Intra-personal variables and characteristics of interactions between change agent and client: their predictive relationship to attitudes toward change and toward the change agent

Abstract

The study examined: (1) the relative contributions of six intrapersonal subsystems of potential adopters of innovations in accounting for attitudes toward change and toward the change agent; and, (2) the characteristics of diffusion strategies associated with modifications in attitudes toward change and toward the change agent.

Administrators and teaching faculty (N = 624) from 103 secondary level programs for the hearing impaired participated in the study. Data for the study were obtained in three ways: (1) initial questionnaire to obtain indices of intra-personal characteristics; (2) a similar follow-up questionnaire seven months after the initial questionnaire; and, (3) records of interactions between change agency personnel and staff in the 103 participating programs.

Six intra-personal subsystem scores were derived from the 26 intrapersonal characteristics using a priori subsystem assignment based on Paisley's (1973) model of the change process. Multiple regression analyses yielded no substantial predictive relationships for either of the two research questions. Cross-validation analyses on the regression analyses indicated substantial shrinkage in already inconsequential predictive power.

Possible explanations for the lack of predictive relationships are discussed. Suggestions for future research include: (1) refinements in procedures to continue investigation into the research questions attempted in this study; (2) use of multiple criterion variables; (3) use of simulation or gaming techniques to overcome methodological difficulties; and (4) investigation into organizational and administrative factors which are related to innovation and change within educational settings.