Information needs for administrative and managerial functions in elementary special schools

Abstract

The objective of this study was to provide data that would help to improve on the information needs for administrative and managerial functions in elementary special schools. It provided and analysed data on elementary special school administrators' main information sources, areas of interest for information seeking practices and popular information formats. The role of colleagues in providing information and the use of expert knowledge by elementary special education administrators was also examined. The study was accomplished by administering a questionnaire and conducting interview sessions. As for the questionnaire, if was mailed to a population sample of 120 elementary special education administrators in schools around the Federal Territory, Ampang Jaya and Petaling Jaya area, Malaysia. Ninety-six administrators representing 80 percent of the sample returned the completed questionnaires. The questionnaire was used to collect data on the information needs of elementary special education personnel with administrative responsibilities. Analysis of frequencies, mean scores, standard deviations and cross-tabulation scores were used to analyze the data according to the independent variables. Direct interview sessions were conducted with ten elementary special school principals. The data collected during the interview sessions were vital for supplementary purposes when writing final research findings. Some of the principal findings of the study were as follows: Books and colleagues were found to be the main sources of information. Reliance on colleagues for information featured very strongly. Generally, print media and audio-visual materials were their popular formats. Dependence on expert knowledge was strongly evident particularly on medical reports.