ERIC Number: ED557478
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2012
Pages: 139
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: 978-1-3039-6419-0
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Developing an Ethical Framework in Decision Making of Rural Elementary School Principals in Pennsylvania
Hozien, Wafa Ismail
ProQuest LLC, Ph.D. Dissertation, The Pennsylvania State University
The purpose of this study is to explore and describe individual Pennsylvania rural elementary principals' experiences of ethical decision-making in a complex era. Ethical dilemma, in this case, is the term used to depict an incident which calls for a decision to be made when moral values or ethical principles were in conflict. Also, to learn how these principals encounter a given dilemma, how they resolve this dilemma and if they use the multiethical paradigms as described by Shapiro and Stefkovich (2011). For the phenomenological inquiry portion Clark Moustakas' (1994) model of transcendental phenomenology and Robert Nash's (2002) three moral languages provide the basis for this research study. Twelve semi-structured interviews are conducted alongside the administration of a demographics questionnaire to explore the respondents' perceptions on leading in the rural context. The principals are presented with four vignettes and the same four questions at the end of each. The twelve principals that are interviewed used multiple paradigms when solving difficult ethical decisions and their experience influence the paradigms they use most frequently. The respondents all use the ethics of justice and the profession more than the ethic of care and critique. The participants lived experiences are linked to the vignettes and the paradigms they use most frequently. Their age and rural setting is found to affect their decision making processes. Gender has no effect on ethical decision making. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]
Descriptors: Ethics, Rural Schools, Elementary Schools, Decision Making, Moral Values, Problem Solving, Phenomenology, Semi Structured Interviews, Questionnaires, Attitude Measures, Administrator Attitudes, Vignettes, Age Differences, Geographic Location, Gender Differences, Social Justice, Caring
ProQuest LLC. 789 East Eisenhower Parkway, P.O. Box 1346, Ann Arbor, MI 48106. Tel: 800-521-0600; Web site: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml
Publication Type: Dissertations/Theses - Doctoral Dissertations
Education Level: Elementary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Pennsylvania
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A