Date of Award

1995

Degree Name

Educational Leadership

College

College of Education and Professional Development

Type of Degree

Ed.D.

Document Type

Dissertation

Abstract

This study was designed to examine and compare self-perceived leader behavior and characteristics of black and white chief administrators of colleges and universities. The population for this study included chief administrators of the 538 four year colleges and universities, both public and private, within the 15 Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) states. A randomly selected sample of 18 black and 12 white (total n=150) chief administrators was used for this study.

Data collected by the LBDQ-S focuses on two types of self-perceived leader behavior, initiating structure and consideration. The demographic questionnaire collected data which included respondents, race, gender, age, years in present position, present salary, highest degree earned, and college majors. Data were analyzed at the 0.05 alpha level of significance using the General Linear Model of the Statistical Analysis System (SAS). Other data relating to demographics were presented in frequent distributions and analyzed through the comparison of percentiles.

The results of the study follow. There was a statistically significant difference found between black and white chief administrators in the area of initiating structure seif-perceived leader behavior. Additionally, significant differences were found in the following demographic areas of consideration, the age group of 55 to 59, and the college majors humanities, higher education and "other".

An observation of demographics through frequency distributions revealed the most characteristics were very similar. The area that did reveal noticeable differences was the area of college majors. Whites were more likely to major in social science and blacks were more likely to major in administration/management, education, and “other”.

The following major conclusions were drawn from the study's findings: (1) There was not a statistically significant difference found between black and white chief administrators consideration self-perceived leader behavior, but a difference was found in initiating structure; (2) Both black and white chief administrators scored high in initiating structure and consideration self-perceived leader behavior, indicating that both are effective leaders; (3) In relation to demographic characteristics, respondents had similar profiles.

Note(s)

The University of West Virginia College of Graduate Studies became the WV Graduate College in 1992 and was subsequently merged with Marshall University in 1997.

Subject(s)

Educational leadership – Southern States.

College administrators – Southern States – Attitudes.

African American college administrators – Southern States – Attitudes.

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