Yael Fisher | Achva Academic College (original) (raw)

Videos by Yael Fisher

How do we present, so our audience will enjoy our lecture? A few tips that can help "first-timers... more How do we present, so our audience will enjoy our lecture?
A few tips that can help "first-timers" but not only.

2 views

Papers by Yael Fisher

Education Sciences, 2024

Given the unemployment wave caused by COVID-19, the Israeli Ministry of Education and other organ... more Given the unemployment wave caused by COVID-19, the Israeli Ministry of Education and
other organizations initiated a unique alternative short-term retraining program to offer unemployed
college and university graduates the opportunity to earn teaching certificates. This study aimed to examine
the alternative short-term program from the coordinators’ perspectives. We assess the personal
and organizational impact of the program and its contribution to teacher-education initiatives. The
present study had two main goals: to learn about the structure of the program and its implementation
from the professional and personal points of view of the program’s coordinators as they experienced
it and to examine the contribution of the new short-term program to the participants—the teacher
trainees—and the Israeli education system in general. Analyzing semi-structured interviews with
program coordinators revealed insights regarding the program’s various phases in five categories:
recruitment of the coordinator; establishing the program; clinical experience; the students of the
program; and future initiatives for teacher education. Although the effectiveness of the online format
for practical clinical training was questioned, the conclusion suggests that this alternative short-term
teacher-education program may have broader relevance in routine times.

Multidimensional Perception of the Concept "School Excellence", 2024

This research aims to conceptualize and define teachers' perception of school excellence (TPSE) a... more This research aims to conceptualize and define teachers' perception of school excellence (TPSE) and investigate the relationship between personal background, school role, organizational factors, and TPSE. The scale for TPSE was developed especially for this study. Elementary school teachers (N = 197) participated during the 2018-2019 academic year. Data were analyzed using two quantitative approaches: The facet theory approach was selected for its ability to conceptualize phenomena, and the Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) approach. The variables in the SSA map in the radial configuration form three concentric circles of conditional perceptions: personal understanding of excellence, the perception of excellence reflected by their surrounding society, and the perception of the concept in the Western world. The school excellence components were deployed in an angular form showing three elements: leadership and management, students' achievement-related excellence, and pedagogical excellence. The measure of fit coefficients indicated good results: RMSEA = 0.00, TLI = 1.00, CFI = 1.00, NFI = 0.88, df = 28, χ 2 = 27.95, p = 0.47. The implications of the study findings can be helpful for schools that wish to examine their excellence rankings to improve performance and maintain a constant level of school excellence.

Frontiers in education, Jan 26, 2024

This research aims to conceptualize and define teachers' perception of school excellence (TPSE) a... more This research aims to conceptualize and define teachers' perception of school excellence (TPSE) and investigate the relationship between personal background, school role, organizational factors, and TPSE. The scale for TPSE was developed especially for this study. Elementary school teachers (N = 197) participated during the 2018-2019 academic year. Data were analyzed using two quantitative approaches: The facet theory approach was selected for its ability to conceptualize phenomena, and the Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) approach. The variables in the SSA map in the radial configuration form three concentric circles of conditional perceptions: personal understanding of excellence, the perception of excellence reflected by their surrounding society, and the perception of the concept in the Western world. The school excellence components were deployed in an angular form showing three elements: leadership and management, students' achievement-related excellence, and pedagogical excellence. The measure of fit coefficients indicated good results: RMSEA = 0.00, TLI = 1.00, CFI = 1.00, NFI = 0.88, df = 28, χ 2 = 27.95, p = 0.47. The implications of the study findings can be helpful for schools that wish to examine their excellence rankings to improve performance and maintain a constant level of school excellence.

Frontiers in Education, 2024

This research aims to conceptualize and define teachers' perception of school excellence (TPSE) a... more This research aims to conceptualize and define teachers' perception of school excellence (TPSE) and investigate the relationship between personal background, school role, organizational factors, and TPSE. The scale for TPSE was developed especially for this study. Elementary school teachers (N = 197) participated during the 2018-2019 academic year. Data were analyzed using two quantitative approaches: The facet theory approach was selected for its ability to conceptualize phenomena, and the Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) approach. The variables in the SSA map in the radial configuration form three concentric circles of conditional perceptions: personal understanding of excellence, the perception of excellence reflected by their surrounding society, and the perception of the concept in the Western world. The school excellence components were deployed in an angular form showing three elements: leadership and management, students' achievement-related excellence, and pedagogical excellence. The measure of fit coefficients indicated good results: RMSEA = 0.00, TLI = 1.00, CFI = 1.00, NFI = 0.88, df = 28, χ 2 = 27.95, p = 0.47. The implications of the study findings can be helpful for schools that wish to examine their excellence rankings to improve performance and maintain a constant level of school excellence.

