Perceptions of leadership staff members regarding educational goals

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine if any significant difference in ranking goal priorities existed among and/or between three selected groups within the Dallas Independent School District. The three groups were: (1) Anglo administrators, program facilitators and educators, (2) black administrators, program facilitators and educators, and (3) Mexican-American administrators, program facilitators and educators. The study then assessed the perceived differences among and between the three groups in ranking goals for planning a secondary school of the future. This investigation was developed with the intention of providing a systematic way for administrators to analyze and compare perception differences that might occur on a management team. This particular design was not directed towards formulating experimental generalizations or making value judgments about any particular group. This investigation sought to be instrumental in providing systematic methods for documenting and quantifying perceptual discrepancies which might occur on any multicultural management team charged with developing programs and making collective programmatic decisions. This study sought to identify and measure the existence of pluralistic ignorance within and among the three groups, as well as between them. Packard and Willower defined pluralistic ignorance as the shared misperception of an attitude, norm, or belief held by members of a group..