Decision Participation and School Climate as Predictors of Job Satisfaction and Teachers' Sense of Efficacy

Abstract Teachers' decision participation, school climate, sense of efficacy, and job satisfaction have increased in importance in recent years. Using a national data set, the authors of the present study explored the dimensionality of these variables and their interrelationships. Regression analyses were performed to predict teachers' sense of efficacy and job satisfaction from decision participation and school climate. Aspects of school climate emerged as stronger predictors of job satisfaction than did the elements of decision participation. Strongest among these school climate dimensions were the lack of obstacles to teaching and principal leadership. Similarly, the best predictors of teachers' sense of efficacy were the dimensions of school climate referred to as faculty communication and the lack of obstacles to teaching. Contrary to predictions, dimensions of decision participation did not emerge as best predictors of either teachers' sense of efficacy or job satisfaction.