The Field Study Report records the establishment of a
theoretical model for examining aspects of complex
innovations, the application of that model to the
Commonwealth Participation and Equity Program in the ACT
government sector using an historical perspective, and the
drawing of conclusions occasioned by that, application.
Based on the literature of the management of change,
educational administration and educational politics as well as the history of the program, it is argued that
specific groups of factors influencing the delivery and
impact of the program may be identified and their effects
described, with a view to guiding future delivery of major
educational reform programs.
The theoretical model for classifying and examining the
relative importance of the factors is a synthesis based on
the work of the researchers Hoy and Miskel (1982), with a
major additional component, prompted by writers in the
field of educational politics. The method of application
also allows the discussion of two further underlying
propositions. These are;
(a) That the modes of delivery employed by the ACT Schools
Authority for PEP evolved during the course of its
implementation;
(b) That the program had a discernible impact, in terms of
its aims, but this impact, was modified qualitatively and
quantitatively by the process of mutual adaptation and by
other factors external and internal to the program.
In a series of linked steps, the thesis examines the
literature, drawing out a grouped collection of factors
potentially influencing the program, describes the
context, modes of delivery, aims and outcomes of PEP,
categorises the identified factors according to their
apparent relative influence, and uses these learnings to
make predictions and conclusions about PEP and future
system-wide reform initiatives.
It is concluded that the underlying propositions of the
thesis are confirmed. It is also argued that the study has
highlighted the predominant influence of political
factors, most groups of management factors and factors
related to school organisation, whereas other factors are
of lesser importance in moulding program delivery
strategies and shaping program outcomes. As well, the
thesis concludes that the particular framework adopted for
the study possesses considerable potential for use in a
variety of future research, and that the introduction of
the factor-based structure as a means of carrying out
historical research helps promote rigour, objectivity and
credibility where there is a reliance on the involvement
of a participant-observer to provide reflective data.
In relation to PEP itself, it is concluded that the
process of mutual adaptation and the influence of the
multiplicity of factors ensured that the higher-order
program outcomes such as institutionalisation of new
curriculum definitions, the development of negotiated
student, management and teaching/learning strategies and
attitudinal changes about, the purposes and ownership of
education, were modified even more significantly than the
outcomes which could be measured in quantitative terms.
A collection of specific suggestions for improved program
delivery in the future is provided.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:ADTP/219060 |
| Date | January 1988 |
| Creators | Joliffe, E. Keith, n/a |
| Publisher | University of Canberra. Education |
| Source Sets | Australiasian Digital Theses Program |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Rights | ), Copyright E. Keith Joliffe |
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