| Scope of Study. The primary focus of this study was to test the reliability of a conflict management instrument and to assess the conflict management behavior by academic department heads at large land grant universities. A descriptive, analytic survey design was used to address the objectives: (1) ascertain whether the conflict management factors of accommodating, bargaining, collaborating, forcing and withdrawing were similar to those in the Johnston (1982) study, (2) determine the relationships among conflict management behavior, situational theory, demographic characteristics and type of department, (3) determine the relationships among conflict management behaviors, the frequency of conflict and perceived effectiveness of the behavior. A census of the 80 home economics department heads was taken while random sample of 320 of 1570 other department heads was selected with 210 usable responses. An instrument developed by Johnston was adapted for use in this survey. Factor analysis, Kendall's W, analysis of variance and Pearson's r statistical procedures were utilized.;Findings and Conclusions. Analysis indicated that the conflict management behavior factors extracted from the instrument were reliable indicators of the behaviors except for bargaining behavior. Collaboration was identified as the most common conflict management style. Conflict occurred most often and was least successfully managed when dealing with faculty. The personnel and financial functions were the most frequent cause of conflict, but were managed effectively. There were no differences in the conflict management behaviors between department heads in home economics and those from other departments. There were some significant differences in the conflict management behaviors of department heads with various demographic characteristics. Behavior did not change according to the type of conflict situation. Decreasing incidence of conflict and increasing use of collaborating and bargaining behavior were associated with effective conflict management. |
