Organizational Silence from the Perspective of Instructors

Abstract

This study aims to reveal the organizational silence perceptions of the instructors who work in different academic units of a state university in Aegean Region of Turkey, factors causing silence and possible consequences of silence. In this study, mixed research method was used to determine and elaborate the types of organizational silence seen among instructors, the reasons and consequences of organizational silence. First, quantitative data collection method was used and the data obtained by the researcher was analyzed by using quantitative analyzing techniques. So, this research was designed as “Sequential Explanatory Design”. The population of study consisted of 1301 instructors working in different academic units. The sample of the study consisted of 376 instructors who were selected by using cluster sampling method. In qualitative phase, 12 instructors were determined by maximum variation sampling method. In this study, Organizational Silence Scale which includes 15 items was used to get the quantitative data and an interview form which has 6 questions was used to get the qualitative data. As a result of this study, it can be said that inexperienced instructors, the instructors who have just started their academic career and the ones who are concerned about academic promotion remain silent at the university. It is also considered that the silence of senior instructors is based on their prior learned helplessness experiences. One of the most significant results of this study is that academic hierarchy is a phenomenon which has a negative impact on silence. When all the findings are evaluated, creating a more democratic culture by having a participatory administrative mentality at universities is defined as the most important suggestion.