The purpose of this study is to explore trends in Korean school leadership research, focusing on the concept of disciplinary identity to draw practical implications. Analyzing 102 articles from leading domestic educational administration journals, the...
The purpose of this study is to explore trends in Korean school leadership research, focusing on the concept of disciplinary identity to draw practical implications. Analyzing 102 articles from leading domestic educational administration journals, the study employs a framework that prioritizes practicality and indigenization, supported by a literature review. Findings reveal a significant reliance on foreign theories with minimal application of domestic frameworks, a preference for empirical research over theoretical exploration, and a movement toward more specific, actionable recommendations. Research focuses predominantly on the school level, with limited consideration of the role of central or local government. Indigenization efforts show a varied use of domestic literature in different sections of the papers, with a noticeable increase in the use of domestic references over time. Sections such as Introduction, Theoretical Background, Methodology, Results of Analysis, Discussion, and References show different levels of integration of domestic literature, indicating a gradual move towards indigenization. The study emphasizes the need to increase the practical relevance of research to the realities of Korean educational administration. It advocates less reliance on foreign theoretical models and promotes a research ethos that identifies and solves domestic problems while integrating both local and global solutions. This involves the strategic integration of perspectives from both the management of schools and the broader educational administration at the central and local levels, to improve the research ethos to address domestic challenges with a balanced approach to international perspectives.