Developing a Model to Prevent Job Isolation of School Principals in Iran Based on Grounded Theory

Job isolation affects the quality of work-life of school principals. Given the vital role of the principals in the success of the schools and, consequently, the success of the community, this issue is of particular importance. Current qualitative research is done to develop a model to prevent job isolation of school principals in Iran based on Strauss and Corbin's grounded theory and systematic approach. The research participants were school principals of three educational levels in Iran. A total of 18 school principals were selected by theoretical purposeful sampling method. In-depth semi-structured interviews continued data collection until theoretical saturation. Content analysis based on the continuous comparison method of Strauss and Corbin was used to analyze the interview texts. The results of data analysis during three stages of open, axial, and selective coding were 13 core categories, 34 subcategories, and 133 concepts analyzed within the framework of the paradigm model and in the form of causal conditions (Occupational causes and Managerial causes), contextual conditions (Extra-school Causes, Inter-school Causes, and Human causes), intervening conditions (Demographic causes and the atmosphere of society), strategies (Existence of spiritual assets in the organization, Creating a supportive umbrella, Managerial style, and Modifying the strategic structure of education), and consequences (Micro consequences and Macro consequences). The Lincoln and Guba (1985) approach was used to validate the data, including creditability, transferability, dependability, and confirmability. According to this study’s findings, the Education System should initiates programs for principals to help them prevent their job isolation.