RESEARCH PROPOSAL : Headmasters Leadership Style and Job Satisfaction

among Teachers in Primary School

FACULTY OF EDUCATION
EDUCATIONAL IN MANAGEMENT AND LEADERSHIP
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
(EDU 702)

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION

1.0

Background of The Study

School leadership is one of a challenging profession. Be a leader that has
been formally elected in organization, headmaster is a person who should play
their roles as a leader and manager in the school. Leadership holds the key reins
of an organization in bringing success in managing the organization. The one that
be a leader must have credibility in the organization of uniting to help each other,
work together, to ensure continuity and structure of the existing system, but they
should be able to move their subordinates to go hand in hand and sensitive
facing changes and the current host of problems plaguing the system of
education. (Mohd Nor Jaafar & Jazmi Md Isa, 2005)
Headmaster is a person who is brings the school towards achievement
through their skill, dedication and characters. A headmaster should have the
mission and vision to make the school as outstanding learning organization.
They are the person who should strive to develop students holistically that has a
wide range of skills, ability and willing to facing rivalry and challenges. According
to Bardford (1981), leaders are less able to lead will lead to dissatisfaction at work
among teachers. Leaders determine the degree of influence effectiveness of the
schools plan, decision and action strategies. A leader's actions not only affect
the organization under his leadership but also in terms of job satisfaction staff
especially teachers under his control should also be emphasized because it
involves a person's credibility.
The great headmaster is the person who effectively implements the trust
and responsibility by providing a solid foundation and conducive environment in
order to liven up the excellent learning culture. Even during the observation by
Fred M.Hechinger, who is education editor at The New York Times from 1959 to
1990 stated about the importance of teachers role in schools led to success.
Fred Hechinger said that :

"I've never seen a progressive school governed by weak teachers, or

school underdeveloped administered by an efficient teachers. I ever look
underdeveloped schools successfully developed but the sad part is there are
some advanced schools declined dramatically. In each case, the fate of the
school is largely due to the quality of headmaster"
(Davis & Thomas 1989:17)
Based on the above expressions by Fred Hechinger, clearly showed the
leadership of headmaster influence school achievement. Headmaster who
practiced effective leadership can only lead schools towards excellence.
Headmasters duties in schools is not limited to routine administrative but they
have to mobilize all resources whether material or human capital, especially
among teachers so they can contribute to the committed and effective service.
The teaching profession is a profession that requires commitment and
passion in order to produce human capital that is useful for society and nation.
Performed by the process of educating teachers is a continuous process
conducted in all ages begins at primary, secondary and tertiary levels.
Educational institutions at all levels play a role in each stage in order to produce
quality human capital based on the National Education Philosophy. Recently, the
topic about job satisfaction has received considerable attention and is a major
issue among teachers. Teachers are part of the supporter who performs tasks to
achieve the goal. They are a hope of governments, administrators and
educations planners that they can build a society with a highly civilized culture.
Job satisfaction is an important element in improving the teaching in
school education system, it requires educators who are creative, competent,
highly motivated and prudence character. All this can be achieved when teachers
are able to work in self-satisfaction and employment. Teachers' job satisfaction is
also associated with leadership that brought by school headmaster. Critically,
when some teachers are no longer able to manage their job dissatisfaction, they
act to ignore the responsibilities entrusted to them or resign. If it continues, this
case is not just cause damage cost of providing a trained teacher, and even result
in loss of the cost of providing a trained teacher of the college.
However, every headmaster does not have the same leadership style. Hence, it affects
the subordinates to work. There are some kinds of easy to follow style of leadership, but
there is also being significant leadership style that is quite difficult to follow by subordinates.
Therefore, this study will examine the manner of leadership brought about by the head
influence on subordinates' job satisfaction. The scope of the study will look in teacher
leadership style affect the quality of the work done by teachers in primary schools whether it
is motivated the teacher to do better in their performance or vice versa.

