Principals’ Communication Styles and School Culture in Vocational Colleges in Selangor

Abstract

This study investigated the principals’ communication styles and school culture in vocational colleges in Selangor. A total of 244 teachers involved in this study. Data was collected using Google Form due to the COVID-19 outbreak. This study adapted questionnaires known as “Principals’ Communication Styles Questionnaire for Teachers” (PCSQT) and Revised School Culture Element Questionnaire (RSCEQ) and employed a correlational research design. The findings revealed that most of the dominant communication styles practiced by the principals at vocational colleges in Selangor was assertive communication style. The results also showed that the level of school culture at vocational colleges in Selangor was high based on three factors which are shared leadership and vision, collegial teaching and learning, and professional commitment. Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient was used to investigate the relationship between principals’ communication styles and school culture. The results showed a moderately significant relationship between principals’ communication styles and school culture at vocational colleges in Selangor. In short, when principals are proven to be good role models for teachers, it is also important to enhance on the effective communication with useful tools and application for a highly needed leadership competency to enable them to work with teachers of varying characteristics.