**2. Methodology**

#### **2.1. Research design**

A case study, one of the qualitative research designs, was conducted in this study. A case study is a method to investigate a routine fact in an entire way under real conditions [10]. An interview technique believed to be the most reliable data collection method was decided to be administered in this study.

sampling method was that it reflected ample views about the functions of symbols, values, and rituals as well as the importance of technology in the improvement of organizational culture. A criterion sampling method, one of the objective sampling methods, was referred to in this research. It is a process that investigates previously specified criteria [13]. In this process, the criteria can be set by the person carrying out the study. The reason for the involvement of school directors and servants in the criteria is that they have known the teachers in the organization for a long time, and they are well informed about the symbols, values, and rituals and

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The data were collected through an interview technique, which expects detailed data from the participants on a specified research topic [14]. The interview question asked to the school directors, teachers, and servants in pre, primary, and secondary schools was "How do symbols, values, and rituals function, and what is the importance of technology in the development of organizational culture?" The interviews were conducted through semi-structured forms, in which the questions were flexible, unclear questions were rearranged, and when needed, supplementary questions, not on the interview form, were also asked for individual responses. To raise the validity of the research, the communication was spread to a long period of time with utmost attention to help participants shake off their timidness in responding at the presence of the interviewer at the beginning. Later in the interview process, the participants feel more confident and respond reasonably and effectively and reliable data were collected [13]. The length of the interview was tried to be spread as much as possible without losing productivity, and the validity was raised by summarizing the data and asking for the participants' approval. The questions on the interview form were prepared with three experts in this field. Pilot studies were done prior to the interviews to confirm the validity. Conceptual structure of the interview forms was formed after related articles were examined in detail. Following this,

On receiving the consent of pre, primary, and secondary school administrations of the Near East University for administrating the interview, the participants were presented the forms. During the interviews, all the participants were briefed in detail about the content of the research. They were also assured that the data would be used for scientific aims, and their identification details would definitely not be revealed. In addition, it was stressed that they responded voluntarily. The participants were reminded that their responses would affect the validity and reliability of the study. Each interview lasted for 20 minutes and in order to provide a comfortable environment, their answers were not recorded. The data collection process lasted for 2 months, from October to November, 2016. After the interviews, the participants were asked to overview their responses to assure the reliability of the study.

The responses given by the participants were put in the most relevant categories according to

the impact of school culture on the school staff.

**2.3. Data collection period and data collection tools**

participants were asked five open-ended questions for their views.

their content coded, and certain themes were specified.

**2.4. Data analysis**

The interview technique is categorized under three headings: nonstructured, structured, and semi-structured. The advantage of a semi-structured technique applied in this study was that its plan and program was prepared previously and it provided the participants with flexibility [11].

#### **2.2. The participants**

The participants, as shown in **Table 1**, were school directors, teachers, and servants from pre, primary, and secondary schools of the Near East University.

As it can be seen in **Table 1**, a total of 200 people, 50 participants, 5 directors, 40 teachers, and 5 servants in preschool education; 70 participants, 5 directors, 60 teachers, and 5 servants in primary education; and 80 participants, 5 directors, 70 teachers, and 5 servants in secondary education were interviewed for their views.

Objective sampling method was conducted in this study. It is a method to reveal multidiversity in case there are different findings [12]. This research was carried out in the spring semester of the 2016–2017 academic years in pre, primary, and secondary schools of the Near East University with a total of 15 directors, 170 teachers, and 15 servants. The reason for an objective


**Table 1.** The participants.

sampling method was that it reflected ample views about the functions of symbols, values, and rituals as well as the importance of technology in the improvement of organizational culture.

A criterion sampling method, one of the objective sampling methods, was referred to in this research. It is a process that investigates previously specified criteria [13]. In this process, the criteria can be set by the person carrying out the study. The reason for the involvement of school directors and servants in the criteria is that they have known the teachers in the organization for a long time, and they are well informed about the symbols, values, and rituals and the impact of school culture on the school staff.

#### **2.3. Data collection period and data collection tools**

**2. Methodology**

80 Open and Equal Access for Learning in School Management

**2.1. Research design**

flexibility [11].

**2.2. The participants**

**Table 1.** The participants.

administered in this study.

A case study, one of the qualitative research designs, was conducted in this study. A case study is a method to investigate a routine fact in an entire way under real conditions [10]. An interview technique believed to be the most reliable data collection method was decided to be

The interview technique is categorized under three headings: nonstructured, structured, and semi-structured. The advantage of a semi-structured technique applied in this study was that its plan and program was prepared previously and it provided the participants with

The participants, as shown in **Table 1**, were school directors, teachers, and servants from pre,

As it can be seen in **Table 1**, a total of 200 people, 50 participants, 5 directors, 40 teachers, and 5 servants in preschool education; 70 participants, 5 directors, 60 teachers, and 5 servants in primary education; and 80 participants, 5 directors, 70 teachers, and 5 servants in secondary

Objective sampling method was conducted in this study. It is a method to reveal multidiversity in case there are different findings [12]. This research was carried out in the spring semester of the 2016–2017 academic years in pre, primary, and secondary schools of the Near East University with a total of 15 directors, 170 teachers, and 15 servants. The reason for an objective

> Teachers 70 Servants 5

> Teachers 60 Servants 5

> Teachers 40 Servants 5

**Educational institution Number** Secondary school Directors 5

Primary school Directors 5

Preschool Directors 5

Total 200

primary, and secondary schools of the Near East University.

education were interviewed for their views.

