Research Approaches and Methods in Educational Management Studies: A Literature Review and Future Research Directions
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.56404/priem.v1i1.454Keywords:
Research Approaches, Research Methods, Educational ManagementAbstract
This study aims to examine how educational management research is conducted by mapping research approaches, research designs, data collection methods, and data analysis techniques, while also identifying methodological trends and future research directions. The study employs a literature review approach by examining scholarly publications relevant to educational management, educational administration, and educational leadership. Relevant literature was identified through searches of academic databases using keywords related to educational management and research methodology. The selected literature was thematically analyzed by identifying and categorizing methodological characteristics, including quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods approaches, research designs, data collection techniques, and data analysis strategies. The findings indicate that educational management research employs diverse methodological approaches in response to the characteristics of research questions and the organizational contexts under investigation. Quantitative approaches are widely used to examine relationships among organizational variables, whereas qualitative approaches provide deeper insights into organizational processes, experiences, and contextual dynamics. Mixed methods approaches offer opportunities to integrate empirical patterns with contextual explanations. The review further highlights the need for stronger methodological integration through longitudinal designs, multilevel analyses, cross-context comparative studies, and the use of more diverse data sources. This study provides a methodological synthesis that can serve as a reference for researchers in selecting appropriate research approaches and developing future research agendas in educational management.
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