Development and Validation of Leadership Skill Assessment Scale for Secondary School Principals

Abstract

This study was designed to develop and validate principals’ Leadership Skill Assessment Scale. It is an instrumentation study. The sample for the study comprised all the secondary school principals in Enugu State. Two research questions guided the study. Data were collected using a draft copy of the Principals Leadership Skill Assessment Scale. The data were subjected to construct validation using factor analysis with varimax rotation and Cronbach Alpha(α). Results of data analysis reveal that out of the thirty six items subjected to construct validation, only thirty-one items had a minimum loading of up to 0.35 (acceptance level for factor loading according to Menedith, 1969) on the six factors extracted. Five items did not attain the minimum loading on any of the six factors. One item was loaded on factors 3 and 4 and was considered factorially complex and was discarded along side the other five items that did not attain the minimum loading of 0.35 on any of the six factors. Result of factor analysis also reveals that some factors have fewer than four items loaded on them. Because it is not easy to explain such factors, the four items were also discarded. Out of the thirty six items, a total of ten items (items 14, 21, 22, 24, 27, 28, 32, 33, 34 and 36) were dropped as invalid items. Test of internal consistency for the surviving twenty-six items reveal that the instrument has an internal consistency index of 0.958. Based on the findings, the researcher recommends that measurement of principals leadership skill should constitute a regular practice of the Post Primary Schools Management Board especially now that a valid and reliable instrument for the exercise has been developed. The researcher further recommends that researchers in the field of leadership should adopt this instrument in situations that require a clear assessment of principals’ leadership skills. DOI: 10.5901/jesr.2013.v3n5p9