Available online at ijci.wcci-international.org IJCI International Journal of International Journal of Curriculum and Instruction 14(1) Curriculum and Instruction (2022) 79-100 Evaluation of institutional isomorphism of guidance research centers with social network analysis approach Zeynep Eren a *, Yaşar Dilber b a Sinop University, Faculty of Education, Department of Educational Sciences, Korucuk Mevkii, Sinop 57100, Turkey b Kestel Guidance Research Centers, Bursa 16450 , Turkey Abstract The main purpose of this study is to determine the level of institutional isomorphism of Guidance Research Centers (GRS), which are public education organizations. The concept of institutional isomorphism means that organizations that are similar according to the type, level and characteristics of environmental conditions can survive. In the study, coercive and normative dimensions of institutional isomorphism were analyzed by textual analysis and the mimetic isomorphism dimension was analyzed by the social network analysis method. The study was carried out in the 2019-2020 academic year. Thirty-eight top managers from six different geographical regions across Turkey participated. The participants of the study were selected by snowball sampling and the data generator method. The data of the study were collected by documentation and semi-structured interview techniques. The qualitative data of the study on coercive and normative isomorphism were analyzed by descriptive and content analysis; Social network analysis data on mimetic isomorphism were analyzed with UCINET 6.647 software, network structural features and inter-actor relations. According to the findings obtained in the research, GRCs, which are affiliated to the same top- institution, assigned to the same legal infrastructure, working in the same occupational field, as expected theoretically, are highly coercive and normative isomorphic organizations. However, according to the social network analysis data obtained in the mimetic dimension and the network analysis diagrams created by 79 actors. It is essential to consider the factors of institutional isomorphism in determining what improvements are to be made to develop the capacities of GRCs and disseminate new practices and successful studies. Keywords: ; Institutional isomorphism; educational organizations, social network analysis, guidance centers © 2016 IJCI & the Authors. They are published by the International Journal of Curriculum and Instruction (IJCI). This is an open-access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution license (CC BY- NC-ND) (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). * Corresponding author Zeynep Eren. Phone.: +9-5067011432 E-mail address: [email protected] 80 Eren& Dilber/ International Journal of Curriculum and Instruction 14(1) (2022) 79-100 1. Introduction 1.1. Introduce the problem Ensuring the effective and productive work of organizations established to realize shared goals is an important research topic of organizational research. While each organizational theory analyzes the structure, functioning and environment of the organization from different perspectives, the primary purpose is to understand how organizations can survive and how they can work efficiently and effectively, and to develop strategies for what measures can be taken for this. Like all organizations, educational organizations also aim to provide effectiveness and efficiency. Contrary to popular belief, educational organizations established to meet educational needs are not just schools. In Turkey, just like Public Education Centers (PEC), Science and Art Centers (SAC), Guidance Research Centers (GRC) are public organizations established to meet and support the educational needs of their target audiences other than those encountered by schools, specific to their field of expertise. In Turkey, the GRCs established in provinces and big districts under the Ministry of National Education (MNE) have a different function than schools, although they are both educational organizations. Guidance and Research Centers (GRC) are institutions that carry out their activities to plan, provide, coordinate, monitor and evaluate the guidance and psychological counselling and special education services in provinces and districts (MNE, Guidance Research Center Directive, 31.08.2020). According to the statistics of the Ministry of National Education (2020), approximately 1490 psychological counsellor/guidance teachers and special education teachers work in 236 GRCs in 81 provinces in Turkey (https://orgm.meb.gov.tr/alt_sayfalar/kurum.asp). In Turkey, the Ministry of National Education carries out various studies to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of GRCs. First of all, within the scope of the 2023 Education Vision Document, various training programs were organized for GRC personnel to increase their professional knowledge, skills and awareness, to be aware of the new approach, to gain new perspectives, and to access scientific and up-to-date information. With the Project of Strengthening the Capacity of Guidance Research Centers in terms of Providing Inclusive Education Services, it was aimed to strengthen the digital infrastructure of the entire GRC, to increase the competencies of the experts and teachers working there, and to manage data based on software with the support of software. At the same time, in the project, where 20 thousand brochures in Turkish, Arabic and English were distributed to inform families about the services provided at GRCs and the referral processes, public service announcements were prepared to increase the recognition and awareness of the centers (www.meb.gov.tr). These types of projects are very large-budget studies. Eren& Dilber/ International Journal of Curriculum and Instruction 14(1) (2022) 79-100 81 