Abstract:

Within this research, studies published in Turkey on the economics of education and planning between the years 2006 – 2016 were analyzed regarding their methodologies, theoretical frameworks, scope, and policy recommendations, by conducting document analysis. The document analysis conducted throughout the study provided reports on 81 masters theses, 15 doctorate dissertations, and 132 articles for a total of 228 studies in Turkey between the years 2006 – 2016.

For the selection of research to be studied, the measures used were date, thematic, and publication location measures. Of these three measures, the dates chosen for evaluation were research published between the years 2006 – 2016. The second measure allowed for the selection of research on the economics of education and planning. The final measure allowed for the selection of graduate theses and articles from journals of education faculties and social science institutes with at least five years of publication, all published in Turkey.

Studies on the economics of education focus mainly on subject matter such as human resources, education – economics relations, educational expenditures, socioeconomic status, educational financing, economic analysis, model proposals, educational investment, and education taxation. In addition to this, studies in the field of educational planning also prioritize studies on strategic planning, educational planning, human resources planning, and technological planning.

When the methodological paradigms utilized in the research are analyzed, most studies were designed through quantitative research models, with fewer studies conducted using qualitative and mixed models. The majority of quantitative approaches in the studies were relational screening and descriptive screening models, while the qualitative studies mainly utilized case studies in their methodologies.

For gathering data, most studies used primary data sources such as student societies, and secondary data sources such as documents. It was determined that within the primary data sources, students were followed by administrators, teachers, parents, academics, and staff.

When the organizational structure supporting studies in the field of economics of education is analyzed, it was determined that rather than public finances, the financing of education is covered by localization, privatization, and most frequently by hybrid theories that cover both approaches. When the finance sources of higher education used in the studies were analyzed, it was determined that coupons, tuitions and credit were the preferred financial sources. Analysis of the theories of education-employment relationship and the economic role of education within the studies revealed that human capital was the most prevalent theory, while few studies utilized queuing theory and the divided labor market theory. Regarding theories on the influence of education on economic growth, the preferred approach was cost benefit (yield ratio) theory. Concerning the organizational structure that supported studies in the field of educational planning, the planning approaches in the studies were primarily the strategic planning approach, while few studies utilized the human resource planning approach.

Keywords:

Educational Administration, Economics of Education, Content Analysis.