Factors Influencing Professional Decision-Making in Educational Leadership in Elementary Schools in Iraq

Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed to examine the factors influencing professional decision-making in educational leadership in elementary schools in Iraq. Methodology: The research method was applied in terms of purpose and quantitative-descriptive-survey in terms of approach. The statistical population included all principals of elementary schools in the cities of Ayalah and Baghdad. The sampling method was random, and using Cochran's sample size formula, the sample size was determined to be 437 participants. The research instrument was a researcher-developed questionnaire. To ensure validity, expert opinions were utilized, and the reliability coefficient was calculated using Cronbach's alpha, yielding a value of 0.96. Data analysis was performed using factor analysis and structural equation modeling. Findings: Overall, the results indicated that the factors influencing professional decision-making in educational leadership in elementary schools in Iraq consisted of eleven components: awareness, intuition, technological proficiency, facilitation, activism, strategic approach, fairness, rationality, dynamism, constraints, and progressivism. Conclusion: The study highlights eleven critical factors influencing professional decision-making in educational leadership, emphasizing the need for comprehensive strategies to enhance decision-making effectiveness in elementary schools in Iraq.