Date of Award

3-19-1997

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Education (EdD)

Department

Teaching & Learning

First Advisor

John Hoover

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to identify the characteristics of the Modified Interagency Arrangement Model and to add to the knowledge base about measurement of interagency collaboration. An instrument that would allow evaluation of the collaboration was developed. The characteristics of the instrument were investigated through a study of the North Dakota Early Childhood Tracking System (NDECTS) interagency arrangement structure. Validity of the instrument was examined by evaluating the modified IAM instrument's factor structure, content validity, and criterion-referenced validity. A measure of reliability was performed by examining the internal consistency of subscales and the entire scale.The sample studied were members of NDECTS local interagency teams. Respondents were team members representing 16 interagency tracking teams from across the state of North Dakota.To investigate the construct validity of the modified IAM, a principal components analysis was performed. Three factors, identified as "Interpersonal Relations", "Agency Support", and "Resource Utilization" were observed. Although these factors do not match the seven critical conditions of collaborative interagency arrangements proposed by Intriligator's conceptual model, they appear to be areas which directly influence interagency arrangements in NDECTS and which match aspects of collaboration put forth in past studies.Content validity was studied by having subjects rate individual items of the modified IAM for importance to the collaborative process. Respondents rated the entire scale as well as the three factors as important to collaboration. Criterion-referenced validity was examined by asking whether a relationship existed between the modified IAM factors and team members' perceptions of the quality of services delivered by their NDECTS team. It was determined that the instrument was mathematically related to measures of perceived service outcomes.A diagnostic team profile was developed from the descriptive data, showing where the state-wide NDECTS ranked on a level of compliance, cooperation, coordination or collaboration across the three factors that emerged from the study. The profile may be useful as a way to relate results of evaluation studies back to the participants, as well as to pass along new knowledge to state administrators.The factor structure of the characteristics leading to effective collaboration should be further examined, given the results of this investigation. It is possible that current agency practices do not adequately allow for full-scale collaboration among NDECTS members. It appears the team members believe collaboration evolves from working well with one another, having their agencies provide structural and philosophical support to the collaborative effort, and having the use of available resources to do collaborative tasks.

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