1.1

Statement of Problem :

The success of an organization depends on the integrity and principals

who become the leaders in institutions of learning in school. However,
determines the success of a school is not only depend on the role of principal in
controlling all activities administering, guide and supervise the school but the
principals should be wise in influencing his subordinates to achieve
organizational goals. Excellent in school organization has a relationship with job
satisfaction among the leader and workers. Teachers get satisfaction when their
needs are met and the leader gets satisfaction when employees can achieve a
high level of productivity (Jaafar, 2007).
Deterioration of student learning is measured based on performance of
school examinations that will be an image of the school. Student performance will
be a measure to assess the quality of leadership showed by headmaster and job
satisfaction among teacher. (Rahim,1999)
1.3
Research Objective :
This research will be done based on the following objectives :
a) To identify the leadership behavior perceived by teachers in primary school
b) To identify the level of teachers job satisfaction in primary school
c) To identify relationship leadership behavior of headmaster and teachers job
satisfaction among primary school teachers.
1.4

Research Questions:

This research were determined three question to purpose this study,

a) What are the leadership behaviors perceived by teachers towards headmaster in
primary school?
b) What are the perceived job satisfactions levels among the primary school?
c) How relationship of leadership style of headmaster with teachers job satisfaction
can bring the primary school towards education vision and mission?

1.5

Significance of Study :
This study will be investigating the relationship between leadership style of
headmaster in produce job satisfaction of the teacher towards bringing the
school to fulfill the education vision and mission. The behavior of leadership will
give the different respond to people. The interaction between the style of leaders
and their subordinates can either be an advantage or detriment. (Schein, 1970).

This study is expected to be able to benefit in upgrading the quality of school

management and school standard when the relationship between the leadership
of the headmaster and school teachers' job satisfaction are identified.
1.6
Limitations of Study :
The study will limit to primary school around Shah Alam, Malaysia. The primary
school maybe limited only 4 schools that picked by excellent performances
school and lower performance school. They will be measured by questionnaire
and interview whether their performance based on leadership will bring
differentiation towards their job satisfaction. There will be 20 per school that will
be as respondents. The headmasters of school will be interviewed based on
formal questions.

CHAPTER 2 : LITERATURE REVIEW

2.0

Introduction

In this chapter, researcher will elaborate about research review being done by
previous researchers. In this section, the researcher uses several studies
conducted by previous researchers about leadership style and job satisfaction,
some books and articles related to researchers topics used as a reference. I also
use of Internet search engines accessed via hyperlinks on my universitys library
website. These hyperlinks search provide access to theses, academic journals
and previous bachelor dissertations. The relationship between leadership and job
satisfaction is increasingly important in todays education organization
(Loganatan, 2012). Therefore, the purpose of this study is to review the
relationships between perceived leadership style and job satisfaction among
teachers in primary school. This chapter focuses on reviewing literature that is

related to leadership style and job satisfaction specified in education of primary

school, and then the literature within these topics as it relates to headmaster and
teachers. Finally, the gaps of identification in the knowledge base and how this
study able to fulfills them will be discussed.

2.1

Definition of Leadership

Leadership is defined as the process influencing others to facilitate the

attainment of organizational relevant goals (Chan Fung Lan, 2009). Leadership
also is a process includes influencing the task objectives with strategies to
achieve the goal, influencing the group maintenance and identification, also to
influence the culture of the organization (Yukl and Van Fleet, 1992). Gary Yukl
(2006) has defines leadership as the process influencing others to understand
and agree about what is needs to be done and what to do, and the process in
facilitating individual and collective efforts to accomplish shared objectives
According to Peter Northouse (2007), leadership is a process whereby an
individual influences a group of other individuals to achieve a common goal.
These definitions suggest several key components to the phenomenon of
leadership. Some of the components are :
(a) Leadership is a process,
(b) Leadership involves influencing others,
(c) Leadership happens within the context of a group,
(d) Leadership involves goal attainment, and
(e) Goals are shared in leaders and their followers.
Hence, leadership is a process of influencing others to follow instructions
to achieve the goal. goal will be brought together in a group of leaders and
followers. That means, every act done by leaders affect followers and act that will
affect job satisfaction followers. Determine leadership as an act shows that
leadership is not in character with just a few, certain people are blessed with at
birth. Leadership is a transactional event that occurs between leaders and their
followers. Viewing leadership as a process means that leaders influence and are
influenced by their followers either positive or negative. It emphasizes that
leadership is two-way, which interactive event between leaders and followers and
instead, show a linear way in which the leader only affects followers.
Determination of leadership as a process that makes it available to everyone, not
just a select few are born with it. More importantly, it means that leadership is not
limited to only the people in the group have a formal position of authority.

