JOURNAL ARTICLE REVIEW 1

North American University

Education Department
M.Ed. in Educational Leadership / M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction
EDUC 5324 Integrating Technology into Education

Name: Mustafa Karabulut Date: 12/10/2020

Waxman, H. C. & Boriack, A. W. & Lee, Y. & Macneil, A. (2013). Principals’ Perceptions of
the Importance of Technology in Schools. Contemporary Educational Technology, 4(3), 187-
196.

INTRODUCTION

Research Questions (if research questions are not specifically mentioned, what is the
theoretical background or overarching theme):
What are principals’ perceptions of the importance of technology, do principals’ perception
of technology differ by years of experience and gender?
Purpose of the research:
The purpose of the study was to determine principals’ perceptions of the importance of
technology and to determine principals’ perception of the technology by years of
experience and gender toward technology.

METHODOLOGY

What is the methodology for the research or approach used to understand the issue?
Provide information regarding the following:
Participants:
⮚ A convenience sample of 310 principals from a large metropolitan area in the
southwest region of the United States responded to a cognitive interview
questionnaire.
Procedures:
⮚ The questionnaire was administered by graduate students. Students was trained on
how to administer the instrument and required to interview a specific number of
current public school principals. The survey included both qualitative and
quantitative questions.
⮚ Principals’ cognitions and perceptions have been found to be valid and reliable and
the use of cognitive interviewing further improves the validity of the data.
⮚ Analysis of the interview data began with a process of data reduction. The
responses were read several times to become familiar with the data and then the
data coded into meaningful categories. The inter-coder reliability (Cohen’s kappa = .
94) was used to reveal results.
Data Collection Methods/Data Source:
⮚ Interview questionnaire.
Data Analysis:
⮚ Analysis of the interview data began with a process of data reduction. The
 participants’ responses were read several times to become familiar with the data.
The data was then coded into meaningful categories. Once the categories were
established, another researcher independently coded a 10% sample of responses to
determine the consistency of the coding. The inter-coder reliability results revealed
a high level of agreement (Cohen’s kappa = .94).
RESULTS

Findings or Results (or main points of the article):

⮚ After reviewing the principals’ answers, three main categories were found about
principals’ perception about technology
1. Principals’ Perceptions of the Major Function of Technology.
2. Principals’ Perceptions of the Major Function of Technology by Sex.
3. Principals’ Perceptions of the Major Function of Technology by Years of
Experience.

DISCUSSIONS

Conclusions/Implications (for your profession):

By regarding the importance of the technology into education, school leaders should know
how to integrate technology into education within their schools. If they act like technology
leaders, teachers and students will follow them (Yu & Durrington, 2006, MacNeil and
Delafield 1998, p.193).

REFLECTIONS

Student’s Reflections (changes to your understanding; implications for your school/work):

Today’s education systems require integrating technology into education successfully.
School Administrators should lead the way for teachers and students by using technology in
their work fields by keeping up with the latest technology. Principals’ should view
technology as a major element of their schools to share data and resources, to finish
administrative works without spending too much effort, and to improve students' learning
abilities. I know from myself that I gained most of my technological abilities at high school
thanks to the principal which set an example for all teachers and students how to use
technology in the education field to improve teachers’ and students’ effectiveness. As a
school administrative, we should know how to integrate technology into education and we
should keep up with the latest technology.