Frontiers in Psychology, Jul 18, 2019

Journal of Educational Administration, Jan 28, 2014

Purpose – The first purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship between principal se... more Purpose – The first purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship between principal self-efficacy and work experience. The second purpose of this paper is to re-study the structure of a multidimensional and hierarchical Principal Self-Efficacy Scale (PSES). Design/methodology/approach – PSES was measured using the Brama-Friedman scale (PSES) (Brama and Friedman, 2007). During the 2010 school year, 123 principals participated. Exploration of PSES was based on Facet Theory (Guttman, 1959). Findings – The findings show that the highest levels of the PSES were found with principals that were at their first year of leading the school. The levels of PSES drop significantly during the second year and up to the fifth year of work experience. The levels of PSES start to rise after the fifth year, and stabilize after ten years. Furthermore, the findings show that PSES is comprised of organizational leadership, educational, and pedagogical leadership and external and communal relations. Research limitations/implications – The sample was relatively small and mostly from the center school district of Israel. The second limitation was that the sample included only Jewish principals. Since 20 percent of the population in Israel is Arabs, further studies should include all minorities in order to enlighten the issue. Practical implications – Understanding the relations between PSES levels and work experience could assist policy makers with decisions concerning continuing professional development (in-service training) of principals. Originality/value – Little is known about the relations between perceived self-efficacy of principals and their work experience.

Social Psychology of Education, Aug 1, 2010

The main purpose of this longitudinal study was to conceptualize the self-efficacy of aspiring pr... more The main purpose of this longitudinal study was to conceptualize the self-efficacy of aspiring principals as a dynamic concept. This study aimed to explore the structure and relations between the components of self-efficacy and to determine the nature and direction of change in the perceived self-efficacy of aspiring principals following a 2-year training program. The study was based on Facet Theory (Gutman, Psychmetrika 33:469-506, 1968), but also included some traditional statistics. The present study was carried out in two stages during 2005-2007. One-hundred and fifty aspiring principals from five academic colleges and universities in Israel who participated in a 2-year training program completed the same self-efficacy questionnaire during the first month of the program (October 2005-stage 1 and during the last month of the program (May 2007-stage 2). The nature as well as the direction of the aspiring principals' perceived self-efficacy changed following the 2-year training program. The perception of the nature of the principal's role remained unchanged.

International Journal of Education, Dec 20, 2013

The model of developing excellence in education differentiates between two processes of excellenc... more The model of developing excellence in education differentiates between two processes of excellence. The first is a comparable excellence, in which you compare yourself to others and will be referred to in this article as "excellence." The second is incomparable excellence, in which you develop your own excellence without reference to anything, or to others, and will be referred to in this article as "excel." This model offers ways for developing incomparable inner excellence, i.e. developing excel. It is a three-dimensional theoretical model: preconditions of the model, means that enable the development of the students' personal potential and basic assumptions which comprise the model's base. This paper also reveals the practical aspects of the theoretical model, showing that personal excellence can be developed in each and every student. Developing personal excellence will actually lead to the creation of an excellent society.

Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Education, Jun 30, 2020

The term school principals’ self-efficacy has changed over the past three decades because princip... more The term school principals’ self-efficacy has changed over the past three decades because principals’ roles and duties have changed. Given that professional self-efficacy deals with competence in the profession, if the nature of the profession changes, the level of one’s professional self-efficacy will change as well. There have been found connections between self-efficacy and choosing a career and that efficacy is a robust contributor to career development. People seek a match between their interests and occupational environments. Thus, self-efficacy is believed to be a situational rather than a stable trait. Therefore, understanding that the term principals’ self-efficacy includes certain level of confidence in one’s knowledge, skills, and abilities, which are associated with the task of leading. This has a great importance with respect to the overall managing of schools. Self-efficacy should not be confused with self-esteem or self-concept since it is a task-specific evaluation. In contrast, self-esteem and self-concept reflect more general affective evaluations of the self. Research on principals’ self-efficacy usually includes measures of multidimensional self-efficacy, which enables to capture the various elements of the principals’ work. Few studies have been conducted on the measurement of school principals’ self-efficacy, and most of these are based on the quantitative methodology, emphasizing instruments and scales that describe situations and areas of the principal’s work. Understanding principals’ self-efficacy could assist policymakers with decisions concerning continuing professional development.