2.2

Theory of Leadership ( Full-Range Leadership Theory )

In order to make a study, the theoretical framework will be use Full Range
Leadership Theory (FRLT) for the study. Full Range Leadership Theory (FRLT) is
said the leadership approach that is widely accepted and studied in the 20th
century and early 21st century (Antonakis & House, 2002). Bass (1985) argued
that the existing theories of leadership have focused on his goals and
clarification of roles and leaders how to reward or allowed his behavior. This
transactional leadership was limited to only encourage exchange basis and
followers.
Bass 1985 suggests that a paradigm shift is needed to understand how
leaders influence followers to transcend self-interest for the good of the unit and
their organizations to achieve optimal performance. He refers to this type of
leadership as transformational leadership. Bass's original theory included four
transformational and transactional leadership are two factors. Bass and his
colleagues (Avolio & Bass, 1991; Avolio, Waldman, & Yammarino, 1991; Bass,
1998; Bass & Avolio, 1994; Hater & Bass, 1988) extended the theory based on the
results of the study. FRLT representing nine single factor of five transformational
leadership factors and three transactional leadership factors, also a laissez-faire
leadership non-transactional described below.

2.3.1 Transactional leadership

According to J. Antonakis et al. (2006), transactional leadership is based on
the exchange process to fulfill its contractual obligations and is usually
described as set of objectives monitoring and controlling the outcome.
Transactional leadership is theorized to consist of the following three first-order
factors:
(a) Contingent reward leadership (transactions constructive) refers to leader
behavior focused on explaining the role and job requirements and providing
followers with material or psychological reward depends on the fulfillment of
contractual obligations,
(b) Management-by-exception active (transaction active correction) refers to the
active monitoring of the goals of the leader is to ensure that standards are met
and,
(c) Management-by-exception passive (passive correction transaction) only after
the intervention of non-compliance has occurred or when the error occurred.

2.3.2 Transformational Leadership

According to J. Antonakis et al. (2006), transformational leaders are
proactive, raising awareness for the collective interests of his transcendent, and
his assistance to achieve extraordinary goals. Transformational leadership is
theorized to consist of the following five first-order factors :
(a) Idealized Influence (attributed) refers to the socialized charismatic leader,
whether the leader is seen as confident and powerful, and whether the leader is
seen as focused on the ideals that higher-order and ethics;
(b) Idealized Influence (behavior) refers to charismatic leaders act based on the
values, beliefs, and sense of mission;
(c) Inspirational Motivation refers to the way energy leaders see their followers
with 264 J. Antonakis et al. / Leadership Quarterly 14 (2003) 261-295future with
confidence, stressing ambitious goals, projecting a vision of his superior and
communicate that vision can be achieved;
(d) Intellectual stimulation refers to the actions of leaders who appealed to his
sense of 'logic and analysis by challenging followers to think creatively and find
solutions to difficult problems and
(e) Individual consideration refers to leader behaviors that contribute to his
satisfaction with advising, support, and pay attention to the individual needs of
followers, and thus enable them to develop and self-actualize.
2.5

Job Satisfaction

Hoppock defined job satisfaction as any combination of physiological and

psychological and environment that causes a person's true to say i am satisfied
with my job, (Hoppock, 1935). According to this approach though job
satisfaction is under the influence of many external factors, it is still something
that has to do with internal how employees feel. That's the job satisfaction of
presenting a set of factors that cause a sense of satisfaction.
Job satisfaction is an emotional and affective response that refers to
feelings of dislike or like (Muchinsky, 1993). Much less with what Schultz (1979)
has defined job satisfaction as a combination of attitudes, feelings of likes and
dislikes for a job and it is influenced not only by factors related to the work but
also personal factors.
According to Vroom (1964), job satisfaction is a complete combination and
positive feelings shown by employees towards work being performed. Vroom
also stated that level of job satisfaction enjoyed by an individual is different from
another individual and is dependent on factors that affect the way it works.
Lumsden (1998) reported that the factors associated with higher job
satisfaction are administrative support, good student behavior, leadership, a

positive school atmosphere and teacher autonomy. Workplace conditions and

parental support were also positively related to job satisfaction. Salaries and
benefits were found to be weakly factors related to job satisfaction.

2.6

Job Satisfaction Theory : Maslows Hierarchy of Needs

Anita Sarma and Andr van der Hoek (2003) stated that Maslow has created
a hierarchy of needs for individuals. He put in a hierarchy of needs that only after
the layer needs to be satisfied about the individual care needs of the next layer.
They are using Maslow's hierarchy of needs to create a team. Anita Sarma and
Andr van der Hoek determine the needs for software development teams to
Maslow's needs are set for individual layers. In creating the methods they find
interesting observation that most collaboration tools focused on improving the
efficiency of the team and depends on the combination of words to create team
cohesion.

