Myths and ceremonies in schools: Analysis of school projects in terms of new institutional theory

The primary purpose of this study is to examine the rationale and the process of carrying out projects in public schools in Türkiye from the perspective of New Institutional Theory (NIT). A multiple-case study design was adopted, and data were collected via semi-structured interviews with 19 teacher...

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Main Authors: Salih Arslan, Hakkı Kahveci
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-01-01
Series:Social Sciences and Humanities Open
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590291125004541
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author Salih Arslan
Hakkı Kahveci
author_facet Salih Arslan
Hakkı Kahveci
author_sort Salih Arslan
collection DOAJ
description The primary purpose of this study is to examine the rationale and the process of carrying out projects in public schools in Türkiye from the perspective of New Institutional Theory (NIT). A multiple-case study design was adopted, and data were collected via semi-structured interviews with 19 teachers involved in eTwinning, TÜBİTAK, or Erasmus + projects. The data were analysed through thematic analysis. The findings indicate that projects are often carried out for coercive reasons, such as administrative pressure and the pursuit of personal gain, as well as for cognitive reasons, such as the belief that project work is beneficial. It was also found that projects have become institutional myths and are carried out ceremoniously. This points to the loose coupling between project outcomes and school goals. This loose coupling means that project activities are not primarily driven by educational quality concerns. This study's distinctive aspect is its use of a theoretical lens to reveal the institutional background of school projects.
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spelling doaj-art-e3cc1223c7d249cf8381d95547459a4b2025-08-20T03:15:02ZengElsevierSocial Sciences and Humanities Open2590-29112025-01-011210172610.1016/j.ssaho.2025.101726Myths and ceremonies in schools: Analysis of school projects in terms of new institutional theorySalih Arslan0Hakkı Kahveci1Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, Eskişehir Osmangazi University, Eskişehir, TürkiyeFaculty of Education, Eskişehir Osmangazi University, Eskişehir, Türkiye; Corresponding author.The primary purpose of this study is to examine the rationale and the process of carrying out projects in public schools in Türkiye from the perspective of New Institutional Theory (NIT). A multiple-case study design was adopted, and data were collected via semi-structured interviews with 19 teachers involved in eTwinning, TÜBİTAK, or Erasmus + projects. The data were analysed through thematic analysis. The findings indicate that projects are often carried out for coercive reasons, such as administrative pressure and the pursuit of personal gain, as well as for cognitive reasons, such as the belief that project work is beneficial. It was also found that projects have become institutional myths and are carried out ceremoniously. This points to the loose coupling between project outcomes and school goals. This loose coupling means that project activities are not primarily driven by educational quality concerns. This study's distinctive aspect is its use of a theoretical lens to reveal the institutional background of school projects.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590291125004541New institutional theoryLoose couplingTight couplingCeremonialismSchool projects
spellingShingle Salih Arslan
Hakkı Kahveci
Myths and ceremonies in schools: Analysis of school projects in terms of new institutional theory
Social Sciences and Humanities Open
New institutional theory
Loose coupling
Tight coupling
Ceremonialism
School projects
title Myths and ceremonies in schools: Analysis of school projects in terms of new institutional theory
title_full Myths and ceremonies in schools: Analysis of school projects in terms of new institutional theory
title_fullStr Myths and ceremonies in schools: Analysis of school projects in terms of new institutional theory
title_full_unstemmed Myths and ceremonies in schools: Analysis of school projects in terms of new institutional theory
title_short Myths and ceremonies in schools: Analysis of school projects in terms of new institutional theory
title_sort myths and ceremonies in schools analysis of school projects in terms of new institutional theory
topic New institutional theory
Loose coupling
Tight coupling
Ceremonialism
School projects
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590291125004541
work_keys_str_mv AT saliharslan mythsandceremoniesinschoolsanalysisofschoolprojectsintermsofnewinstitutionaltheory
AT hakkıkahveci mythsandceremoniesinschoolsanalysisofschoolprojectsintermsofnewinstitutionaltheory