Frontiers in Psychology, Sep 11, 2018

Background and Subject: A Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) is an organization that enables parent... more Background and Subject: A Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) is an organization that enables parents to be involved in their children's schools. Participation in the PTA is one of many steps parents can take to ensure their involvement. Few if any studies have examined parents' concealed and unconcealed motives (UCM) for joining the PTA. Purpose/Hypotheses: The main purpose was to identify the structure of the concept Motives for Joining the PTA, so as to enhance our understanding of what motivates Israeli parents to join the PTA. The second purpose was to differentiate between parents' concealed and UCM. Method/Procedure: A self-report anonymous questionnaire, containing 40 items (30 items about aspects of being a member of a PTA and 10 items for reporting background variables), was administrated. Data were collected from a sample of 155 Israeli parents. The initial data processing stage involved EFA (Exploratory factor analysis) using SPSS software. Stage two was a Smallest Space Analysis (SSA), conducted using the Hebrew University Data Analysis Program (HUDAP). Results: EFA indicated three main factors. The internal consistency of the scores in the entire scale, measured using Cronbach's alpha coefficient, was 0.89. Data deployment on the SSA map exhibited both a polarized form (an angular form) and a radial form in a Radex configuration. The first layer (the polarized facet) was composed of three major motives related to self-serving altruistic ideological motives/ (SSAIM), self-serving altruistic pedagogical motives (SSAPM), and egoistic motives (EM). The second layer (the radial form) was composed of concealed motives, UCM, and politically correctdriven motives.

Universal Journal of Educational Research, Feb 1, 2016

The main purpose of this study was to define and conceptualize the term parental involvement. A q... more The main purpose of this study was to define and conceptualize the term parental involvement. A questionnaire was administrated to parents (140), teachers (145), students (120) and high ranking civil servants in the Ministry of Education (30). Responses were analyzed through Smallest Space Analysis (SSA). The SSA solution among all groups rendered a two dimensional solution with a coefficient of alienation .18. The SSA map clearly divided 44 parental activities into four quadrants. The left and right regents represent the focus of parental activity: The left regent represents in-school activities and the right side represents out-school activities. The upper and lower regents represent the organizational level: The upper regent represents organizational based activities and the lower regent represents student-based activities. The initial findings also demonstrated that parental involvement can be defined by the 44 actions, which are deployed on the SSA map in a polarized facet. The facet includes four elements (separation index 1.00): Resources, school welfare, control processes and pedagogical and wellbeing contents. We now have a better understanding of what constitutes school-related parental involvement; we know that it reflects a broad spectrum of parental actions and activities, which can take place either at school or outside the school. The involvement can be expressed actively or passively, often relating to the school as an organization and often in the personal context of one's own child.

International journal of human-computer studies, Oct 1, 2006

The article describes two instruments for measuring Internet Usage and the changes in subjects' I... more The article describes two instruments for measuring Internet Usage and the changes in subjects' Internet usage following a controlled intervention. It focuses on the use of usage and lack of usage for measuring the digital gap. The ''digital gap'' is defined as the gap between individuals with and without access to technology (telephones, computers, Internet access) and related services. Since its emergence, the Internet has become the most important form of information and communication technology (ICT). The goal of the present research was to develop ways of measuring Internet usage for different segments of the Israeli population (it can also be used to measure Internet usage outside Israel). For the past few years, the Israeli government has sponsored programs designed to increase Internet usage in specific segments of the Israeli population. Some of these programs have been ''controlled programs''. Controlled Internet Usage Programs are planned and monitored programs, which use research methods to discover whether they have increased Internet usage and changed Internet habits. The population of Internet users in Israel is presently 45.8% (compared with 68.2% in the US population). The past 5 years has witnessed a significant rise in the number of Internet users in the West in general and in Israel specifically: an increase of 152% in the number of Israeli households connected to the Internet during the period 2000-2005. However, large differences are apparent between the stronger and weaker sections of the Israeli population where the Internet is concerned, and controlled intervention is therefore a very important means of reducing these discrepancies. The present article describes two measurement instruments: the first instrument examines on-line proficiency, while the second determines patterns of Internet use and the status of respondents' ''Internet awareness''. The instruments were built to determine the reduction in the digital divide associated with Internet usage following controlled intervention, and the population's Internet usage status before and after intervention. The difference between the two measurements represents the increase or decrease in Internet usage. These two instruments may be used by agencies making decisions about resource disbursement to reduce the digital divide in a variety of populations.

Education, Dec 1, 2012

The purpose of this study was to analyze excellent schools and learn from the quality processes i... more The purpose of this study was to analyze excellent schools and learn from the quality processes implemented in these schools. This article presents the success stories of two high schools in Israel and identifies the determinants/s that have led each school to being recognized as excellent. The study indicates that while there is no single theoretical model that characterizes excellent schools, there are certain factors that facilitate the adoption of an organizational culture of excellence, which can pave the way to success. The article presents an original empirical study which was based upon success stories that enabled to characterize excellent schools.