Chapter 3 Research Methodology

3.0 Introduction
This chapter describes the formation of the research design and
methodology used to achieve the goals set for the study. In this study,
researchers feel suitability for use both qualitative and quantitative data
gathering techniques, the survey using a questionnaire as an instrument and
supported by qualitative data obtained through structured interviews. The
combination of the design for this study will help to provide more data for
analysis and ultimately a more accurate assessment (O'Neill, 2006). According to
Hemming (2008) Human geography is also increasingly using both approaches in
their research.
Another reason for researchers to use both qualitative and quantitative
data collection technique because there is little documentation on the subject, it
is important for researchers to obtain primary information source so that each
method can complement and support the other and make a solid decision. In
summary, the strength of qualitative studies has shown for exploratory or
descriptive research and emphasizes the importance of context, setting, and
participants frame of reference (Marshall and Rossman, 2006).

The objectives of the study were to identify the leadership behavior

perceived by teachers in primary school, the level of teachers job satisfaction in
primary school and to identify relationship leadership behavior of headmaster
and teachers job satisfaction among primary school teachers.

3.1

Research Design

Research design essentially refers to the strategy or plan of shaping the

research (Henn, Weinstein and Foard, 2006), that include the entire process of
research from conceptualizing a problem to writing the research question, data
collection, analysis, interpretation and report writing (Creswell, 2007). In this
study, the purpose is to examine the research objectives which are to identify the
leadership behavior perceived by teachers in primary school, to identify the level
of teachers job satisfaction in primary school and to identify relationship
leadership behavior of headmaster and teachers job satisfaction among primary
school teachers.
The descriptive research will be doing in this research. Descriptive
research did not fit neatly with definitions of quantitative or qualitative research
methodology, but it can utilize both elements often within same study.
3.2

Research Instrument

The purpose of this study is to see the relationship between leadership

styles with job satisfaction. The independent variable is leadership style as
perceived by teachers and the dependent variable is teachers job satisfaction.
The demographics of the principal are also the independent variables. The study
is based on descriptive methods, so the findings of the study should not be used
in order to determine cause-effect relationship. The research will conducted
using a descriptive method. The questionnaire is chosen as data collection
instrument. The questionnaire included variety of question on the leadership and
job satisfaction in school. The questionnaire is consisting of four sections which
are section A, section B, section C and section D. Section A is aims to the
demographic questions which is the general background of the participant.
Section B is consist of the leadership perceived by teachers, section C is consist
of the level of teachers job satisfaction and the last section will consist of the
relationship leadership behavior of headmaster and teachers job satisfaction
among school teachers. The information obtained could assist the researcher
when interpreting the results in the end of research.
The study also uses the interview approach in order to collect the data.
Interview is also an alternative methods in collecting the data survey

(Babbie,2007). Using the interview in study will obtain information and opinions
from experts at early stages of the study. According to Henn, Weinsten and Foard
(2006), one of the strengths in interview is the personal nature. If respondent has
related with the interviewer, they will be more likely to share the views of large
quantities of data quickly. Hence, the questions in the interview will tend to
opinions, perceptions and attitudes towards number of topics related and closely
around the respondents. What is important to in-depth interviews, no matter how
new data emerge, is that they provide qualitative depth to allow the interviewees
to talk about a subject within their own frame of reference. By doing so, the
method allows the interviewer to maximize their understanding of the
respondents point of view.
Reliability has direct related to the validity of the measure. Reliability and
validity need to follow the important principles. First, tests can be considered
reliable, but not valid. Second, the validity is more important than reliability.
Finally, the most useful tool is both valid and reliable. Validity refers to how well a
test measures what it is purported to measure. To achieve content validity, all the
items were constructed based on the quantitative constructs. Reliability is the
degree which is an assessment tool produces stable and consistent results. The
reliability of questionnaires will observed from the consistency in responses.
Test retest method was used to reveal the consistency. Test-retest reliability will
be measured by the reliability obtained by administering the same test twice in a
period of time to a group of individuals. Scores from Time 1 and Time 2 are then
linked to evaluate the test for stability over time.

