Perceptions of high school teachers' organizational happiness: A norm study

The objective of this study is to conceptualize organizational happiness of the high school teachers as well as to identify the dimensions of the happiness construct. It also aims to seek ways of enhancing teachers' happiness at work. Considering the absence of research in the field of happiness at school, this study is expected to fill this gap. The study employs the mixed method sequential design where first quantitative and then qualitative data were collected and analyzed. The population for the quantitative data collection comprised of high school teachers employed at the Ministry of National Education. The sample of the study consisted of 1344 teachers working at public high schools during the academic year 2013-2014. The study group for the qualitative data collection comprised high school teachers selected through random convenience sampling method. 37 high school teachers employed at public schools in Gaziantep were interviewed. The School Happiness Scale developed by the researcher was administered for quantitative data collection. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were performed in order to extract and confirm the factors of the scale. Reliability coefficients, content validity and standard deviation were calculated. T-test, ANOVA and descriptive statistics were used to analyze demographic data. Raw scores were transformed into Z scores and T scores for the norming study.The scale consisted of five factors that are management processes, attitudes towards teaching profession, communication, commitment and economic provision. The quantitative data were collected through online survey and mails sent to schools. The sample mean and standard deviation were calculated for the quantitative data. Qualitative data were collected through semistructured interview. Content analysis was used to analyze the qualitative data. According to the data obtained teachers' level of organizational happiness for management processes, attitudes towards teaching profession, communication and commitment was high and low for the economic provision. Implications for the practitioners and researchers were suggested based on the results of the study. Key words: Organizational Happiness, Secondary School Teachers, Happiness, Norm Study, Scale Development