When the literature in Turkey is examined, it cannot be said that improving the efficiency and capacity of GRCs attracts the attention of scientific researchers. Although there are many studies on the development of guidance and psychological counselling services in the surveys, no research has been found to improve the organizational efficiency of these institutions directly (Camadan, 2021; Öz, 2012; Özak, Vural and Avcıoğlu, 2008; Tulunay Ateş and Anaç, 2020). While research on educational organizations generally focuses on studies examining schools and school staff, the structure, functioning and efficiency of such organizations, such as PEC, SAC, GRC, which facilitate students to benefit from education and training processes more effectively, have not attracted much attention in scientific research. However, in various studies on the functioning of schools and institutions, there is a limited number of studies that have reached findings specific to the functioning of these institutions. For example, in the findings of Uğurlu's (2016) research on the cooperation and levels of educational organizations, these institutions based on expertise such as the GRC, PEC, SAC, which are called affiliated organizations because they are different educational organizations from schools. It interacted with the school and other institutions at a higher level was more connected and cooperated. Therefore, it has been suggested that developing these institutions and eliminating the shortage of experts in terms of their capacity to influence other institutions (for example, dissemination of innovations) in the plans to be made for improving the cooperation network with other institutions and spreading it to the entire network (education system). Current education systems strive to increase the quality of these services so that every student can benefit from psychological counselling and guidance services effectively. It is expected that this research will contribute to the data-based strategic decisions that can be taken to develop and increase the efficiency of educational organizations based on expertise. In addition, it brings an organizational perspective to improving the effectiveness and efficiency of GRCs. 1.2. Literature review 1.2.1. The context of guidance research centers in Turkey Along with all kinds of necessary studies for the effective and efficient execution of guidance and psychological counselling services in educational institutions, identification of individuals with special education needs and guidance and psychological counselling services for these individuals are carried out by guidance and research centers in provinces and districts (GRC Guide, 2017). According to the Guidance and Research Center Directive published by the Ministry of National Education on 31.08.2020, Guidance and Research Centers carry out their activities to plan, provide, coordinate and evaluate the guidance and psychological counselling services and special education services in provinces and districts are institutions. 82 Eren& Dilber/ International Journal of Curriculum and Instruction 14(1) (2022) 79-100 Guidance and research centers; It consists of two departments, namely the section of guidance and psychological counselling services and special education services. Guidance and psychological counselling services department; fulfils its duties in the fields of school guidance and psychological counselling, psychosocial support, individual and group psychological counselling and guidance, and research and development. These can be briefly listed: At the beginning of the academic year, the department prepares the annual work plan through the e-Guidance system. It shares the yearly work plan at the central committee meeting and has it approved by the manager. It applies the annual work plan throughout the academic year and updates it when necessary. It processes the works carried out into the e-Guidance system. Evaluates the studies carried out at the end of the academic year. The special education services department performs its duties in educational evaluation and diagnosis, identifying gifted individuals, monitoring and research and development. The responsibilities of the special education services department can be summarized as follows: At the beginning of the academic year, it prepares the annual work plan of the department. It shares the yearly work plan at the central committee meeting and has it approved by the manager. It applies the yearly work plan throughout the academic year and updates it when necessary. Evaluates the work done at the end of the academic year (GRC Guide, 2017; Ministry of National Education of Guidance Research Center Directive, 2020). Guidance and research centers play an active role in improving the self-development of all individuals, in making the guidance and psychological counselling services more qualified in education, and in the advancement of disabled students in all areas of development in the education system (Kekeç and Töre, 2020; Tulunay Ateş and Anaç, 2020). Guidance research centers are public institutions. The establishment of these institutions, their working styles, the services to be provided by these institutions and the recruitment processes of the personnel working in these institutions are all regulated by specific laws, regulations and directives. For this reason, the procedures to be followed by these institutions are strictly defined by the Turkey Ministry of National Education. When the tasks specified according to the service areas of the guidance and research centers are examined, it is seen that they provide many different types of services. 