Social innovation perception in educational administration: The case of Elazig provaince

The main purpose of the research is to evaluate the knowledge, experience and practices of school administrators and teachers about the concept of social innovation and to evaluate their perspectives and approaches to the concept. In this qualitative study, the phenomenology design was used. The study group of the research consists of administrators and teachers working in primary and secondary schools and institutions in the province of Elazig. Participants were selected on a voluntary basis from a total of 10 educational institutions, including 2 teachers and 1 administrator from each educational institution. Purposive sampling method, which is one of the probability-based sampling methods, was used to determine the study group. A semi-structured interview form consisting of 10 open-ended questions was used as a data collection tool in the research. While preparing the interview form, a comprehensive literature study was conducted and the questions were determined. The questions prepared after the literature study were examined by three field experts and a teacher in terms of scope, content and clarity, and necessary arrangements were made. The questions in the prepared interview form were directed to the administrators and teachers who volunteered in the study, and the answers were collected via audio recording. The data collected in the research were analyzed with the content analysis method. As a result of the study, although the concept of social innovation was explained to the administrators and teachers before the interview, it was seen that the level of readiness was not sufficient when looking at the answers they gave. It has been determined that the administrators and teachers who participated in the interview confuse the concept of social innovation with the concepts of entrepreneurship, innovation and innovation, and they generally perceive social innovation as making a new project inside or outside of school, introducing a new product or engaging in any social activity.