Making or buying evidence: using transaction cost economics to understand decision making in public school districts. (26th November 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Neal, Zachary; Neal, Jennifer Watling; Mills, Kristen; Lawlor, Jennifer
• Is Part Of: Evidence & policy. Volume 14:Number 4(2018)
• Page Start: 707
• Page End: 724
• Publication Date: 2018-11-26
• Subjects: RESEARCH EVIDENCE -- ECONOMICS -- TRANSACTION COST -- SCHOOLS; Policy sciences -- Periodicals; Social policy -- Research -- Periodicals; Public welfare -- Research -- Periodicals; Social service -- Decision making -- Periodicals; 320.6
• DOI: 10.1332/174426416X14778277473701
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1744-2648

Abstract

Abstract : We propose transaction cost economics theory as a tool for exploring when school administrators rely on information from two types of sources: internal sources like their own colleagues, and external sources like researchers and government agencies. The theory's application is illustrated in a comparative case study of two public school districts in Michigan. Consistent with the theory's predictions, the smaller, homogeneous, high-performing district used more external sources of information, while the larger, diverse, low-performing district used internal sources of information. We conclude by identifying some strengths and limitations of the theory, which can serve as starting points for debate.