the informant about the link between leadership behavior of the headmaster and teachers' job satisfaction in more depth. In addition, through the interview process will be conducted will provide new information to reinforce the information received by the researcher through literature.

Data collection was done by the researchers to collect data from the beginning until the researcher has the data obtained based on the objectives of the research findings and answer research questions. Researchers have been collecting data incrementally so that the information obtained is not mixed, neat and orderly. The process of collecting data will include observation and interviews. Once the objectives of the study are identified and defined, various sources and relevant information will be collected as a basis for analysis and reflection. Any information in various forms will be taken as data. The first process in the study is to accumulate as many educational materials such as theses, journals, papers, scientific magazines, and encyclopedias related to leadership behavior of the headmaster and teachers' job satisfaction. The method is performed prior literature that researchers get clear information to understand the behavior of the leadership of headmaster and teachers' job satisfaction before going through the next process. Through the literature as well, researchers will gain ideas to continue this study.

The next process is to identifying the location of the research that will be done and find the appropriate respondent for the interview process. The researcher will find information about the location will be located within the study. The location for study will be choose based on criteria of school that need by the research. The school will be referred from Selangor Education Department that are accurate and meet the characteristics of what researches want. In the process of interviewing informants, the researcher will choose 4 headmasters to get their views on the relationship between leadership behavior of the

headmaster and teachers' job satisfaction and 4 among teachers to get their views. The questions that will be asked is based on to the objective of the study. Data that obtained from the questionnaire will be analyzed quantitatively. Data will be grouped in the form of cross-tabulations. Cross tabulation is used to obtain a description of thestyle leadership with teachers’ job satisfaction. Quantitative datawhich has been shown in cross-tabulation will be done throughSPSS statistical testing. Test will be performed in Chi-Square test,Spearman and Pearson correlation.

In terms of using Chi-Square Test is one of the variable must be in nominal size. Spearman correlation test was used for ordinaldata types, while the Pearson test is used for interval and ratio data types. In addition of using statistical tests, the relationship of leadership style on teachers’ job satisfaction can also obtain from the analysis results of descriptive qualitative in-depth interviews with the respondents. Information received through the literature and interviewing informants will be collected and analyzed. Researchers will use the information incinerator through literature and interviews. Last process is data analysis. Once the information obtained through the literature and methods of interviewing adequate, the information is analyzed to answer the research questions.

  

3.5       Conclusion.

Various efforts were made by the researcher to obtainreference materials and information on the headmasters'leadership and job satisfaction. Several methods serve as a guideso that researchers do not obtain information that is not valid andincorrect. obtained information about the study is helpful as manyresearchers to collect data and facts. In addition, there is also data obtained from reading material to reinforce the existing information.

Researchers do not get a lot of reading problems asprevious studies, however, have little difficulty in finding reading material in the form of reference books and articles. There are manyprevious studies that found that are within the scope of studies conducted by the researchers, but researchers strive to produce a study of the best. Although researchers experienced a lot of trouble to get information at first. By using field studies,researchers tried to obtain accurate and detailed information as possible. Difficulty to understand the terminology used is not an obstacle but a challenge that must be faced.