An analysis of the relationship between organizational climate of elementary schools and student self concept

This study explored the effects of school organizational climate on student self concept development. its purpose was to investigate the relationship between organizational climate and student self concept in selected elementary schools in an urban school district in Virginia.;The population of this study included 500 fifth grade students, 89 fifth grade teachers, and 25 principals in 25 elementary schools. The Organizational Climate Description Questionnaire (OCDQ) was used to assess teacher and principal perception of the organizational climate. The Piers-Harris Children\u27s Self Concept Scale (CSCS) was used to assess student self concept.;It was hypothesized that (1) a relationship exists between the mean student self concept and the organizational climate of schools and (2) that there is a significant difference between the mean student self concept scores of the five schools with the most open organizational climates and the five schools with the most closed organizational climates.;Analysis of variance was employed to determine significant differences between student self concept in the schools with more open climate and more closed climate. The results of the analysis did not support the first hypothesis. Analysis of covariance was employed to examine significant differences between student self concept scores of the five most open schools and the five most closed schools. Covariates were SRA composite scores and school size. The second hypothesis was not supported by this analysis.;It was concluded that while there were differences between elementary schools in terms of organizational climate and student self concept, these differences were not significant. The findings do not support the notion that the self concepts of children attending open climate schools differ significantly from those attending closed climate schools.;Further study is needed to evaluate the relationship between student self concept and organizational climate