Date of Award
4-1982
Degree Name
Doctor of Education
Department
Educational Leadership
First Advisor
Dr. Donald C. Weaver
Second Advisor
Dr. Robert Brinkerhoff
Third Advisor
Dr. Thomas Carey
Abstract
The primary purpose of this study was to examine different methods of assessing the training needs of community education directors.
Twelve major skill areas used by community education directors were synthesized from the literature and served as a basis for developing the survey instrument. This instrument was used to measure the perceptions of the 12 skill areas by each of the four groups in the study.
Each group was polled on a different dimension of how the training needs of a community education director might be determined: Group 1 (Community Education Directors): Perceived amount of time each of the 12 skills was used. Group 2 (Community Education Directors): Perceived importance of each skill. Group 3 (Community Education Directors): Perceived need for training. Group 4 (Community Education Center Directors): Perceived importance of each skill.
The sample population of this study consisted of 150 community education directors in the state of Minnesota who were selected at random. The fourth group in this study consisted of ten community education center directors from seven states.
A survey instrument was sent to a total of 160 individuals and the return rate was 100 percent. In an attempt to incorporate one of the basic tenets of the naturalistic method of inquiry into this investigation, a summary of selected findings was mailed to each of nine participants, who were then interviewed to elicit their reactions in a follow up to the original survey.
Conclusions: (1) How skill needs are defined will have an effect on the skill needs that are identified. (2) Who identifies training needs will have an effect on what skill needs are identified. (3) How skill needs are identified may have an effect on what skill needs are identified. (4) Multiple realities of need exist when identifying the training needs of community education directors.
Access Setting
Dissertation-Open Access
Recommended Citation
Gates, Duane Douglas, "Determining the Skill and Training Needs of Community Education Directors: An Inquiry into Methods" (1982). Dissertations. 2504.
https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/dissertations/2504