1.2.2. New institutional theory and isomorphism An institutional theory emphasizes that organizations are open systems that are strongly influenced by their environment. According to institutional theory, the survival of organizations does not only depend on their effectiveness and efficiency. Institutionalism; is a theory that states that organizations are constructed by and tend to resemble phenomena in their institutional environment and that formal organizations adapt to their institutional environments through technical and transformational interdependencies (Meyer and Rowan, 1977, 346). The new institutionalists, who brought a unique perspective to institutionalism that emerged in the 1970s, introduced the Eren& Dilber/ International Journal of Curriculum and Instruction 14(1) (2022) 79-100 83 concept of institutional isomorphism to the literature, and based on this concept, they revealed that organizations began to resemble each other more and more with the effect of both mimetic, coercive and normative pressures (DiMaggio and Powell, 1983, 150-154). Isomorphism, which is a fundamental concept within the population ecology approach; According to the type and characteristics of the environmental conditions, only organisms that comply with these conditions and are uniformly shaped according to the requirements in question can continue to live. Isomorphism is a concept derived from mathematics and population biology. The first study to adapt the concept to organizations belongs to Meyer and Rowan. DiMaggio and Powell examined the concept in detail in the theory of institutional isomorphism in the organizational fields they revealed (Scott 2001). Meyer and Rowan (1977, 352) mention that the success of organizations does not only depend on the effective control and coordination of production activities, and they state that for organizations to increase their chances of survival, gain legitimacy and access resources, they should generally become isomorphic in line with the myths of their institutional environment. DiMaggio and Powell (1983, 149), on the other hand, are essential in terms of clarifying the concepts of organizational space and isomorphism. In this study, the authors define the concept of institutional isomorphism as a restrictive process that causes a unit to resemble other teams in the same environmental conditions, based on the question of what makes organizations similar to each other. Accordingly, institutional isomorphism is determined through three mechanisms: coercive, normative and mimetic: Coercive institutional isomorphism emerges from the formal and informal pressures exerted by the other organizations to which the organizations are affiliated and the society's cultural expectations in which the institutions operate (DiMaggio and Powell, 1983, 150). Normative institutional isomorphism stems mainly from professionalization. Two aspects of professionalization are essential sources of isomorphism (DiMaggio and Powell, 1983, 152). The first of these is education and the law. The same occupations are subject to the same education and the same rules. This situation causes isomorphism. The second is professional and commercial organizations. These are essential tools that play a role in establishing and disseminating normative rules regarding organizational and professional behavior. In summary, normative institutional isomorphism emerges due to rules, laws and standards in a professional profession. Not every tendency for institutional isomorphism is due to coercive reasons. Mimetic institutional isomorphism occurs because organizations tend to model other organizations when organizational technologies are not adequately understood, when goals are unclear, or the environment creates symbolic uncertainty (DiMaggio and Powell, 1983, 151). Organizations imitate other organizations that are perceived as successful by decision-makers in their population. 84 Eren& Dilber/ International Journal of Curriculum and Instruction 14(1) (2022) 79-100 1.3. Objective The main purpose of this study is to determine the institutional isomorphism of the Guidance Research Centers (GRC), which are public education organizations. In line with this primary purpose, answers to the following questions were sought in the study: (1)What is the situation of GRCs in terms of coercive isomorphism? In this context: (a) what are their hierarchical relations with their top institution? (b) are they similar in mission and vision to other GRCs? (c) are there clear procedures for organizational modes of operation? (2) What is the situation of GRCs in terms of normative isomorphism? In this context, (a) which professional organizations are GRCs associated with? (b) what laws and regulations does it operate under? (3) What is the situation of GRCs in terms of mimetic isomorphism? In this context, top managers of GRCs participating in the research which GRCs do they take as examples and follow closely? In other words, which GRCs are taken as more samples? 2. Method 2.1. Research design This research was conducted with a mixed research approach consisting of qualitative and social network analysis approaches. Mixed studies are the type of research that involves collecting data, analyzing and integrating findings using more than one research approach or method in a single study (Bernard and Ryan, 2010). Qualitative research involves collecting and analyzing non-numerical data (e.g., text, video, or audio) to understand concepts, opinions, or experiences. It can gather in-depth insights into a problem or generate new ideas for research (Bernard and Ryan, 2010). Social network analysis is an interdisciplinary research approach that has unique calculation methods in terms of revealing relationships between actors. It allows the structure formed by the relationships between the actors and inter-actors and these relationships in a digitalized manner or graphics (Carrington, Scott and Wasserman, 2005; Scott, 2000). According to Freeman (2004, 2), these aspects are a part of all modern social network analysis examples. Social network analysis justifies the insights on the structural connections which tie social actors to each other. This empirical data is collected systematically, and it is controlled. This data is presented through graphics. Mathematical models are relied on in the making of these calculations. 