Abstract
Purpose. The purpose of this study was to replicate Dr. Delaware's study of 1996 to identify the perceptions of beginning principals in selected California school districts as to the provision and utility of selected socialization tactics as provided by their superintendents, and to identify the perceptions of superintendents regarding the provision of the selected socialization tactics, and to determine if there has been a significant change in the provision and utility of the selected socialization tactics from 1996 to 2001. Methodology. Superintendents were contacted by the researcher to request permission to survey all beginning principals within each district. The data for this were drawn by obtaining the names and addresses of all school districts from the county school offices in Fresno, Kern, Kings, Madera, Mariposa, Merced, Stanislaus and Tulare. Findings and conclusions. This study found that beginning principals were not provided the variety of the selected socialization tactics supported by the collective research as necessary for their success, indicating that districts have been laissez faire in the provision of socialization tactics for beginning principals. It is evident that there has been no change from 1996 to 2001 in the provision of these tactics. The conclusion is that beginning principals not provided these tactics are not being successfully socialized into their organizations and therefore are not as successful as those beginning principals who were provided the selected socialization tactics. Implications. Districts must: (1) implement carefully planned socialization programs for beginning principals based on the collective research on socialization and the needs of beginning principals, (2) make requirements about the provision and participation in socialization activities, (3) implement collaborative efforts involving universities and school districts that assist in the development of organizational and professional socialization for beginning principals that are ongoing and provide socialization tactics that meet the needs of beginning principals.