r response rate (80/310=25.8%) was low, a fact which could have resulted in data being representative of only extreme opinion. In other words, the sample may have been over-represented by those who had definite views or a "bone to pick" with board members.
Douglas also conducted a study of conflict between supervisors and their boards of education (1-89). In particular, he stated that the purpose of his research was to compare differing views of board members and superintendents regarding their notions of the future of education. Procedures consisted of the following:
Board members and superintendents were asked to identify issues they believed they would face over the next decade and to rank them in terms of relative importance (1).
The authors found clear differences between the views of the two groups, especially in the area of finance. For example, Douglas observed that while both groups were very concerned over finances, superintendents thought that staff
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