Complete Guide: Understanding the Nature and Function of Educational Management Research

In addition to educational management research, there are several other types of studies with different objectives. Evaluation studies focus on assessing the effectiveness of programs or policies for practical decision-making, rather than creating new theories. Literature review studies synthesize existing literature to identify research gaps and strengthen relevant theoretical frameworks. Meanwhile, non-research case studies describe phenomena to enrich discourse and reflection, without using formal research methodologies. The fundamental difference is that educational management research seeks to produce new scientific findings that are valid and replicable, while other studies focus more on the analysis or interpretation of existing phenomena.

Educational management research is a systematic, logical, and empirical scientific activity. Unlike ordinary observation, research serves a dual purpose: it develops theory and provides a basis for evidence-based strategic decision-making. Research also has the advantage of producing objective data, reducing bias, and supporting innovation and policies that can be retested. Although there are similar studies, such as evaluations and literature reviews, research has a higher status because its fundamental purpose is to produce new knowledge that can be accounted for.