Social Psychology of Education, Apr 7, 2013

The main purpose of this study was to explore Israeli teachers' professional ethics and values us... more The main purpose of this study was to explore Israeli teachers' professional ethics and values using the Facet Theory (Guttman in Psychmetrika 33:469-506, 1968). Since Israel does not have a teachers' code of ethics, such exploration can be a basis for constructing one. The study is mainly exploratory, and the main hypotheses that guided the study were based upon universal structure of values (Pakizeh et al. in J Exp Soc Psychol 43(3): 458-465, 2007 Schwartz, in Advances in experimental social psychology. Academic Press, San Diego, 1992), and were examined using a mapping sentence. The initial findings showed the data deployment on the SSA map exhibits both a radial and an angular form in a Radex configuration. Israeli teachers believe that professional ethics is based on conditioned values. The variables in the SSA map appear in a radial configuration forming three concentric circles: personal values, social values, and universal values. The components representing the code of ethics were deployed in an angular form showing three elements: professionalism, reliability and honesty, and decency.

EDULEARN09 Proceedings, 2009

ABSTRACT The main purpose of this study was to define and conceptualize an Israeli Educators Code... more ABSTRACT The main purpose of this study was to define and conceptualize an Israeli Educators Code of Ethics using Facet Theory (Guttman, 1968). The initial findings showed the data deployment on the SSA map exhibited both radial and an angular form in a Radex configuration. Israeli teachers believe that professional ethics are based on conditioned values. The variables in the SSA map appear in a radial configuration forming three concentric circles: personal values (inner circle), social values (middle circle) and universal values (outer circle). The components representing the code of ethics were deployed on the SSA map in an angular form and showed three elements: honor and reliability, student care and concern, and professionalism.

US-China education review, Jun 30, 2010

This paper reveals a new evaluation model, which enables educational program and project managers... more This paper reveals a new evaluation model, which enables educational program and project managers to evaluate their programs with a simple and easy to understand approach. The "index of success model" is comprised of five parameters that enable to focus on and evaluate both the implementation and results of an educational program. The integration of these parameters forms a complete and comprehensive picture, which in turn provides the most information on the success or failure of the program. The parameters are: (1) the relevance index, referring to an evaluation of predefined objectives; (2) the efficiency index, referring to the fiscal efficiency of the program; (3) the effectiveness index evaluating the attainment of the program's objectives; (4) the impact index gauging the effect on the consumers, for whom the program is undertaken; and (5) the final parameter is the program's sustainability index. Since Israel's education strategy currently leans towards site-based monitoring and evaluation, such a model can potentially be of great help to school management and staff.

During the past decade, Israeli parents declared their rights to be involved in their children's ... more During the past decade, Israeli parents declared their rights to be involved in their children's education. The term used is "parental involvement", but there is no real agreement on the definition of the term. This paper describes the different opinions and approaches of parents, teachers, students, principals and decision makers, as found and described by Israeli researchers. The development, definitions and boundaries of the term are introduced. Even though the research in Israel is on a Hebrew term and this discussion is in English, the processes involved translate well, as these processes are in a well developed country, based on democracy and Western culture and an education system established under the British Mandate with its historical traces.

World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology, International Journal of Educational and Pedagogical Sciences, Feb 4, 2019

How do we present, so our audience will enjoy our lecture? A few tips that can help "first-timers... more How do we present, so our audience will enjoy our lecture?
A few tips that can help "first-timers" but not only.

2 views

Education Sciences, 2024

Given the unemployment wave caused by COVID-19, the Israeli Ministry of Education and other organ... more Given the unemployment wave caused by COVID-19, the Israeli Ministry of Education and
other organizations initiated a unique alternative short-term retraining program to offer unemployed
college and university graduates the opportunity to earn teaching certificates. This study aimed to examine
the alternative short-term program from the coordinators’ perspectives. We assess the personal
and organizational impact of the program and its contribution to teacher-education initiatives. The
present study had two main goals: to learn about the structure of the program and its implementation
from the professional and personal points of view of the program’s coordinators as they experienced
it and to examine the contribution of the new short-term program to the participants—the teacher
trainees—and the Israeli education system in general. Analyzing semi-structured interviews with
program coordinators revealed insights regarding the program’s various phases in five categories:
recruitment of the coordinator; establishing the program; clinical experience; the students of the
program; and future initiatives for teacher education. Although the effectiveness of the online format
for practical clinical training was questioned, the conclusion suggests that this alternative short-term
teacher-education program may have broader relevance in routine times.

