ORGANIZATIONAL DETERMINANTS OF TEACHER RESPONSIBILITY AND ENGAGEMENT AMONG ADULT EDUCATORS IN NORWAY

Abstract

The purpose of the current research was to use structural equation modeling to estimate the organizational determinants of teacher responsibility and engagement among adult educators in immigrant schools in Norway. The path coefficients were estimated using data from a sample of Norwegian adult educators. The empirical analysis showed clear relations among the components of the model. Relational trust and informal learning among adult educators were seen as important precursors of adult educator responsibility, but the contextual factors appeared to be more complex. The analysis showed that authorities in charge of immigrant schools should design policies that consider the trust and relationships among adult educators. Personal influences are important for adult educator responsibility. Although the study has several limitations (i.e., the cross-sectional nature of the study and the fact that self-reported data were used), it contributes new insights into the empirical foundation for the model. Key words: adult education, informal learning, job autonomy, leadership, teacher responsibility.