Research suggests that schools influence the behavioral characteristics of principals. This study investigated the behavioral characteristics of elementary principals as they relate to school climate. The method included the collection of data on thirty-one randomly selected elementary schools and the behavioral characteristics of their principals. Statistical analysis was accomplished by means of canonical correlation analysis and trend analysis. A significant relationship was revealed between the principal’s interpersonal orientation and the school climate, which remained stable over a period of 8 months. As the length of the principal’s incumbency increased, the level of significance of the relationship between his behavioral characteristics and school climate increased. The findings indicate the presence of a compelling school climate stability which has the effect of socializing the principal’s behavior.
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Thomas W. Wiggins (1972) studied this question.