International Association of Educators   |  ISSN: 1308-9501

Volume 1 Issue 2 (July 2010)

Original Articles

The Organizational Culture At The University

Osman Ferda BEYTEKİN, Münevver YALÇINKAYA, Miray DOĞAN & Neriman KARAKOÇ

pp. 1 - 13

Abstract

Organizational culture is a vital element of effective management practices in universities. Lately, researchers are motivated to study on the organizational concept to provide managerial effectiviness in the universities. Furthermore, one should analyze the typologies of organizational culture to understand the organizational behaviours in higher education institutions. The purpose of this study is to explore the concept of current organizational culture at Ege University so the effective management strategies will be developed. The Competing Values Framework was employed to identfy the organizational culture type displayed by Ege University faculty. This framework assesses the dominant organizational culture based on four culture types: Clan, hierarchy, adhocracy, and market. According to the results of this study, Ege university faculty exhibits hierarchy culture type as dominant in the current situation. The hiearchy culture represents Ege university as an organization that concentrates on internal maintenance with stable and where individuals follow procedures, and leaders effectively coordinate and organise activity to maintain a smooth running organisation. However, the strategic objectives of Ege University emphasize the attributes of mainly adhocracy and clan culture types and market culture to some extent. This implies that Ege University’s mission, goals, and strategic objectives are not mostly being met with the dominant current culture type. On the other hand, the second dominant culture type for Ege University is the market culture which is mostly adequate to the strategic objectives of the university. The market culture organization concentrates on results to be achieved and the competition is the significant attribute in this type. Researches on organizational culture indicate that mission, goals and strategic objectives of an organization shouldn’t conflict with the current culture and they must work together to enhance effectiveness of the organization. 

Keywords: Organizational culture, university management, competing values framework.

Investigating Factors Affecting Teachers’ Professional Learning

Volkan İNCEÇAY & Ayşen BAKİOĞLU

pp. 14 - 21

Abstract

This study both aimed to present what factors effecting teachers’ professional learning were and investigate these factors. How these factors effected teachers’ professional learning were perceived by teachers and according to which independent and dependent variables they vary were researched. A total of 482 state primary school teachers working in Istanbul province; Kadikoy and Umraniye regions, in the 2006-2007 academic year participated in this study. It has been determined that there were variations in teachers themselves and school culture sub- dimensions according to having in-service training; in school management sub- dimension according to the reason of preferring the profession; in education policy makers and school management sub- dimensions related to class size; and school culture dimension in connection with school size. It was also found out that the factors do differentiate according to gender, having in-service training, teachers’ career phases and class size. Some recommendations were made in relation to the findings. 

Keywords: Teacher, Professional Development, Education Management, In-Service Education.

The Investigation of Effects of Modelling and Computer Assisted Instruction on Academic Achievement

M. Handan GÜNEŞ & Dilek ÇELİKLER

pp. 22 - 28

Abstract

The study aimed to investigate the effects of modelling and computer assisted instruction (CAI) on academic achievement of the students. For this purpose, the study was conducted with 132 second grade students who were attending Education Faculty, Science and Technology Education Department of 19 Mayıs University. Students were distributed into three groups as control, modelling and computer assisted instruction groups and the topic of cell division was taught by the use of three different methods. According to the pre and post- test results, there were significant differences between the groups in terms of academic achievement. Whilst control group students to whom topics were taught by the use of traditional method were found the less successful group, modelling group was found the most successful group. Study results revealed that students to whom topics were taught by the use of supplementary tools were more successful.

Keywords: cell division, modelling, computer assisted instruction (CAI)

The Relationship between Internet Addiction, Peer Pressure and Perceived Social Support among Adolescents

Binnaz Kıran Esen & Mehmet Gündoğdu

pp. 29 - 36

Abstract

The aim of the present research was to investigate the relationships between internet addiction, peer pressure and social support among adolescents. The sample of the study consisted of 558 adolescents (290 female 268 male) selected from high school 9th and 10th grade at Mersin. The data related with the internet addiction was gathered by means of Internet Addiction Questionnaire developed by Young (1998) and adapted to Turkish culture by Bayraktar (2001). The data related with the peer pressure gathered with the peer Pressure Questionnaire developed by Kıran (2002) and Perceived Social Support Measure developed by Yıldırım (1997) was used to measure the social support. To examine the relationships between internet addiction, peer pressure and social support, gender X peer pressure (low-medium- high), gender X peer support (low-medium-high), gender X parental support (low-medium- high) and gender X teachers’ support (low-medium-high) design four different analyses of variance was applied to the Internet Addiction Questionnaire scores of the adolescents. For low, medium and high peer pressure, peer support, parental support and teachers’ support, 0,5 standard deviation was used as cut off point. The results showed that the lower the peer pressure, internet addiction decreases. Moreover, the more the parental and teachers’ support increase, internet addiction scores of the adolescents decrease. Furthermore, it was observed that internet addiction scores of the adolescents differed according to gender, and the internet addiction scores of the girls were lower than that of boys. Otherwise, no relationship was observed between internet addiction and peer support. The results were discussed in the light of related literature.

Keywords: Internet addiction, Peer Pressure, Perceived Social Support, Adolescents

Methodological and Statistical Errors Found in Science Education Master’s Theses

Sibel OZSOY, Özgül KELEŞ & Naim UZUN

pp. 37 - 46

Abstract

In the scientific research process, it is very crucial for researchers to determine methodology of study, to choose appropriate statistical analysis and to report results obtained correctly. In our country, one can confront with many methodological and statistical errors in science education studies. To decrease the number of errors, there is a need for studies reporting kinds of errors and giving recommendations to correct them. With this perspective, the aim of this study is to examine Master’s theses written in the field of science education in terms of appropriateness of their methodology and statistical analysis used. In the present study, 30 theses that can be accessed from the National Theses Center of Council of Higher Education are examined. In the study, errors frequently confronted in these theses are examplified and some recommendations are given to correct these errors.

Keywords: scientific research, statistical errors, methodological errors, science education