Multidimensional Perception of the Concept "School Excellence", 2024

This research aims to conceptualize and define teachers' perception of school excellence (TPSE) a... more This research aims to conceptualize and define teachers' perception of school excellence (TPSE) and investigate the relationship between personal background, school role, organizational factors, and TPSE. The scale for TPSE was developed especially for this study. Elementary school teachers (N = 197) participated during the 2018-2019 academic year. Data were analyzed using two quantitative approaches: The facet theory approach was selected for its ability to conceptualize phenomena, and the Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) approach. The variables in the SSA map in the radial configuration form three concentric circles of conditional perceptions: personal understanding of excellence, the perception of excellence reflected by their surrounding society, and the perception of the concept in the Western world. The school excellence components were deployed in an angular form showing three elements: leadership and management, students' achievement-related excellence, and pedagogical excellence. The measure of fit coefficients indicated good results: RMSEA = 0.00, TLI = 1.00, CFI = 1.00, NFI = 0.88, df = 28, χ 2 = 27.95, p = 0.47. The implications of the study findings can be helpful for schools that wish to examine their excellence rankings to improve performance and maintain a constant level of school excellence.

Frontiers in education, Jan 26, 2024

This research aims to conceptualize and define teachers' perception of school excellence (TPSE) a... more This research aims to conceptualize and define teachers' perception of school excellence (TPSE) and investigate the relationship between personal background, school role, organizational factors, and TPSE. The scale for TPSE was developed especially for this study. Elementary school teachers (N = 197) participated during the 2018-2019 academic year. Data were analyzed using two quantitative approaches: The facet theory approach was selected for its ability to conceptualize phenomena, and the Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) approach. The variables in the SSA map in the radial configuration form three concentric circles of conditional perceptions: personal understanding of excellence, the perception of excellence reflected by their surrounding society, and the perception of the concept in the Western world. The school excellence components were deployed in an angular form showing three elements: leadership and management, students' achievement-related excellence, and pedagogical excellence. The measure of fit coefficients indicated good results: RMSEA = 0.00, TLI = 1.00, CFI = 1.00, NFI = 0.88, df = 28, χ 2 = 27.95, p = 0.47. The implications of the study findings can be helpful for schools that wish to examine their excellence rankings to improve performance and maintain a constant level of school excellence.

Frontiers in Education, 2024

This research aims to conceptualize and define teachers' perception of school excellence (TPSE) a... more This research aims to conceptualize and define teachers' perception of school excellence (TPSE) and investigate the relationship between personal background, school role, organizational factors, and TPSE. The scale for TPSE was developed especially for this study. Elementary school teachers (N = 197) participated during the 2018-2019 academic year. Data were analyzed using two quantitative approaches: The facet theory approach was selected for its ability to conceptualize phenomena, and the Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) approach. The variables in the SSA map in the radial configuration form three concentric circles of conditional perceptions: personal understanding of excellence, the perception of excellence reflected by their surrounding society, and the perception of the concept in the Western world. The school excellence components were deployed in an angular form showing three elements: leadership and management, students' achievement-related excellence, and pedagogical excellence. The measure of fit coefficients indicated good results: RMSEA = 0.00, TLI = 1.00, CFI = 1.00, NFI = 0.88, df = 28, χ 2 = 27.95, p = 0.47. The implications of the study findings can be helpful for schools that wish to examine their excellence rankings to improve performance and maintain a constant level of school excellence.

Frontiers in Psychology, Jul 18, 2019

Journal of Educational Administration, Jan 28, 2014

Purpose – The first purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship between principal se... more Purpose – The first purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship between principal self-efficacy and work experience. The second purpose of this paper is to re-study the structure of a multidimensional and hierarchical Principal Self-Efficacy Scale (PSES). Design/methodology/approach – PSES was measured using the Brama-Friedman scale (PSES) (Brama and Friedman, 2007). During the 2010 school year, 123 principals participated. Exploration of PSES was based on Facet Theory (Guttman, 1959). Findings – The findings show that the highest levels of the PSES were found with principals that were at their first year of leading the school. The levels of PSES drop significantly during the second year and up to the fifth year of work experience. The levels of PSES start to rise after the fifth year, and stabilize after ten years. Furthermore, the findings show that PSES is comprised of organizational leadership, educational, and pedagogical leadership and external and communal relations. Research limitations/implications – The sample was relatively small and mostly from the center school district of Israel. The second limitation was that the sample included only Jewish principals. Since 20 percent of the population in Israel is Arabs, further studies should include all minorities in order to enlighten the issue. Practical implications – Understanding the relations between PSES levels and work experience could assist policy makers with decisions concerning continuing professional development (in-service training) of principals. Originality/value – Little is known about the relations between perceived self-efficacy of principals and their work experience.

