The OCDQ: A Four Factor Solution for Australian Schools?
| Date | 01 February 1972 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/eb009682 |
| Pages | 197-208 |
| Published date | 01 February 1972 |
| Author | MR. A. ROSS THOMAS,MR. R.C. SLATER |
| Subject Matter | Education |
THE JOURNAL OF EDUCATIONAL ADMINISTRATION 197
VOLUME X, NUMBER 2 OCTOBER, 1972
The OCDQ: A Four Factor
Solution for Australian Schools?
A.
Ross
THOMAS AND R. C. SLATER
For almost a decade the OCDQ has proven to be one of the most
"popular" instruments in research in educational administration.
Developed by Halpin and Croft, the instrument claims to measure eight
dimensions of a school's organizational climate. Such scores are then
used to classify the school according to which one of six climate
categories it belongs. Increasingly, the OCDQ is being subjected to
closer scrutiny. Currently in the U.S.A. intense validation studies are
in progress. This article reports on a similar study conducted in a
sample of 72 primary schools in South Australia. Data from 727
respondents are analysed to produce a four factor solution. The factors
are identified as supportiveness, operations emphasis, intimacy and
disaffiliation.
INTRODUCTION
The presence of a school "tone" (or "atmosphere", or "feel", or
"climate") has long been the concern of Australian educationists.
Ely reports that as early as 1858 "official" mention of the pheno-
menon is recorded in Chief Inspector Wilkins' report on the Clarence
Town School, New South Wales:
Except in a few cases children were tolerably clean and tidy. Still,
I do not feel satisfied that all has been done to promote neatness
and cleanliness that could be desired, and in particular I remarked
that the maps on the walls were cornered with dust . . . The children
were orderly and obedient, and the Government, seemed mild and
considerable. Much time, however, was lost in useless drill, not-
MR. A. ROSS THOMAS is Senior Lecturer in Education at the University of
New England. He is Associate Editor of the
Journal
of
Educational Administration
and Editor of the Commonwealth Council for Educational Administration
Newsletter. With W. G. Walker and A. R. Crane Mr. Thomas is joint editor of
Explorations in
Educational Administration
(Queensland University Press. 1972).
MR. R. C. SLATER is Principal of Carlton Primary School, South Australia.
Formerly a research officer within the South Australian Department of Educa-
tion Mr. Slater holds the degree of B.A. (Adelaide) and the Dip.Ed. Admin.
(U.N.E.).
Currently he is working towards his M.Ed. degree in an extension of
the study reported in this article.
To continue reading
Request your trial