Three Decades of Research on Educational Leadership in Spain. A Systematic Mapping

Abstract

The growing importance of educational leadership in recent decades makes it necessary to review the state of research in this field carried out in Spain from 1991 to 2019. After studying how the Spanish research on educational leadership has been positioned from an international perspective, the evolution of this literature in Spain is reviewed through the systematic mapping method. Three databases are analyzed (Web of Science, Scopus and Index-CSIC) and 244 articles that meet the characteristics of the search are identified. From the selected documents, the evolution and geographical distribution of the articles, the most relevant topics, and the authors, journals, universities, and research groups that show the greatest vitality in this field are described. The study concludes by pointing out the vigor of research on educational leadership in Spain, especially as of 2012, concerning the quantity and quality of publications. However, it is necessary to increase the impact at the international level and develop little explored thematic lines, such as leadership and the socio-economic effects of education. This systematic mapping can serve as a basis for future studies in Spain or in other countries and contribute to the knowledge of educational leadership from a global perspective.