The Principal’s Role in School Effectiveness: An Assessment of Methodological Progress, 1980–1995

Abstract

There is relatively little disagreement in either lay or professional circles concerning the belief that principals play a critical role in the lives of teachers, students and schools. This belief has led to considerable research into the nature of principals' work, attitudes, values, thought processes, and behaviour (Leithwood, Begley & Cousins, 1990, 1992). When consulting the empirical literature, however, both the nature and degree of principal impact continue to be subject to debate (e.g., Pitner, 1988; Rowan, Dwyer & Bossert, 1982; van de Grift, 1990).