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A study of the transformational and transactional leadership behaviours of school principals in Singapore
Author
Cheng, Virginia
Supervisor
Leong, Wing Fatt
Abstract
This study examines two main research questions. It focuses firstly on whether the five factors of transformational and transactional leadership behaviours obtained in Bass' 1985 study would be obtained in a description of leadership behaviours by a selection of key teaching personnel in Singapore primary and secondary schools. Secondly, it examines the relationship between the factors identified and a number of other variables.
The basic research design adopted is the correlational survey as this allows the analysis of the degree of relationship among the variables being studied. The first part of this study utilised the method of factor analysis to identify the commonalities in factors of transformational and transactional leadership behaviours. Multivariate techniques were subsequently used to see the correlation between the factors which emerged and the demographic variables.
The Leadership Level Questionnaire IIa (LLQ IIa), developed by Leong Wing Fatt was administered to 469 Heads of Department (HODs) from 47 primary and 42 secondary schools. A principal components factor analysis was carried out using the data collected. The variance in the ratings of the 75 items in the questionnaire were noted as this yielded 12 factors with eigenvalues greater than 1.00. A subsequent varimax rotation of the 75 items resulted in factor loadings which indicated the four main factors which emerged. These were the two transformational factors of Inspirational Leadership and Developmental-Growth Leadership behaviours as well as the two transactional factors of Contingent-Reward-Exchange and Maintenance-Carry-On Leadership behaviours.
The findings of this study confirmed that the factors of transformational and transactional leadership do strongly exist among Principals in Singapore primary and secondary schools. The emergence of these factors reinforced Leong's study in particular and Bass' original study in general.
Not all aspects of the demographic variables correlated highly with the four main factors. It was observed that demographic variables like sex of the leader (in the primary school), the type of primary school and the length of relationship showed significance. The other variables which had not indicated significance could be further researched as suggested.
It is significant that respondents in this study who perceived that their leaders showed transformational leadership behaviours also perceived that these leaders could motivate them to put in extra effort. This is further emphasized when respondents indicated that their perceptions of effectiveness and satisfaction in their schools are linked to the factors of transformational leadership behaviours.
Finally, this study could be extended to include an in-depth study of the relationship between training and the leadership behaviours of school leaders as well as the relationship between effective schools and the transformational and transactional leadership behaviours of school leaders in both primary and secondary schools.
The basic research design adopted is the correlational survey as this allows the analysis of the degree of relationship among the variables being studied. The first part of this study utilised the method of factor analysis to identify the commonalities in factors of transformational and transactional leadership behaviours. Multivariate techniques were subsequently used to see the correlation between the factors which emerged and the demographic variables.
The Leadership Level Questionnaire IIa (LLQ IIa), developed by Leong Wing Fatt was administered to 469 Heads of Department (HODs) from 47 primary and 42 secondary schools. A principal components factor analysis was carried out using the data collected. The variance in the ratings of the 75 items in the questionnaire were noted as this yielded 12 factors with eigenvalues greater than 1.00. A subsequent varimax rotation of the 75 items resulted in factor loadings which indicated the four main factors which emerged. These were the two transformational factors of Inspirational Leadership and Developmental-Growth Leadership behaviours as well as the two transactional factors of Contingent-Reward-Exchange and Maintenance-Carry-On Leadership behaviours.
The findings of this study confirmed that the factors of transformational and transactional leadership do strongly exist among Principals in Singapore primary and secondary schools. The emergence of these factors reinforced Leong's study in particular and Bass' original study in general.
Not all aspects of the demographic variables correlated highly with the four main factors. It was observed that demographic variables like sex of the leader (in the primary school), the type of primary school and the length of relationship showed significance. The other variables which had not indicated significance could be further researched as suggested.
It is significant that respondents in this study who perceived that their leaders showed transformational leadership behaviours also perceived that these leaders could motivate them to put in extra effort. This is further emphasized when respondents indicated that their perceptions of effectiveness and satisfaction in their schools are linked to the factors of transformational leadership behaviours.
Finally, this study could be extended to include an in-depth study of the relationship between training and the leadership behaviours of school leaders as well as the relationship between effective schools and the transformational and transactional leadership behaviours of school leaders in both primary and secondary schools.
Date Issued
1995
Call Number
LB2831.976.S55 Che
Date Submitted
1995