A decade of empirical research on educational leadership in Chile. A systematic review of articles published in indexed journals (2008-2019)

Abstract

In the last decade in Chile, the government and institutions have launched different policies designed to promote educational leadership. However, little is known about the characteristics of the research done on this topic. This topographical review has systematically analyzed the articles on educational leadership in Chile, which have an empirical research base, and which have been published in indexed journals between 2008 and 2019. The results reveal that 47 articles have been published, with an increasing number from the year 2016 onwards. These articles were published by a group of 85 authors, the majority of whom have only published one article. The studies are characterized as mostly descriptive and qualitative, with few that have done random samples or that exploited the existing secondary data. Approximately 40% of the articles declare they did not receive financial support develop their research. The most studied research focuses were school leaders, as well as municipal (public) elementary schools. The publications reviewed are concentrated in Scopus indexed and Latin American journals. The characterization made allows us to consider as emergent, research on the field of school leadership, and to suggest a set of measures that would allow its consolidation.