Deals with three types of philosophical issues surrounding theory development: epistemology, abstraction and the concept of system, and values and ideology. (JM)

The author argues that particular theories tend to harmonize with certain values and beliefs and to clash with others. Further, theories may reflect the dominant values of a certain culture or a time, not to mention those of individual theorists or groups of theorists. In exploring the nonscientific side of certain theories, the author begins by…

When interviewed about school personnel's serious misconduct incidents, 50 superintendents indicated they case managed the incidents, mindful of due process. Comparisons were made with a previous study of principals. Results suggested that institutional organizations theory's blanket emphasis on ritualistic legitimation, the logic of confidence,…

Explores major trends in thought and research over the past 25 years in educational administration. Presents suggestions concerning endeavors that could become part of the research agenda during the forthcoming 25 years and emphasizes the need to link theoretical explanations to careful empirical work. (CJH)

Using a perspective that emphasizes schools' internal structure and external context, the author examines theory and research on loose coupling in schools, society's institutionalization and legitimation of schools, and structured observations of educational administrators' work. (Author/RW)

In this essay, inquiry concerning school organizations is likened to a hunt and some "hunting stories" are told. The stories deal with two areas of inquiry related to pupil control. One area is concerned with the instruments that serve as operational definitions or measures in the author's pupil control research. The other was concerned with a…

This book strives to present a practical approach to administration that is philosophically sound and scientifically informed. Because the practice of administration is concerned with values, the book argues that administrators require not only a well-developed set of commitments but also a workable process of valuation that will enable them to…

The organizational characteristics of public schools, the impact of context on people in schools, and the consequences for school reform are examined. Based on the thesis that organizational characteristics of schools constrain most reform efforts, a suggestion is made for restructuring the teaching day, which promotes effective planning and…

Data were collected from two public secondary schools located in the northeastern United States in order to search for indicators of culture peculiar to each school. Culture was defined in terms of shared norms, values, beliefs, traditions, and patterns of activity. One school was small, was located in a rural area, enrolled about 500 students in…

Much recent research on educational organizations, including that of Meyer and Rowan (1977, 1978), has depicted them as ritualistically legitimated, internally loosely-coupled systems. Willower, however, has argued (1982) that legitimization of schools by their communities is not merely ritualistic but is ordinarily problematic. To examine…