The Originality and Autonomy Problem of Educational Administration

The aim of this study is to examine the factors that affect and prevent the original and autonomous identity development of the field. Based on this aim, the author tried to show how the developments on the knowledge basis of the field, the boundaries of the field with other fields and the nature of the studies in the field affect the originality and autonomy of the field. The existing literature indicated that the knowledge base of the field has begun to take shape under the influence of various paradigms and accordingly various views about the knowledge base of the field have emerged, especially after 1950. These views are seen as efforts to develop the field’s own original identity. However, it seems that the field is particularly under the influence of business management. It causes the field to fail to create its boundaries. Studies in the field are repetitive. As a result, while the diversity of epistemological basis of the field contributes to the originality of the field, the lack of clarity of the boundaries constitutes an impediment to the automatization of the field. Also, the studies and the academic concerns of academicians move the field away from originality and autonomy