Rural school superintendents' spiritual journeys.

Abstract

This study used the heuristic methodology to analyze the implications, characteristics, resemblances, and essences of the question, "How do rural school superintendents' perceptions of spirituality influence their leadership activities?" The heuristic methodology began with the researcher's subjective process of exploration, reflection, and sifting through information in order to formulate a research question. This study concludes an eight-year review of relevant literature that included an exploration of books, thesis, and dissertations. Thorough inspections of retail bookstores with subsequent investigations of the reference and bibliography sections provided additional information. New knowledge and self-awareness are realized within the context of the literature.

Finally, a creative synthesis brought together the superintendents' perceptions of spirituality's influence on their leadership activities as an integrated whole while embracing the unique style of the primary researcher who was engaged in every phase of heuristic research and with each co-researcher. A comparison of the data to the literature review revealed similarities that emerged from the study: (1) making a difference; (2) unique life experiences; (3) the spiritual journey; (4) spiritual values and perceptions; (5) trust relationships; (6) prayer life; (7) spirituality in the workplace and finally; (8) proselytizing risks. Limitations, social significance, implications, recommendations for future research and practice, and a reflective summary were presented.

The presentation of data commenced with three vignettes that described rural school superintendents' perceptions of how their spirituality influences their leadership activities. The vignettes were written in first person, each one included verbatim quotations that were drawn from the interview transcripts of the co-researchers. To maintain the confidentiality of the study, pseudonyms were given to both participants and to any data that could reveal the identity of the co-researchers.

Concepts utilized in heuristic research, including the focus of inquiry, self-dialogue, tacit knowing, intuition, indwelling, focusing, and internal frames of reference were elucidated in detail. Co-researchers were selected using purposive selection to seek out participants who were willing to discuss their perceptions of spirituality and its influence on their leadership activities.