This study examined trends, results and the limitations of studies of educational
policies that are based on new institutionalism, and accordingly explored possible
future directions and issues. To achieve this, this study first took a general view
of the theoretical trend of three schools representative of new institutionalism;
historical new institutionalism, rational choice institutionalism, and sociological
new institutionalism. Afterwards, their features and the limitations of those
domestic studies that had applied a view of new institutionalism in the
educational policy field were analyzed. Based on these findings, directions for a
new institutional approach in the educational policy field are presented. Previous
studies were mostly empirical research that quoted the main notion of early new
institutionalism, and explained a punctuated equilibrium model on institutional
change through a change of political power, an exogenous factor that lacked a
strict logical mechanism, since it excluded the agency in change of institution
and policy. Moreover, previous studies have revealed flaws in their method of
research in that they have greatly depended on documentary records.
Henceforth, the study of new institutional education policy requires more
prospective discussion on the increase of reality validity by sharing the
theoretical strengths of each school and extending the empirical research of
educational fields. And it also needs strict research method that will elucidate
the cause-and-effect mechanism of social phenomena and meta-theoretical study
and application research based on the integration of structure and agency.