INNOVATION IN MANAGEMENT EDUCATION (JOURNAL OF MODERN THOUGHTS IN EDUCATION)
Year:2007 | Volume:2 | Issue:3 (7)|Papers Count:8

The major purpose of the present research was to study the productivity of the managers in various zones of Islamic Azad University. Research population included all managers employed in IAU. Using cluster random sampling, 474 mangers and 3 staff under the supervision of each manager (totally 1422) were selected. Out of these 1368 answered and delivered the questionnaire.The research tool was a researcher-made questionnaire of productivity for managers administered to the selected staff. The result of one-way ANOVA indicated that there was a significant difference between the mean score of the staff in components of staff's attitudes towards productivity (F=2.051, p<0.05), human relationship (F=2.935, p<0.01), methods and guidelines (F=2.373, p<0.05), scheduling (F=2.141, p<0.05), organizing (F=2.554, p<0.01) and the total mean score of productivity (F=2.219, p<0.05).IAU branches in zone 7 showed a better condition in productivity than other zones like 1 (MD=13.592, p<0.05), zone 2 (MD=10.702, p<0.05), zone 9 (MD=19.612, p<0.05), and zone 10 (MD=15.375, p<0.05).

The purpose of the study was to do an analytic survey on the preparation of the managers and teachers employed in all schools and educational centers affiliated to the ministry of education in Shiraz. Therefore, a Likert-type scale was prepared with six components (client-centeredness, leadership and management commitment, constant reform, collective participation and decision-making, training staff, evaluation) to collect data. The designed scale expert was validated using expert opinion. The reliability was calculated through Cronbach α. The population consisted of all managers and teachers of all schools in Shiraz.Samples were selected applying cluster random sampling. The findings of the study indicated that: 1- All managers and teachers had positive attitude toward TQM and there was a relatively positive attitude to accept Total Quality Management.2- From mangers and teachers' point of view, the highest degree of acceptance was related to all groups (students, staff, and society).3- Managers, comparing with teachers, showed a better tendency to accept TQM.4- There was not a significant difference between male and female participants in their attitudes.5- Among TQM six-fold components, "client-centeredness" was considered as the highest and "evaluation" as the one with the lowest impact on TQM acceptance.6- There was a significant difference between the attitudes of the managers and teachers with different job experience at the levels of p<0.003 and p<0.04 respectively.

The major purpose of the present research was to study the effect of teaching life skills on enhancing self-esteem and reducing shyness among the university students. This was an applied research carried out through an experimental method using pretest-posttest control group type. The population included all male and female students studying in Islamic Azad University Roudehen Branch during the academic year of 2006-7. The samples were 120 students (60 male, 60 female) who were selected through stratified random sampling and randomly assigned to two groups of control and experimental (60 in control group, 60 in experimental group). Data were collected using Eysenck Self-Esteem Scale and Stanford Shyness Scale. Members of experimental group were trained 5 life skills of self-awareness, problem-solving and decision-making, decisiveness, creative thinking, and critical thinking for 4 months 4 hours a week. The results of covariance analysis indicated that there was not any significant difference between the performances of the participants in two control and experimental groups regarding their self-esteem. However, there was a significant difference between the performances of the participants in both groups regarding their shyness. In other words, the result of this research showed that teaching life skills was effective in reducing students' shyness but is of no effect on enhancing their self-esteem.

This research sought to find out whether or not there was any correspondence between the number of books in the library and the number of students in different courses in Islamic Azad University Roudehen Branch. It was a descriptive research whose data were collected through a library survey and document study. The population included all the libraries in Roudehen Branch. Comparing the data collected from these libraries with the standards within and outside Iran like IFLA indicated that the number of books for most of the courses (39.28%) in the libraries did not correspond with the number of students, while in 28.57% of the courses, the number of books exceeded their needs and in 32.15% of the courses there was a correspondence between the number of books and the number of students.

The main objective of this research was to do a survey on the factors affecting the students' tendency to refer to counseling centers. The research population was composed of all students of Islamic Azad University Boroujerd Branch during the academic year of 2003-4. Using cluster random sampling, 200 students (100 male, 100 female) were selected. The instrument was a researcher-made questionnaire measuring the factors affecting tendency toward counseling centers. The result of the logistic regression analysis indicated that there was a meaningful relationship between students' tendency to come to counseling centers and two factors of counselors' expertise (p-value<0.05 or 0.0147<0.05), and the staff behavior with the clients in those centers (p-value<0.05 or 0.007<0.05).

The Purpose of this study was to compare the social skills of the pre-university girls studying at state-run, gifted students, non-profiting schools. The samples were included 90 gifted students, 110 students from state-run schools and 110 students from non-profiting schools who were randomly selected in two stages. Inderbitzen's Social Skill Questionnaire was administered. The collected data were analyzed applying one-way ANOVA and t-test. Findings were as followings: 1- There was a significant difference between gifted students and students from non-profiting schools regarding their positive social skills. However, there was not any meaningful difference between gifted students and students from state-run schools regarding the same variable.2- Considering the negative social skills, no significant difference was traced among the three types of students.

The fundamental purpose of the study was to identify the deterrent and facilitative factors in doing research in order to present practical guidelines to upgrade the research level in universities.The population consisted of all faculty members of Islamic Azad University zone 8 branches out of which 326 MA holders and 274 PhD holders were selected. The research instrument was a researcher-made questionnaire based on Likert scale. Data were analyzed applying Chi-Square and t-Test. The findings of the study indicated that both individual and organizational factors could cause the demotivation to do research. Furthermore, as there is an interactive relationship between individuals and organizations to upgrade the organization to reach its main objectives including research, they can be of great help in developing the current trend of research.

This paper was based on the results of the research project to study the use of Information and communication Technology (ICT) among Payame-noor (PN) University students in Sari and present a model for optimum use. It was a descriptive research of cross-sectional kind.300 students who were selected through stratified random sampling method answered the questionnaire. The findings indicated that there was a significant relationship between age and using ICT among PN university students.Furthermore, economic status of the students was positively effective in their use of ICT. On the other hand, there was not any relationship between students' social status and their use of ICT. There was, however, a meaningful relationship between their social status and using internet. Gender was less effective and field of study was not at all effective in their use of IT.