Inter-relações entre as intenções dos decisores políticos e as interpretações da política de responsabilização dos agentes escolares em Israel

The study examined the interrelations between policymakers’ intentions for test-based accountability policy, and school agents’ perceptions and actions with regard to this policy. Mixed-methods were used and encompassed 24 policymakers, 80 school principals, 168 teachers and case studies of four schools. New institutional theory, including the concept of “environmental shift” (Powell Di Maggio, 1991) and the metaphor of “coupling” (Weick, 1976), served as the conceptual framework. Findings indicate that the interrelations between intentions, perceptions and actions are mainly tightly coupled. These are discussed by invoking three types of institutional isomorphism (DiMaggio Powell, 1983): coercive, mimetic and normative. The study examined the interrelations between policymakers’ intentions for test-based accountability policy, and school agents’ perceptions and actions with regard to this policy. Mixed-methods were used and encompassed 24 policymakers, 80 school principals, 168 teachers and case studies of four schools. New institutional theory, including the concept of “environmental shift” (Powell Di Maggio, 1991) and the metaphor of “coupling” (Weick, 1976), served as the conceptual framework. Findings indicate that the interrelations between intentions, perceptions and actions are mainly tightly coupled. These are discussed by invoking three types of institutional isomorphism (DiMaggio Powell, 1983): coercive, mimetic and normative.O estudo examinou as inter-relações entre as intenções dos formuladores de políticas para a política de responsabilidade baseada em testes e as percepções e ações dos agentes escolares em relação a essa política. Métodos mistos foram utilizados e englobavam 24 formuladores de políticas, 80 diretores de escolas, 168 professores e estudos de caso de quatro escolas. A nova teoria institucional, incluindo o conceito de “mudança ambiental” (Powell Di Maggio, 1991) e a metáfora do “acoplamento” (Weick, 1976), serviu de quadro conceitual. Os achados indicam que as inter-relações entre intenções, percepções e ações estão bem “acopladas”. Estes são discutidos invocando três tipos de isomorfismo institucional (DiMaggio Powell, 1983): coercivo, mimético e normativo

‘Is that what I Said?’ Interview Transcript Approval by Participants: An Aspect of Ethics in Qualitative Research

This article deals with insights gained from data analysis of feedback comments on transcripts sent to interviewees. It contributes to understanding of research studies that include transcripts, specifically on the contribution of participants' review of transcripts on the quality of those transcripts, and thus on the quality of research. The transfer of the transcripts to the interviewees was intended to validate the transcripts, to preserve research ethics, and to empower the interviewees by allowing them control of what was written. Interviewee responses related to the ratification of content, the authenticity of that which was said during the interview, corrections of language, additional clarifications, power interactions and changes in the balance of power between the interviewer and interviewees, feelings of embarrassment and threat, research ethics, and reflective responses. The experience of sending the transcripts to the interviewees raised research and ethical issues that require added caution and consideration when sending transcripts to interviewees