ADLERIAN BIRTH ORDER CHARACTERISTICS AND PARENT EDUCATIONAL LEVELS AS PREDICTORS OF SELF-PERCEPTIONS IN FEMALE COMMUNITY COLLEGE ADMINISTRATORS.

Abstract

This research tested the predictability of the self-perceptions of female community college administrators from their Adlerian birth order designations and parents' educational levels. The population consisted of women chosen as the Leaders for the 80's Professional Development Project sponsored by the American Association of Women in Community and Junior Colleges and the League for Innovation in the Community College. Of 309 women, 228 responded to the Women in Community College Administrative Positions Questionnaire. A portion of the WCCAPQ, the Self-Perceptions Questionnaire (SPQ) was used for this study. Only middle children of three and five sibling families were included reducing the number of subjects to 172. To regress the interrelationship of birth order, parents' educational levels, and the reported self-perceptions of female community college administrators a step-wise multiple regression analysis was performed. A factor analysis was performed to test validity and reliability of the SPQ. Female community college administrators' self-perceptions can be predicted from their Adlerian birth order designations and parents' educational levels in some instances. Parents' educational levels had little predictable impact on the self-perceptions of the population. The results of three separate regression analyses regressing birth order and parents' educational levels on each self-perception factor produced specific predictive combinations of the independent variable which were most predictive of self-assuredness, achievement orientation, and general affect.