ELP 6010 - Decision Making Theories, Processes, and Issues in Educational Leadership

This course examines theories, issues, challenges, processes, and tools of decision making for educational leaders. The assumptions and weaknesses of classical decision theory are examined and alternative explanations explored, including examination of both formal (scientific) and informal (intuitive) methods of decision-making. Special attention is given to sources of bias affecting inferential decisions as well as analytic methods on which such inferences are based. Analytic tools emphasized include descriptive statistics- frequency distributions, measures of central tendency, and measures of dispersion. The role of decision making in providing for quality and equitable educational outcomes is examined. This formal study of decision-making addresses the most fundamental of skills and responsibilities to which school leaders are held accountable: making decisions that affect the quality of educational opportunities and outcomes of children.