Abstract
The purpose of this study was to examine networking by California female high school principals and high school district assistant/deputy superintendents and superintendents to determine the methods and degree of use for each method of networking, the most effective networking methods perceived by these administrators, the levels with which these administrators network, and the perceived impact of networking on career advancement. Descriptive and ex post facto research were used in the study. Questionnaires were sent to one hundred sixty six high school administrators, predominantly principals, with one hundred sixteen responses for a 78.8 percent return rate. Statistical tests used were ANOVA, Chi-square, and Tuckey's Pairwise Comparison. Major findings of this study were: (1) networking was perceived to have an increased impact on successive promotions with third and fourth promotions being affected to a very high degree; (2) the majority of surveyed administrators do not use networking beyond a limited to moderate degree; (3) of the three levels of administration surveyed, assistant/deputy superintendents of high school districts used networking to a higher degree than the other levels with statistical differences in telephoning women and men outside the district; and (4) half the administrators felt the level networked with was not important and the half choosing a level favored their same level. The study concludes by providing a model profile of the current and future women administrators with suggestions for types of networking to positively affect their career advancement.