Influence of Transformational Leadership Style on Principals’ Conflict Management in Secondary Schools in Enugu State Nigeria

Abstract

The study examined the perceived influence of transformational leadership style on principal’s conflict management in secondary schools in Enugu State. Descriptive survey research design was adopted for the study. Three research questions and three null hypotheses guided the study. The population for the study was 302 secondary school principals in Enugu State. The sample for the study comprised 116 male and 186 female given the total number of principals in Enugu State using simple random sampling technique. The instrument used for data collection was self structured questionnaire developed by the researchers consist 26 items. The four point scale has values of 4,3,2,1 respectively. Validation of the instrument was done by three experts, two from Educational Management and one in Measurement and Evaluation unit of the Department of Maths and Computer Education ESUT. Reliability of the instrument was determines using Cronbach Alpha method. Alpha values for clusters one, two and three were .79, .84 and .75 respectively. The overall reliability index was .81 indicating a high reliability of the instrument for data collection. Mean and standard deviation were used to answer the research questions and t-test statistics was used to test the hypotheses at .05 level of significance. Results of data analysis indicate that transformational leadership style influence principals’ conflict management in Enugu State especially in areas of idealization, inspiration and intellectual stimulation. Recommendations include; organizing conferences and seminars on transformational leadership for principals amongst others.