Examining English Teachers’ Perceptions of Organizational Silence

Abstract

In this study, it was tried to reveal the organizational silence perceptions of English teachers working in public and private schools affiliated to Kayseri Provincial Directorate of National Education and working in the central districts (Melikgazi, Kocasinan and Talas). Data were collected by reaching 311 teachers as a sample. Personal information form and “Organizational silence scale” were used to collect data. It was seen that the organizational silence levels of teachers were generally very low and sometimes at the level according to the items. This was followed by the items “I remained silent at the workplace because nothing would change” and “I remained silent at the workplace because suggestions, ideas etc. were not open”. The lowest mean was at the very low level in the item “I remained silent at the workplace because I was worried that others would take advantage of my ideas”. It was observed that the organizational silence levels of teachers were sometimes-medium in terms of sub-dimensions and in general. It was observed that the highest level in this regard was in the acquiescent and passive silence dimension. The opportunistic silence dimension followed this. It was revealed that the organizational silence levels of teachers did not differ according to their seniority and the levels they worked. The organizational silence levels of teachers were higher in terms of gender, in terms of acquiescent passive silence and silence for the benefit of the organization, than in men.