INFLUENCE OF ADMINISTRATOR’S DEMOCRATIC LEADERSHIP STYLES ON ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF STUDENTS IN PUBLIC SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN NAROK SOUTH SUB-COUNTY, NAROK COUNTY, KENYA
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Abstract
The research aimed to examine the influence of administrator’s democratic leadership styles on the academic performance of public secondary school students in Narok South Sub- County, Narok County, Kenya. The research was guided by the following research question: To what extent does democratic leadership influence the academic performance of public secondary school students? The study was anchored by Path Path-Goal Theory. A concurrent explanatory mixed methods design was used. In quantitative design, a cross-sectional survey was used, and in qualitative design, phenomenological research was adopted. The study targeted 696 students, 100 teachers, 40 schools, and 40 administrators. A stratified sampling method was used to sample the 8 schools. Yamane's (1967) formula was used to select 80 teachers and 254 students. Purposive sampling was used to select 8 principals. Data for students and teachers were collected using questionnaires, and an in-depth interview guide was used for school administrators. Content validity and reliability of the tools were determined before data collection. Cronbach’s alpha of 0.70 and above was considered satisfactory and reliable. Quantitative data were analyzed using SPSS Version 25, employing descriptive data like frequencies, percentages, means, and standard deviation, and were presented in tables. Qualitative data were analyzed thematically and findings reported in narrative form. Pearson Correlation was used to test the hypothesis. The study recommends that administrators adopt democratic and transformational leadership styles as compared to instructional leadership. The study suggested a comparative analysis be conducted for different sub-counties or counties within Kenya to examine whether variations in administrators' leadership styles produce similar or different effects on academic performance and thus broaden the external validity beyond Narok South Sub-County.
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