3.3

Research Subject (population & Sample)

The study focused on primary and secondary school in Shah Alam,
Selangor. The population for the study will be cover headmasters and teachers
who in chosen primary and secondary school around Shah Alam. The selection
of schools will be selected on the basis of two secondary schools of which
represents the most outstanding schools and low achievement and two primary
schools that represent the school's most outstanding and low achievement in the
district.
The identification of the sample will be generated from frame listed by
Jabatan Pendidikan Selangor in the district of Shah Alam for the year 2013. The
sample of 80 teachers and headmasters will be chosen as participants for
answering the questionnaire and 8 teachers and headmasters will be as
respondents for interview. Purpose of satisfying the generalization among
headmaster and teachers for whole district of Shah Alam, the study choose

cluster sampling method to get a relevant data. The method will using a group
that have heterogeneous members, then some are chosen in randomly and every
members in randomly chosen will be studied.
3.4

Research Procedure
After an appropriate approach to the study determined, the information
obtained by the relationship of leadership behavior headmaster and teachers' job
satisfaction will be collected for analysis. In this process, researchers must
analyze the information obtained through the process of data collection
procedures. All information received must be combined to produce a complete
and accurate data. The information obtained from the scientific literature provides
important information and ideas to researchers to continue this study. By means
of literature, too, the researchers had the idea to ask questions to the informant
about the link between leadership behavior of the headmaster and teachers' job
satisfaction in more depth. In addition, through the interview process will be
conducted will provide new information to reinforce the information received by
the researcher through literature.
Data collection was done by the researchers to collect data from the
beginning until the researcher has the data obtained based on the objectives of
the research findings and answer research questions. Researchers have been
collecting data incrementally so that the information obtained is not mixed, neat
and orderly. The process of collecting data will include observation and
interviews. Once the objectives of the study are identified and defined, various
sources and relevant information will be collected as a basis for analysis and
reflection. Any information in various forms will be taken as data. The first
process in the study is to accumulate as many educational materials such as
theses, journals, papers, scientific magazines, and encyclopedias related to
leadership behavior of the headmaster and teachers' job satisfaction. The method
is performed prior literature that researchers get clear information to understand
the behavior of the leadership of headmaster and teachers' job satisfaction before
going through the next process. Through the literature as well, researchers will
gain ideas to continue this study.
The next process is to identifying the location of the research that will be
done and find the appropriate respondent for the interview process. The
researcher will find information about the location will be located within the
study. The location for study will be choose based on criteria of school that need
by the research. The school will be referred from Selangor Education Department
that are accurate and meet the characteristics of what researches want. In the
process of interviewing informants, the researcher will choose 4 headmasters to
get their views on the relationship between leadership behavior of the

headmaster and teachers' job satisfaction and 4 among teachers to get their
views. The questions that will be asked is based on to the objective of the
study. Data
that
obtained from the
questionnaire will
be analyzed
quantitatively. Data will be grouped in the form of cross-tabulations. Cross
tabulation is used to obtain a description of thestyle leadership with teachers job
satisfaction. Quantitative datawhich has been shown in cross-tabulation will be
done throughSPSS statistical testing. Test will be
performed
in ChiSquare test,Spearman and Pearson correlation.
In terms of using Chi-Square Test is one of the variable must be
in nominal size. Spearman correlation test was used for ordinaldata types, while
the Pearson test is
used for interval and ratio data
types. In
addition
of using statistical tests, the relationship of leadership style on teachers job
satisfaction can also obtain from the analysis results of descriptive qualitative indepth interviews with the respondents. Information received through the
literature and interviewing informants will be collected and analyzed. Researchers
will use the information incinerator through literature and interviews. Last
process is data analysis. Once the information obtained through the literature
and methods of interviewing adequate, the information is analyzed to answer the
research questions.

3.5

Conclusion.
Various
efforts
were made by
the
researcher to obtainreference
materials and
information
on
the headmasters'leadership and
job satisfaction. Several methods serve as a guideso that researchers do
not obtain information that is not valid andincorrect. obtained information about
the
study is
helpful as
manyresearchers to collect data and facts. In
addition, there
is also data
obtained from reading
material to
reinforce
the existing information.
Researchers do
not get
a
lot of reading problems asprevious
studies, however, have little difficulty in finding reading material in the form
of reference
books and articles. There
are
manyprevious
studies
that found that are
within
the
scope of
studies
conducted by
the researchers, but researchers strive to produce a
study of
the
best. Although researchers experienced a lot of trouble to get information at
first. By
using field
studies,researchers
tried
to obtain accurate
and
detailed information as possible. Difficulty to understand the terminology used is
not an obstacle but a challenge that must be faced.