USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA BY INDIANA PRINCIPALS AND SUPERINTENDENTS

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the use of social media by Indiana K-12 principals and superintendents. The use of social media has become prevalent both as a social and professional tool. The social media movement has evolved quickly over the past five years; however, schools and school districts have been slow to effectively utilize this tool out of fear, apprehension, and ignorance. The opportunity to explore social media as a professional tool by educational leaders was opportune and timely as this tool becomes a multi-purpose tool in today’s society. Descriptive statistics, independent sample t test, and one-way ANOVAs were used to analyze and disseminate the data collected for this study. This study was conducted by administering an electronic survey to all public school K-12 principals and superintendents throughout Indiana. I created a 16-item Social Media Survey to quantitatively measure the opinions and perceptions of principals and superintendents as to the frequency, preference, and reasons for using social media as a professional tool. A total of 263 principals and 94 superintendents submitted responses to the Social Media Survey. Statistical analysis of the data included descriptive analysis for selected items as well as inferential analysis that included independent sample t tests and one-way ANOVAs. A composite score was tabulated from the survey that helped to determine if significant differences existed among dependent variables that included position type, locality, years of experience in the field of education, socioeconomic level, and grade letter received from the Indiana Department of Education. The composite score was determined by collecting the responses of principals and superintendents as they related to social media as an effective professional tool in the areas of communication, professional development, recruitment, networking, and transparency. An independent sample t test found no significant difference between position type (principals and superintendents) composite score responses on the Social Media Survey. A one-way ANOVA found no statistically significant differences between locality (urban, suburban, rural), years of experience in the field of education (0-10, 11- 20, 21-30, over 30 years), socioeconomic level (0-25%, 26-50%, 51-75%, 76-100%), or letter grade received by the Indiana Department of Education (A, B, C, D, F) and the social media composite score.