2.2. Research sample and participants The research participants consisted of 38 administrators working as institution directors in various Guidance Research Centers (GRC) throughout Turkey in the 2019- Eren& Dilber/ International Journal of Curriculum and Instruction 14(1) (2022) 79-100 85 2020 academic year. The snowball sampling method was used to determine the participants of the study. Snowball sampling is used in the data collection process in social network analysis research, revealing the network pattern and creating actor lists (Carrington, Scott and Wasserman, 2005; Scott, 2000). Snowball sampling, one of the primary sampling methods, is particularly effective in identifying individuals and situations that can be a rich source of information (Bernard and Ryan, 2010). The number of participants from whom direct data was collected in the study was 38. The demographic characteristics of the participants in the study are given in Table 1. Table 1. Demographic information on study participants (GRC’s managers) Gender Tenure profession Tenure management (year) (year) F % F % F % Female 6 15.79 1-5 1 2.63 0-1 4 10.52 Male 32 84.21 6-10 3 7.89 2-5 16 42.10 - - - 11-15 6 15.78 6-10 16 42.10 - - - 16-20 16 42.10 11+ 2 5.26 - - - 21+ 12 31.57 - - - Total 38 100.00 38 100.00 38 100.00 . Social network research can examine the types of networks at different levels. Therefore, selecting and defining network boundaries is an important decision in collecting social network data (Eren, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021; Eren and Kıral, 2018). To determine the mimetic institutional isomorphism network in the research, the administrators were asked which guidance research centers they took as examples and benefited from their studies. The number of actors has increased as the participants added the guidance research centers that did not participate in this research to the network, as well as the guidance research centers that participated in the study. The name generator technique, which is used together with snowball sampling in social network analysis research, enables the participants to add the actors of the relationship type asked to the network. In the study, two kinds of network patterns were formed: the participant network of guidance research centers (n=38), where the participants from whom direct data were collected, and the other guidance research centers (n=41) that these participants stated as examples. Therefore, the whole network of the research, representing the entire guidance research center, was found to have 79 actors. Turkey is divided into seven geographical regions and 81 provinces. According to the MEB directive, there must be at least one GRC in each province and territory. In Table 2, 86 Eren& Dilber/ International Journal of Curriculum and Instruction 14(1) (2022) 79-100 the characteristics of the actors consisting of guidance research centers in different provinces and geographical regions participating in the research are given. Table 2. Distribution of actors forming the mimetic isomorphism networks by geographical regions Geographical Whole network Participant network regions N=79 N=38 F % Actors F % Actors Marmara 33 41.77 GRC_3,4,5,7,10,14,17, 11 28.94 GRC_3,4,5,7,10,14,17, 18,23,25,29,30,32,33,37,41, 18,23,25,29 44,45,46,47,48,49,51,52.53, 54,55,56,57,60,61,62,66 Karadeniz 15 18.98 GRC_2,8,9,11,15,22,24,42,50 7 18.42 GRC_2,8,9,11,15,22,24 63,67,68,76,78,79 İç Anadolu 11 13.92 GRC_21,27,34,35,36,39,58,59, 5 13.15 GRC_21,27,34,35,36 70,77 Doğu Anad. 8 10.12 GRC_12,13,19,31,38,43,74,75 5 13.15 GRC_12,13,19,31,38 Ege 4 5.06 GRC_1,26,64,65 2 5.26 GRC_1,26 Günayd. And 4 5.16 GRC_6, 16,20,28 4 10.52 GRC_6, 16,20,28 Akadeniz 4 5.06 GRC,69,71,72,73 4 10.52 GRC,69,71,72,73 Total 79 100.00 38 100.00 . In the research, the same sample was studied in both qualitative and social network analysis dimensions. As can be seen, 79 guidance and research centers from seven geographical regions entered the sample. At the same time, participation was made from the Marmara region, the most populated region in terms of population density. 2.3. Research instruments The data specific to the study's qualitative research and social network analysis were collected by textual analysis technique and semi-structured interview technique. Textual technique for answering research questions about coercive and normative institutional isomorphism in research; Data were collected by semi-structured interview technique to reveal the mimetic institutional isomorphism network pattern. To answer the questions about coercive institutional isomorphism, guides on organizational functioning, legal infrastructure (laws, directives and circulars), vision and mission statements and strategic plans for 2019-2023 were examined from the websites of the GRCs where the participants are assigned. In answering the questions about normative institutional isomorphism, their relations with professional organizations (Turkish Psychological Counseling Association, connections with other collaborating professional organizations) Eren& Dilber/ International Journal of Curriculum and Instruction 14(1) (2022) 79-100 87 were examined. The textual data were coded and separated into themes and evaluated with descriptive and content analysis. An interview form was first created to collect data from participants in various regions and provinces of Turkey via e-mail and phone calls to answer questions about