Abstract:

Th e purpose of this study is to explore why cases of ambiguity emerge in schools based upon school principal perceptions and to identify how school principals make decisions, their attitudes towards cases of ambiguity and how school principals are aff ected by such cases. Th e data of this study were obtained from face to face interviews and from semi-structured interview forms. A total of thirty principals, ten women and twenty men, were interviewed as part of the research. Data obtained from the interviews were examined under twelve headings in accordance with the qualitative research methods. Errors in planning, instability, reasons based upon the educational legislation and top administrators became prominent as the reasons of ambiguity in the research results according to the opinions of principals. It was concluded that principals consult to the people in their environment- firstly the deputy principles, administrators of other schools and teachers where necessary- or resort searching similar instances akin to their conditions. In line with the answers received in interviews, it was concluded that teachers and parents also have an eff ect upon the decisions of school administrators in cases of ambiguity. Keywords: Ambiguity in educational change, chaos, crisis, risk, uncertainty, decision making.

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