Date of Award

6-2019

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy

Department

Educational Leadership, Research and Technology

First Advisor

Dr. Sue Poppink

Second Advisor

Dr. Louann Bierlein Palmer

Third Advisor

Dr. Nancy Mansberger

Keywords

instructional supervision, English language teachers, teachers’ perspective, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

This study investigates the effectiveness of educational supervision in improving the performance of Saudi female English language teachers from the teachers’ perspectives. Finding and supporting professional English language teachers and supervisors is one of the greatest obstacles facing Saudi Arabia (Alrabai, 2016; Sywelem & Witte, 2013). In Saudi Arabia and other countries, a lack of skills, training, and resources, such as time, money, and meeting spaces, seems to be a common problem for many supervisors and schools (Badah et al., 2013; Tawfiq & Almajali, 2012). Examining the perceptions of English teachers in Saudi Arabia contributes to a deeper understanding that may help supervisors implement their instructional supervisory skills more effectively. Specifically, research questions include: (1) What are the Saudi female English language teachers’ perceptions of their supervisors regarding: (a) the amount of time spent with their supervisor, and (b) the effectiveness of their supervisors’ skills? And (2) To what extent do Saudi female English language teachers’ perceptions about their supervisors’ effectiveness, and the amount of time spent with their supervisors, predict teachers’ beliefs about their improvement, when controlling for the teachers’ years of experience?

I used a quantitative approach with a correlational, predictive research design that involved an online survey of 57 Likert scale questions collecting the perceptions of 130 Saudi female English language teachers from Tabuk, Saudi Arabia about the success of supervision in improving their own performance. The questions cover seven constructs about supervisors’ skills including (a) Communication, (b) Learning Environment, (c) Curriculum and Instruction Preparation, (d) Classroom Teaching, (e) Student Assessment, (f) Supervision and Evaluation, and (g) Professional Development Activities.

Using SPSS software, data analysis reveals that about one-half of the teachers generally feel that their supervisors are effective in their work, especially in regard to the learning environment and professional development activities. Also, overall, about 15-20% of teachers disagreed that their supervisors are effective, while about 30% were more neutral in their opinions about their supervisor’s effectiveness. Teachers feel their supervisors are not as effective in supervision and evaluation, especially in regard to the observation process. Multiple regression analysis revealed that both the teachers’ years of experience and the number and minutes of visits from supervisors are not significantly related to teachers’ perceptions of their own improvement. Overall, although about 50% of teachers rated their supervisors as generally effective and skilled in their work, this did not result in teachers reporting being more effective as a result of their supervisors. Further studies to explain why teachers’ perceptions of their own improvement seem unrelated to their perceptions of their supervisors would provide further insight into improving teacher and supervisor relationships and outcomes.

Access Setting

Dissertation-Open Access

Download

Share

COinS