The data were collected through an interview technique, which expects detailed data from the participants on a specified research topic [14]. The interview question asked to the school directors, teachers, and servants in pre, primary, and secondary schools was "How do symbols, values, and rituals function, and what is the importance of technology in the development of organizational culture?" The interviews were conducted through semi-structured forms, in which the questions were flexible, unclear questions were rearranged, and when needed, supplementary questions, not on the interview form, were also asked for individual responses. To raise the validity of the research, the communication was spread to a long period of time with utmost attention to help participants shake off their timidness in responding at the presence of the interviewer at the beginning. Later in the interview process, the participants feel more confident and respond reasonably and effectively and reliable data were collected [13]. The length of the interview was tried to be spread as much as possible without losing productivity, and the validity was raised by summarizing the data and asking for the participants' approval.

The questions on the interview form were prepared with three experts in this field. Pilot studies were done prior to the interviews to confirm the validity. Conceptual structure of the interview forms was formed after related articles were examined in detail. Following this, participants were asked five open-ended questions for their views.

On receiving the consent of pre, primary, and secondary school administrations of the Near East University for administrating the interview, the participants were presented the forms. During the interviews, all the participants were briefed in detail about the content of the research. They were also assured that the data would be used for scientific aims, and their identification details would definitely not be revealed. In addition, it was stressed that they responded voluntarily. The participants were reminded that their responses would affect the validity and reliability of the study. Each interview lasted for 20 minutes and in order to provide a comfortable environment, their answers were not recorded. The data collection process lasted for 2 months, from October to November, 2016. After the interviews, the participants were asked to overview their responses to assure the reliability of the study.

#### **2.4. Data analysis**

The responses given by the participants were put in the most relevant categories according to their content coded, and certain themes were specified.

The codes for the participants are as follows:


The aim of such a coding is not to reveal identification, which facilitates data analysis.

A total of 200 participants presented views about the subject matter as in **Table 2**. In total, 1 director, 58 teachers, and 1 servant had a common argument that the community, individuals in schools, common values, symbols, rituals, beliefs, and traditions formed the basis of school culture. D3 expressed views as, "*With its history, build up, quality, vision, mission, traditional behaviours, symbols, rituals, and the status of its population form its* 

T64 emphasized the factors forming school culture saying, "*In the broadest sense, school culture* 

It is assumed that participants advocating this view are used to transferring school culture

A total of 1 director, 33 teachers, and 4 servants point out that school culture should occupy more places in education with the help of school staff and parents. This view is the second important issue raised by teachers and servants. The participants strongly argue that school culture cannot be developed without the help of the school administration and

D2 expressed that "*The number of individuals appreciating, implementing, and teaching our values has gone down. Especially in recent years, there has been a decline in the quality of our life and culture to such an extent that many are dissatisfied with this. I should say that school culture should occupy* 

This expression indicates that school staff and the community should be more serious about

**Stating opinion** **% Stating opinion**

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1 7 58 34 1 7

1 7 33 19 4 27

1 7 27 16 0 0

1 7 11 6 0 0

6 40 32 19 10 67

**% Stating opinion** **%**

**Themes Directors Teachers Servants**

School culture helps collaboration and fighting problems 5 33 9 5 0 0

Total 15 100 170 100 15 100

*forms its identity and includes all materialistic and moral factors."*

*culture."*

parents.

through in-class activities.

*more place in education."*

The society, individuals in school, common values, symbols, rituals, beliefs, and traditions form the basis of school culture

School culture should occupy more place in education with the

Effective management and education, school culture shapes

School culture creates a genuine, contemporary, multicultural,

School culture adds to communal-organizational-individual development, performance, and academic success

help of parents and individuals in school

individuals' behavior and unity

and respectful community

**Table 2.** Perceptions of school culture.

school culture.

A content analysis technique was referred to analyze and interpret the data provided by the participants. The aim in such an analysis is to reach the content and content relations of the grouped data [13]. Through a content analysis, it is possible to carry out an objective and systematic examination of written documents focusing on words. Content analysis is defined as a process of emphasizing contracted written informational content and messages [15]. Content analysis includes four steps. These are coding according to the data obtained from the documents, setting themes, forming themes and codes, and interpreting and explaining findings [13]. In this study, firstly, coding was fulfilled according to previously agreed research and scale criterion, which provided many themes. Then, the data were grouped according to themes and explained in numbers in the best possible way. As a last step, the existing findings were explained in detail.

#### **2.5. Validity and reliability**

The questions on the interview form were developed after related fields were referred to. Necessary arrangements with three experts were done twice on the interview forms before and after the interviews. After pilot studies prior to the interviews, the open-ended and semistructured questions were given to the participants.

The data obtained from the participants were examined in detail while analyzing and comparative analysis was done. While analyzing, careful studies were done to assure the reality of the research and find out transferrable issues for variable platforms.

The data obtained were analyzed separately both by the researcher and an expert for any specifications. The two sides, the researcher and the expert, worked on their own to form the themes in the light of the specified views.

For the validity of the research, validity = agreement/(agreement + disagreement) formula was referred to [16]. An average over 70% indicates the validity of a study [16]. The average validity of this research was calculated as 92%.
