Date of Award

7-13-2009

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Education (EdD)

Department

Educational Leadership

First Advisor

Gary Schnellert

Abstract

The purpose of this study was twofold. One purpose was to compare the ranking of values of Minnesota principals by generational workforce cohort, including Traditionalists, Baby Boomers, Generation X, and Millennials. This study also compared the ranking of values of Minnesota principals by administrative level and gender. This study compared the value rankings of these generational cohorts, administrative levels, and gender on the Rokeach Values Survey, which included 18 Instrumental Values and 18 Terminal Values. Statistical tests were used to determine significant differences between these constituent groups on these values scales. Terminal Values and Instrumental Values were compared against the following independent variables: generational cohort, administrative level, and principal gender. The 738 participants in this study included 5 Traditionalists, 404 Baby Boomers, 329 Generation X members, and no Millennial principals from the state of Minnesota. A second purpose was to gather demographic data on the memberships of the Minnesota Association of Secondary School Principals and Minnesota Elementary School Principals Association.First, demographic data were tabulated to analyze the demographic characteristics of the associations. Second, descriptive data were used to compare the rankings of generational cohort members and genders on the Terminal and Instrumental Values sets. Third, a multivariate analysis (MANOVA) was used to determine significant difference in the independent variables in both Terminal and Instrumental Values.Overall, demographic data indicated that school principals in Minnesota are predominantly male in percentage, average approximately 44 years old, have 11 years of administrative experience, work on average 55 hours a week, have had approximately 4 job changes, and predominantly have an administrative credential from an in-state university. It is of interest to note that the elementary principals responding were predominantly female in percentage. Generational differences in values were significant in Terminal Values only. Administrative level had no bearing on values rankings. Gender of the respondents had significant differences in both Terminal and Instrumental Values.

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