e-International Journal of Educational Research

Abstract

Purpose: One of the most important concepts in current organizations during nearly all-organizational process is the management of differences. It may be said that it is important to determine perception level of teachers, who have high workforce potential in the education organizations as a working group, for the management of differences. In fact, it is foreseen that determination of teachers' perception during realization of effective difference management in educational administration, particularly in schools, will contribute in creating more efficient school climate. Accordingly, the study aims to find out perception of primary school teachers in terms of difference management. Sub-problems of the research are as follows: 1. In which direction are the primary school teachers' perceptions for difference management? 2. Do the primary school teachers' perceptions for difference management differentiate in sub-dimensions of the scale in terms of sex, age, education level, field and professional seniority? Method: This study is in the pattern of quantitative research. It is conducted in the general screening model, which is one of the quantitative research models. Quantitative research pattern is a research pattern that tries to test objective theories by examining relations among various variables and the variables are generally measured by sequence via measuring devices; thus, digitized data can be analyzed by statistical procedures (Creswell, 2009). Screening is one of quantitative research model that allow reaching quantitative or numeric definitions via working on tendencies, attitudes or views of a population by a sampling in the population (Fowler, 2009). Study group of the research is comprised by n=264 (52,7% female, 47,3% male) teachers. As a data collection means in the research, Farklılıkların Yönetim Ölçeği (Difference Management Scale-FYÖ) developed by Balay and Sağlam (2004) from the Harran University was used through e-mails in the internet by getting permissions from all relevant people. Results: As a result, it was determined that the relation of age and sex variables of teachers with scale's individual attitudes and behaviors as well as organizational values and norms was significant. In other words, female teachers have more positive perception than male teachers in the field of thought and faith freedom and respect to different lifestyles of colleagues. Moreover, young generation teachers (between 18-30 ages) are more open to professional and personal development and information sharing while middle age and older teachers (between 31-40 ages) have more positive perception in expressing statements for thought and faith freedom than young ones. In line with those results, it can be assumed that using the approach of difference management as a base in schools will be received positively in terms of teachers' perception. Conclusion and Recommendations: Under the light of obtained findings, it can be assumed that using the approach of difference management as a base in schools will be received positively in terms of teachers' perception. Teachers and principals should see differences as a source of richness not a source of discrimination. Accordingly, they may make an effort to perform understanding, tolerance, etc. based social activities in their schools. The Ministry of National Education may take the initiative of conducting activities such as project, course, etc. for increasing awareness levels of especially principals and teachers within the difference management approach in the schools. It can be said that further researches, especially experimental ones, on this field may create a road map of turning effective difference management into more active situation in the Turkish education organizations. Accordingly, researchers who will make researches on this field should use mixed model or head for experimental studies.