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Educ Asse Eval Acc (2009) 21:105117
DOI 10.1007/s11092-009-9073-3
Helen Wildy & Simon Clarke
Received: 4 April 2009 /Accepted: 15 April 2009 / Published online: 28 April 2009# Springer Science + Business Media, LLC 2009
Abstract This paper provides an example of the application of the cognitive interview, a qualitative tool for pre-testing a survey instrument to check its cognitive validity, that is, whether the items mean to respondents what they mean to the item designers. The instrument is the survey used in the final phase of the International Study of Principal Preparation (ISPP http://www.ucalgary.ca/~cwebber/ISPP/index.htm
Web End =http://www.ucalgary.ca/~cwebber/ISPP/index. http://www.ucalgary.ca/~cwebber/ISPP/index.htm
Web End =htm ). This study involving researchers in 13 countries investigates those aspects of principals work perceived by them to be most challenging in their early years in the position and the extent to which principals believe they were prepared for these challenges. Both probing and think aloud approaches to the cognitive interview were used and revealed a small number of items requiring amendment.
Keywords Cognitive interviews . Qualitative research . Survey development . Principal preparation
1 Introduction
Given the escalating demands and expectations being placed on school principals, it is vital that the complex circumstances they encounter in the job are reflected in processes designed to prepare them for the role. The ways in which principals are prepared for their roles vary significantly from one context to another and offer insights that travel across international boundaries (Wildy et al. 2007). The International Study of Principal Preparation (ISPP http://www.ucalgary.ca/~cwebber/ISPP/index.htm
Web End =http://www.ucalgary.ca/~cwebber/ http://www.ucalgary.ca/~cwebber/ISPP/index.htm
Web End =ISPP/index.htm ), a collaboration across 13 countries (Australia, England, Canada, China, Germany, Jamaica, Kenya, Mexico, New Zealand, South Africa, Tanzania, Turkey, USA), was established to examine the utility of preparation programs for novice principals in very different cultural contexts.
H. Wildy (*) : S. Clarke
The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA 6009, Australia e-mail: [email protected]
Using cognitive interviews to pilot an international survey of principal preparation: A Western Australian perspective
106 Educ Asse Eval Acc (2009) 21:105117
In Phase One of the project a mapping exercise was conducted of existing leadership preparation programs provided in each project site based on aspects of the programs design and delivery, specifically their client group, the programs content, pedagogy and structure and the...