Unraveling Social Capital of School Districts: Reciprocity Between Central Office Staff Members and School Principals

• In Event: 21.061 - MTCC Roundtable Session Five
  In Roundtable Session: 21.061-3 - Social Capital and Networking for Improving School Programming

Abstract

This study aims to develop a better understanding of the social capital of school districts by describing the structure and the content of relationships among district administrators. Using a mixed methods research design, quantitative data were collected with a survey among 89 school district administrators from 5 Dutch school districts for secondary education, and qualitative data were collected through a member check. The results are reported in integrated mode, including a visualization of social networks. Results suggest that the patterns of relations and interactions between central office staff members and school principals differ greatly, and appear to depend not only on the history and context of the school district, but also on deliberate interventions of district leaders on this matter.

Authors

• Edith H. Hooge, TIAS School for Business and Society

• Margriet van der sluis, TIAS Tilburg University