Taking a strengthsbased focus improves school culture

Abstract

Abstract The purpose of this study was to learn whether focusing on strengths through Appreciative Inquiry (AI) Appreciative Inquiry Appreciative Inquiry (AI) is a both philosophy and an approach for motivating change that focuses on exploring and amplifying organizational strengths. AI contrasts with traditional models of change that focus on weaknesses, problems, and gaps. Instead, AI encourages organizations to identify strengths and imagine possibilities in order to outgrow problems and realize visions. The purpose of this study was to learn whether such an approach would be related to measurable changes in the areas identified for inquiry by a small urban school district. The hypothesis that guided this study was that an AI process around three, self-identified areas of interest (student achievement and success, trust and respect, and community pride and involvement) would result in measureable improvements in school climate and trust