Relationships between Power Distance, Organizational Commitment, and Trust in Schools

Abstract

Power distance is important for the healthy execution of relations, interactions, and communication between managers and employees. Low power distance improves the quality of relationships, interactions, and communication between school administrators and teachers, while high power distance decreases them. The power distance that teachers believe to exist in school may be related to their organizational attitude, value and behaviour. In this context, the aim of the study is to examine the relationships between teachers' power distance beliefs and their organizational commitment and organizational trust. Research data were collected in Giresun, Turkey in 2018. The study group of the research consists of teachers working in public high schools. According to the results of the research, teachers' power distance beliefs are at “low” level. There are positive correlations between teachers' power distance beliefs and their organizational commitment and organizational trust. Teachers' power distance beliefs predict their organizational commitment and organizational trust. The results of the research are thought to contribute to the awareness of the importance of power distance of school administrators in terms of manager-teacher interaction.