Designing and Validating a Model for the Function-based Performance Evaluation of Department chairs

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 PhD student of department of educational Sciences, faculty of education and psychology, university of Isfahan

2 Faculty member of University of Isfahan, faculty of education and psychology, associated professor of educational Sciences department

3 Faculty member of Kharazmi University, faculty of management, Professor of department of educational administration

Abstract

This study aimed to gather a comprehensive list of duties and job descriptions for department chairs in public universities affiliated with Ministry of Science, Research, and Technology of Iran, so that it can be used as a basis for performance evaluation of the head of department in humanities. It was a combined qualitative-quantitative research conducted heuristically using Grounded Theory. The required data was extracted from the related resources through library research. The gathered data was analyzed in MAXQDA software. The analysis was done through open, axial and selective coding; the 1297 extracted open codes were classified into 26 components (axial codes) and 6 main categories (selective codes). In addition, views of higher education experts were gathered through a total of 17 interviews. By implementing, analyzing and coding interview texts, 1503 codes were extracted and classified into 31 components and seven main categories. The data sampling method was purposive sampling. The two job description patterns obtained from theoretical data and data from interviews were combined to form the final job description model consisting of seven main categories and 42 components. The main categories of a job description for the heads of departments are: leadership, qualification acquisition, interactions, mentoring, executive management, creating change and diversity, and quality improvement. To test the goodness-of-fit, a peripheral study was performed in which 40 heads of department from public universities were selected to complete a questionnaire. The process consisted of three phases and resulted in the elimination of seven items, giving a final model with 113 items. The proposed instrument can be used in reviewing job descriptions of department chairs in university regulations or to assess the status quo and self-evaluate the performance by other department chairs.

Keywords

References

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History

  • Receive Date: 03 May 2017
  • Revise Date: 23 October 2017
  • Accept Date: 02 September 2017

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