Teacher Education, Educational Leadership & Policy ETDs

Basharat Ali

Publication Date

8-4-1972

Abstract

The purpose of this study was threefold: (1) to describe and analyze the relationship between non-professional and professional variables and political liberalism; (2) to describe and analyze the relationship between non-professional and professional variables and faculty support for the critic function; and (3) to describe and analyze the relationship between political liberalism und faculty support for the critic function.

A questionnaire was developed to test the variables of the study. This questionnaire was mailed to twenty-five percent, or one hundred ninety faculty members, randomly selected from the University of New Mexico Bulletin for 1971-72. About twelve percent, or eighty-eight faculty members, returned their responses. The data so collected were subjected to correlational analysis to determine the strength of relationships among hypothesized propositions.

The data of this study suggested a positive relationship between: (1) political party affiliation, departmental affiliation and local-cosmopolitan orientation and political liberalism; (2) age and faculty support for the critic function; and (3) political liberal­ism and support for the critic function.

The results of this study led to the conclusion that if a faculty member's political party affiliation, departmental affilia­tion and work orientation are known, it is relatively easy to predict his political orientation, liberal or conservative. Older faculty members strongly support the critic function as primary for the university. On the other hand, the younger faculty members see their roles as strictly professional, in the traditional sense, and do not support activities which tend to promote and foster criticism and thereby further the involvement of the university in controversial social and political issues. Finally, it is the political orientation of the faculty members that has a tremendous amount of influence on support for the critic function. It suggests that whenever professionals face a situation of general political significance in their profession, their attitudes will be more influenced by their political orientation than by any other factor.

Document Type

Dissertation

Language

English

Degree Name

Educational Leadership

Level of Degree

Doctoral

Department Name

Teacher Education, Educational Leadership & Policy

First Committee Member (Chair)

Ronald Eugene Blood

Second Committee Member

Richard Lee Holemon

Third Committee Member

Joseph Fashing

Fourth Committee Member

Martin Burlingame

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