Principal personality and leadership : an exploratory study on principal personality and leadership behavior using the five-factor model and trait activation framework

"This dissertation is a mixed-methods exploratory study on the relationship between principal personality and principal behavior. The study used the Five-Factor Model to analyze the principal position to determine if there might be links between a principal's personality and their thoughts and behaviors. This study used survey and interview data from principals in Michigan to identify possible relationships and provide an outline with which to study principal personality and leadership behaviors in the future. This paper also contributes to the Trait Activation Framework with a focus on the education leadership position. Findings show that the principal sample represented higher Agreeableness and Conscientiousness, which aligns with previous research, which suggests higher consensus building and focus on accomplishing goals would appear in leadership positions such as the principal position. The findings showed many similarities in attitudes and prioritization across the principal sample with a primary focus on students, supporting teachers, building trust, using teacher teams, and the need for mentors and other colleagues to support new principals. Finally, the findings suggest that personality traits may factor into how principals strategize to gather information for decision making and implementation of those decisions."--Page ii.