Intra-personal variables and characteristics of interactions between change agent and client: their predictive relationship to attitudes toward change and toward the change agent

The study examined: (1) the relative contributions of six intrapersonal subsystems of potential adopters of innovations in accounting for attitudes toward change and toward the change agent; and, (2) the characteristics of diffusion strategies associated with modifications in attitudes toward change and toward the change agent. Administrators and teaching faculty (N = 624) from 103 secondary level programs for the hearing impaired participated in the study. Data for the study were obtained in three ways: (1) initial questionnaire to obtain indices of intra-personal characteristics; (2) a similar follow-up questionnaire seven months after the initial questionnaire; and, (3) records of interactions between change agency personnel and staff in the 103 participating programs. Six intra-personal subsystem scores were derived from the 26 intrapersonal characteristics using a priori subsystem assignment based on Paisley's (1973) model of the change process. Multiple regression analyses yielded no substantial predictive relationships for either of the two research questions. Cross-validation analyses on the regression analyses indicated substantial shrinkage in already inconsequential predictive power. Possible explanations for the lack of predictive relationships are discussed. Suggestions for future research include: (1) refinements in procedures to continue investigation into the research questions attempted in this study; (2) use of multiple criterion variables; (3) use of simulation or gaming techniques to overcome methodological difficulties; and (4) investigation into organizational and administrative factors which are related to innovation and change within educational settings.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph. D.

Level thesis:degree_level

doctoral

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Educational Research and Evaluation

Department dc:contributor.department

Educational Research and Evaluation

Grantor dc:publisher

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Year dc:date.issued

1977

Author dc:creator

• Clark, Norma K.

Statement dc:rights

• In Copyright

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Language dc:language.iso

en_US

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/10919/76534

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/76534