Social Psychology of Education, Aug 1, 2010

The main purpose of this longitudinal study was to conceptualize the self-efficacy of aspiring pr... more The main purpose of this longitudinal study was to conceptualize the self-efficacy of aspiring principals as a dynamic concept. This study aimed to explore the structure and relations between the components of self-efficacy and to determine the nature and direction of change in the perceived self-efficacy of aspiring principals following a 2-year training program. The study was based on Facet Theory (Gutman, Psychmetrika 33:469-506, 1968), but also included some traditional statistics. The present study was carried out in two stages during 2005-2007. One-hundred and fifty aspiring principals from five academic colleges and universities in Israel who participated in a 2-year training program completed the same self-efficacy questionnaire during the first month of the program (October 2005-stage 1 and during the last month of the program (May 2007-stage 2). The nature as well as the direction of the aspiring principals' perceived self-efficacy changed following the 2-year training program. The perception of the nature of the principal's role remained unchanged.

International Journal of Education, Dec 20, 2013

The model of developing excellence in education differentiates between two processes of excellenc... more The model of developing excellence in education differentiates between two processes of excellence. The first is a comparable excellence, in which you compare yourself to others and will be referred to in this article as "excellence." The second is incomparable excellence, in which you develop your own excellence without reference to anything, or to others, and will be referred to in this article as "excel." This model offers ways for developing incomparable inner excellence, i.e. developing excel. It is a three-dimensional theoretical model: preconditions of the model, means that enable the development of the students' personal potential and basic assumptions which comprise the model's base. This paper also reveals the practical aspects of the theoretical model, showing that personal excellence can be developed in each and every student. Developing personal excellence will actually lead to the creation of an excellent society.

Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Education, Jun 30, 2020

The term school principals’ self-efficacy has changed over the past three decades because princip... more The term school principals’ self-efficacy has changed over the past three decades because principals’ roles and duties have changed. Given that professional self-efficacy deals with competence in the profession, if the nature of the profession changes, the level of one’s professional self-efficacy will change as well. There have been found connections between self-efficacy and choosing a career and that efficacy is a robust contributor to career development. People seek a match between their interests and occupational environments. Thus, self-efficacy is believed to be a situational rather than a stable trait. Therefore, understanding that the term principals’ self-efficacy includes certain level of confidence in one’s knowledge, skills, and abilities, which are associated with the task of leading. This has a great importance with respect to the overall managing of schools. Self-efficacy should not be confused with self-esteem or self-concept since it is a task-specific evaluation. In contrast, self-esteem and self-concept reflect more general affective evaluations of the self. Research on principals’ self-efficacy usually includes measures of multidimensional self-efficacy, which enables to capture the various elements of the principals’ work. Few studies have been conducted on the measurement of school principals’ self-efficacy, and most of these are based on the quantitative methodology, emphasizing instruments and scales that describe situations and areas of the principal’s work. Understanding principals’ self-efficacy could assist policymakers with decisions concerning continuing professional development.

Frontiers in Psychology, Sep 11, 2018

Background and Subject: A Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) is an organization that enables parent... more Background and Subject: A Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) is an organization that enables parents to be involved in their children's schools. Participation in the PTA is one of many steps parents can take to ensure their involvement. Few if any studies have examined parents' concealed and unconcealed motives (UCM) for joining the PTA. Purpose/Hypotheses: The main purpose was to identify the structure of the concept Motives for Joining the PTA, so as to enhance our understanding of what motivates Israeli parents to join the PTA. The second purpose was to differentiate between parents' concealed and UCM. Method/Procedure: A self-report anonymous questionnaire, containing 40 items (30 items about aspects of being a member of a PTA and 10 items for reporting background variables), was administrated. Data were collected from a sample of 155 Israeli parents. The initial data processing stage involved EFA (Exploratory factor analysis) using SPSS software. Stage two was a Smallest Space Analysis (SSA), conducted using the Hebrew University Data Analysis Program (HUDAP). Results: EFA indicated three main factors. The internal consistency of the scores in the entire scale, measured using Cronbach's alpha coefficient, was 0.89. Data deployment on the SSA map exhibited both a polarized form (an angular form) and a radial form in a Radex configuration. The first layer (the polarized facet) was composed of three major motives related to self-serving altruistic ideological motives/ (SSAIM), self-serving altruistic pedagogical motives (SSAPM), and egoistic motives (EM). The second layer (the radial form) was composed of concealed motives, UCM, and politically correctdriven motives.