mimetic institutional isomorphism. There are two questions in the form prepared to collect data specific to participant demographic information (gender, tenure, managerial experience) and social network analysis. To reveal the relationship scanned in social network research, the researcher needs to decide on the format of the question, the answer format, and what additional information they would like to describe the social network structure. Moolenaar (2012, Tables 1 and 2) provided a perspective on what kinds of questions are asked for which types of relationships in educational research also mentioned the benefit of being short in the questionnaires that included these questions. To the participants, 1- Are there any other guidance research centers that you find success in your professional work and follow their work? They were asked to indicate their names if any. 2- They were asked whether they met with other guidance research centers and shared ideas and good practices, their communication method (face-to-face, e-mail, telephone) and facilitating manager characteristics. The collected data were coded and analyzed in a way specific to social network analysis (density, degree, etc.), and a mimetic isomorphism network map was created. 3. Results 3.1. Coercive institutional isomorphism Coercive institutional isomorphism is the isomorphism that occurs due to organizations adopting certain practices in line with the wishes of the segments they are dependent on. It also appears to result from organizations complying with the expectations of other organizations on which they are hanging in terms of resources. At the same time, hierarchical relations by a higher institution create compelling institutional isomorphism. In the research, guidelines on organizational functioning, legal infrastructure (laws, directives and circulars), vision and mission statements, and strategic plans for the year 2019-2023 were examined from the websites of the guidance research centers where the participants are assigned and the Turkish Ministry of National Education in answering the questions about coercive institutional isomorphism. As a result of textual analysis, the following findings were reached: When GRCs in Turkey are evaluated in terms of hierarchical relations with higher institutions, it should be noted that they are public institutions at the provincial and district level, hierarchically affiliated to the Ministry of National Education. The procedures in the functioning of these institutions are carried out as in other public institutions—employees in the institution work as public servants. The establishment, 88 Eren& Dilber/ International Journal of Curriculum and Instruction 14(1) (2022) 79-100 functioning, duties, duties of the employees in the institution, relations with other public institutions are regulated by laws, regulations, directives and circulars. Legal basis of guidance services on the website of the Ministry of National Education, all laws related to education, as well as Child Protection Law (25876 R.G, 2005), Guidance and Psychological Counseling Services Regulation (2020), Psychosocial Protection, Prevention and Crisis Intervention Services Directive (2019), Guidance and Psychological Counseling Services Ethical Directive (2020), Guidance and Research Center Directive (2020) and many regulatory circulars. In particular, in the GRC directive, how and where the GRC will be installed, what equipment, its duties, and under which conditions the titled personnel will work there are strictly defined. The websites of 38 GRCs, where the research participants were assigned, and a total of 79 GRCs, including 41 actors who later joined the network, were examined. All of the websites reviewed include Strategic Plans for 2019-2023, and these plans include the introduction of the institution, statistics on the current situation, stakeholder analysis, SWOT analysis, mission, vision and core values, goals, targets and actions, institutional capacity and planned capacity-building studies and evaluation reports. This ensures uniformity in all GRCs, in other words, isomorphism. In addition, the procedures of these institutions are explained in the GRC (RAM) Guide (2018). Therefore, it has been found that these institutions have clear procedures in the way of organizational functioning. While the main objectives of the Turkish national education system are emphasized in the mission statements of the GRCs, it is seen that the fundamental human values are emphasized more in the vision statements. Examples of mission and vision statements are given below. For example: In line with the main objectives of the Turkish National Education, to bring happy, successful and mentally healthy individuals to the society, to be an institution that guides in every need (GRC_12, mission). Every human being is valuable, and this value stems from their existence as human beings (GRC_15, vision). 3.2. Normative institutional isomorphism Normative institutional isomorphism stems mainly from professionalization. According to Di Maggio and Powell (1983, 152), two aspects of professionalization are essential sources of isomorphism. The first is education and laws, and the second is the effect of professional organizations and commercial organizations. Laws are both a coercive and normative instrument of institutional isomorphism. Regulations regarding the professional staff's education processes and the profession's requirements, and the standards set by the professional organizations determine the occupational standards and create normative isomorphism. According to the research findings, the GRC’s and the psychological counsellors working in these institutions have very strictly defined professional principles and standards in the professional sense. For example, in the MNE Guidance and