Board perceptions.

The process of decision making by school board members depended largely on board members' perceptions of the communication traits of the superintendent, according to a recent Ed.D. dissertation.

Christy G. Graham's study at the University of Missouri-Columbia defined communication attributes as the superintendent's trustworthiness (perceived skill and knowledge for the good of the audience), expertness (specialized knowledge possessed by the superintendent) and social attractiveness (perceived experiential likeness to the board members). In addition, the attributes of emotiveness (paying attention to a communicator both verbally and physically) and assertiveness (the ability to be persuasive on a particular issue) were examined.

Graham's findings indicated the attributes of social influence and social style are perceived as essential to a superintendent's ability to develop and maintain a cooperative working relationship with board members and the community. The communication attributes of trustworthiness, social attractiveness, emotiveness and expertness were determined by the researcher to have more influence on board decision making than the attribute of assertiveness.

Copies of the full dissertation, titled "School Board Decision Making: The Effect of School Board Members' Perceptions of the Superintendent's Communication Attributes," can be ordered from ProQuest at 800-521-0600 or [e-mail].