Universal Journal of Educational Research, Feb 1, 2016

The main purpose of this study was to define and conceptualize the term parental involvement. A q... more The main purpose of this study was to define and conceptualize the term parental involvement. A questionnaire was administrated to parents (140), teachers (145), students (120) and high ranking civil servants in the Ministry of Education (30). Responses were analyzed through Smallest Space Analysis (SSA). The SSA solution among all groups rendered a two dimensional solution with a coefficient of alienation .18. The SSA map clearly divided 44 parental activities into four quadrants. The left and right regents represent the focus of parental activity: The left regent represents in-school activities and the right side represents out-school activities. The upper and lower regents represent the organizational level: The upper regent represents organizational based activities and the lower regent represents student-based activities. The initial findings also demonstrated that parental involvement can be defined by the 44 actions, which are deployed on the SSA map in a polarized facet. The facet includes four elements (separation index 1.00): Resources, school welfare, control processes and pedagogical and wellbeing contents. We now have a better understanding of what constitutes school-related parental involvement; we know that it reflects a broad spectrum of parental actions and activities, which can take place either at school or outside the school. The involvement can be expressed actively or passively, often relating to the school as an organization and often in the personal context of one's own child.

International journal of human-computer studies, Oct 1, 2006

The article describes two instruments for measuring Internet Usage and the changes in subjects' I... more The article describes two instruments for measuring Internet Usage and the changes in subjects' Internet usage following a controlled intervention. It focuses on the use of usage and lack of usage for measuring the digital gap. The ''digital gap'' is defined as the gap between individuals with and without access to technology (telephones, computers, Internet access) and related services. Since its emergence, the Internet has become the most important form of information and communication technology (ICT). The goal of the present research was to develop ways of measuring Internet usage for different segments of the Israeli population (it can also be used to measure Internet usage outside Israel). For the past few years, the Israeli government has sponsored programs designed to increase Internet usage in specific segments of the Israeli population. Some of these programs have been ''controlled programs''. Controlled Internet Usage Programs are planned and monitored programs, which use research methods to discover whether they have increased Internet usage and changed Internet habits. The population of Internet users in Israel is presently 45.8% (compared with 68.2% in the US population). The past 5 years has witnessed a significant rise in the number of Internet users in the West in general and in Israel specifically: an increase of 152% in the number of Israeli households connected to the Internet during the period 2000-2005. However, large differences are apparent between the stronger and weaker sections of the Israeli population where the Internet is concerned, and controlled intervention is therefore a very important means of reducing these discrepancies. The present article describes two measurement instruments: the first instrument examines on-line proficiency, while the second determines patterns of Internet use and the status of respondents' ''Internet awareness''. The instruments were built to determine the reduction in the digital divide associated with Internet usage following controlled intervention, and the population's Internet usage status before and after intervention. The difference between the two measurements represents the increase or decrease in Internet usage. These two instruments may be used by agencies making decisions about resource disbursement to reduce the digital divide in a variety of populations.

Education, Dec 1, 2012

The purpose of this study was to analyze excellent schools and learn from the quality processes i... more The purpose of this study was to analyze excellent schools and learn from the quality processes implemented in these schools. This article presents the success stories of two high schools in Israel and identifies the determinants/s that have led each school to being recognized as excellent. The study indicates that while there is no single theoretical model that characterizes excellent schools, there are certain factors that facilitate the adoption of an organizational culture of excellence, which can pave the way to success. The article presents an original empirical study which was based upon success stories that enabled to characterize excellent schools.

Social Psychology of Education, Apr 7, 2013

The main purpose of this study was to explore Israeli teachers' professional ethics and values us... more The main purpose of this study was to explore Israeli teachers' professional ethics and values using the Facet Theory (Guttman in Psychmetrika 33:469-506, 1968). Since Israel does not have a teachers' code of ethics, such exploration can be a basis for constructing one. The study is mainly exploratory, and the main hypotheses that guided the study were based upon universal structure of values (Pakizeh et al. in J Exp Soc Psychol 43(3): 458-465, 2007 Schwartz, in Advances in experimental social psychology. Academic Press, San Diego, 1992), and were examined using a mapping sentence. The initial findings showed the data deployment on the SSA map exhibits both a radial and an angular form in a Radex configuration. Israeli teachers believe that professional ethics is based on conditioned values. The variables in the SSA map appear in a radial configuration forming three concentric circles: personal values, social values, and universal values. The components representing the code of ethics were deployed in an angular form showing three elements: professionalism, reliability and honesty, and decency.

