The effect of action learning on participants' decision making and conflict management skills in school administrator training

In this study, it was aimed to determine the effect of school administrators on the ability of decision-making and conflict management of action learning in school administrators' and candidates' training. For this purpose, an experimental group was established in the study. In the study, a mixed method, in which quantitative and qualitative research approaches were used together, was used. While quantitative data were collected only in the experimental period, qualitative data were collected both in the preparation process for groups and during the experimental research period. Participants in the study were determined by purposive sampling method. Attention was drawn to volunteer criteria when participants were determined. It was also taken into account that different members of each group should have different experiences. There were 38 participants who were school administrators or candidates in the study. Participants were divided into 5 groups of 7 or 8 people, which would be appropriate for the action learning approach. The study was formed in two phases including preparation phase and experimental research process. The preparation phase is the process in which the work to be done before the experimental research process is planned. In this process, the collection of data, the planning of the educational process, the planning of the action learning model for school administrators and the steps of forming the groups are included. In the experimental research process, firstly the presentation about the process of the action learning process was carried out with the presentation and then the pre-tests were applied. In addition, brochures were distributed to participants for better understanding of the process. At the end of the training period, posttests were made and data on the effectiveness of the interview forms and the program were collected from the participants. Personal Information Form, Melbourne Decision Making Questionnnaire I-II (MDMQ I-II), Rahim Organizational Conflict Inventory II (ROCI II), Administrator Training Program with Action Learning (ATPWAL) Interview Form were used to collect the data. Both statistical techniques and data mining techniques were used in the analysis of quantitative data. According to the findings obtained with both statistical techniques and data mining techniques used in the study, It was concluded that ATPWAL was effective in increasing level of participants' self-esteem in decision making, developing prudent decision-making skills, reducing the use of negative coping style, less dominance as a conflict management strategy, more preference for integrating, obliging, avoiding and compromising. According to the findings obtained from the analysis of qualitative data; the training process has been influential in the development of participants' decision-making and conflict resolution skills. The training provided important contributions to the participants' experiential learning. In addition, data mining techniques used in data analysis are an effective method that can be used to determine the educational needs of school administrators. Based on these conclusions, a number of recommendations were made to implementers and policy makers of educational policies on the use of the action learning approach in the pre-service and in-service training of school administrators and the use of data mining techniques to determine the educational needs of school administrators.