Dissertation Abstract

Leadership Behavior of Program Directors in Radiologic Technology Schools.

This study was designed to identify leadership behaviors of program directors in radiologic technology (RT) schools as perceived by the program directors themselves and their associated faculties. RT program directors are medical professionals, educational administrators, and business managers--with a myriad of responsibilities including accountability for the California Health and Safety Code Act of 1981, protecting the public from undue exposure to radiation (x-ray).

Program directors ($n$ = 30) and faculty ($n$ = 74) from all 36 California schools of radiologic technology responded to a survey consisting in part of the Leadership Behavior Description Questionnaire-XII. A part of the survey asked for personal, educational, and occupational characteristics. RT program directors rated themselves generally high (72%-86%) on the 12 leadership behaviors tested; and higher than the faculty rated the directors (67%-85%). Both RT program directors and faculty members perceived program directors as higher in Initiation of Structure--defining their own role and letting faculty know what is expected of them--than Consideration--showing regard for the comfort, well-being, status, and contributions of the faculty. Both RT program directors and faculty members perceived program directors weak in the areas of Tolerance of Uncertainty--able to tolerate uncertainty and postponement without anxiety or upset--and Production Emphasis--applying pressure for productive output. Personal, educational, and occupational characteristics did not affect how respondents perceived leaders behaviors, with the exception that female directors perceived themselves higher in Consideration than did male directors.

Conclusions were drawn relative to the need for inservice experiences in which RT program directors can enhance their leadership abilities, especially relative to Tolerance of Uncertainty, Production Emphasis, and Consideration. A recommendation was also made that leadership training should be made a part of the regular curriculum offered in RT schools.

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