EDULEARN09 Proceedings, 2009

ABSTRACT The main purpose of this study was to define and conceptualize an Israeli Educators Code... more ABSTRACT The main purpose of this study was to define and conceptualize an Israeli Educators Code of Ethics using Facet Theory (Guttman, 1968). The initial findings showed the data deployment on the SSA map exhibited both radial and an angular form in a Radex configuration. Israeli teachers believe that professional ethics are based on conditioned values. The variables in the SSA map appear in a radial configuration forming three concentric circles: personal values (inner circle), social values (middle circle) and universal values (outer circle). The components representing the code of ethics were deployed on the SSA map in an angular form and showed three elements: honor and reliability, student care and concern, and professionalism.

US-China education review, Jun 30, 2010

This paper reveals a new evaluation model, which enables educational program and project managers... more This paper reveals a new evaluation model, which enables educational program and project managers to evaluate their programs with a simple and easy to understand approach. The "index of success model" is comprised of five parameters that enable to focus on and evaluate both the implementation and results of an educational program. The integration of these parameters forms a complete and comprehensive picture, which in turn provides the most information on the success or failure of the program. The parameters are: (1) the relevance index, referring to an evaluation of predefined objectives; (2) the efficiency index, referring to the fiscal efficiency of the program; (3) the effectiveness index evaluating the attainment of the program's objectives; (4) the impact index gauging the effect on the consumers, for whom the program is undertaken; and (5) the final parameter is the program's sustainability index. Since Israel's education strategy currently leans towards site-based monitoring and evaluation, such a model can potentially be of great help to school management and staff.

During the past decade, Israeli parents declared their rights to be involved in their children's ... more During the past decade, Israeli parents declared their rights to be involved in their children's education. The term used is "parental involvement", but there is no real agreement on the definition of the term. This paper describes the different opinions and approaches of parents, teachers, students, principals and decision makers, as found and described by Israeli researchers. The development, definitions and boundaries of the term are introduced. Even though the research in Israel is on a Hebrew term and this discussion is in English, the processes involved translate well, as these processes are in a well developed country, based on democracy and Western culture and an education system established under the British Mandate with its historical traces.

World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology, International Journal of Educational and Pedagogical Sciences, Feb 4, 2019

Quality & Quantity, Jan 5, 2008

Models of organizational management are presented in the literature and in the managerial practic... more Models of organizational management are presented in the literature and in the managerial practices of recent years. They are aimed to improve organizational governance, and to enhance organizational overall efficiency. The common denominator for most, if not all these management models is that they generally focus on a single aspect, or on a very limited number of aspects of the organizational conduct whereas running an organization is a highly complex undertaking, incorporating a large number of functions and processes. School principals tend to adapt out-of-school management process, usually adapting them from the business world. And therefore we can see that the educational system at all and the school system in particular, implement business management methods. This research indicates that school principals are well aware of all the school management processes and procedures. The important contribution of this research, which is based on the unique contribution of the multi-faceted theory, is acknowledging the work of the school principals as a pyramid which its base is composed of essential consensus procedures and its three sided indicate three major school management process. We suggest that this pyramid will be called "The Pyramid Model of School Management". The various management processes that built this pyramid are based on mutual aims and consensus of the school team to reach these aims. The consensus of the aims is essential, and with out it, the school cannot exist as an affective organization. Choosing when to take a various management action is a feedback based, and situation-based conduct. It is also shown in this research that school principals distinguish between three major management processes which we recommend that they will be called the "pyramid sides" and include: results management, human resources management and general resources management. The three groups are bounded by the "core of management"

Frontiers in Psychology, 2019

In this Research Topic the two editors bring together a series of articles that use facet theory ... more In this Research Topic the two editors bring together a series of articles that use
facet theory and allied approaches to research. Since its inception in the work of
Louis Guttman in the mid-twentieth century, facet theory has become an established approach within social science research. In addition, over the past 70 years, a wide range of research publications have appeared operating within the theoretical and analytic rubric of facet theory and for the last two decades, a biennial international conference has been held devoted to facet theory research.

Advances in Facet Theory Research: Developments in Theory, Application and Related Approaches, 2019

In this Research Topic, the two editors bring together a series of articles that use facet theory... more In this Research Topic, the two editors bring together a series of articles that use facet theory and allied approaches to research. Since its inception in the work of Louis Guttman in the mid-twentieth century, facet theory has become an established approach within social science research. In addition, over the past 70 years, a wide range of research publications have appeared operating within the theoretical and analytic rubric of facet theory and for the last two decades, a biennial international conference has been held devoted to facet theory research. When using a facet theory approach, an implicit aim of the research within this framework is to bring together in an explicit manner a clear definition of the content area that is being investigated along with data analysis procedures. Integrating the explicit design of research content (for example, attitudes, values, etc) and it's subsequent analysis (for example to identify the variables that are influential to respondents in relation to the specific area under investigation,) allows for the construction of theory relating to the content area and for the meaningful measurement of complex research areas.
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