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The Effect of Educational Leadership on Students' Achievement: A Cross-Cultural Meta-Analysis Research on Studies between 2006 and 2024

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Title: The Effect of Educational Leadership on Students' Achievement: A Cross-Cultural Meta-Analysis Research on Studies between 2006 and 2024
Language: English
Authors: Engin Karadağ (ORCID 0000-0002-9723-3833), Gulsum Sertel
Source: Educational Management Administration & Leadership. 2026 54(4):1255-1290.
Availability: SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: https://sagepub.com
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 36
Publication Date: 2026
Document Type: Journal Articles
Information Analyses
Education Level: Elementary Secondary Education
Higher Education
Postsecondary Education
Descriptors: Academic Achievement, Geographic Regions, Cultural Differences, Foreign Countries, Elementary Secondary Education, Higher Education, Cultural Influences, Leadership Styles, Intellectual Disciplines
Geographic Terms: North America, Europe, Middle East, Africa, Asia
DOI: 10.1177/17411432251327645
ISSN: 1741-1432
1741-1440
Abstract: This meta-analysis combined various leadership approaches to examine the relationship between educational leadership and student achievement. The literature review encompassed 348 independent research articles/dissertations, with a sample group of 3,659,268 study subjects. Analyses conducted using a random-effects model revealed that educational leadership had a medium-level effect on student achievement. The impact of educational leadership on student achievement was found to be more substantial in collectivist cultures (e.g. Asia) than in individualistic cultures (e.g. the USA). Among the leadership theories, instructional leadership and leadership practices demonstrated the most significant effects. The influence of educational leadership on student achievement varies according to geographical continent, national cultural background, school level, and academic achievement. As anticipated, the impact of educational leadership practices on student achievement diminished over time during exceptional circumstances such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Given the observed effect of educational leadership on student achievement, future research should investigate the influence of leadership on other school components and stakeholders.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1509253
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
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PubType: Academic Journal
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IllustrationInfo
Items – Name: Title
  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: The Effect of Educational Leadership on Students' Achievement: A Cross-Cultural Meta-Analysis Research on Studies between 2006 and 2024
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  Label: Language
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  Data: English
– Name: Author
  Label: Authors
  Group: Au
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Engin+Karadağ%22">Engin Karadağ</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9723-3833">0000-0002-9723-3833</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Gulsum+Sertel%22">Gulsum Sertel</searchLink>
– Name: TitleSource
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  Group: Src
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Educational+Management+Administration+%26+Leadership%22"><i>Educational Management Administration & Leadership</i></searchLink>. 2026 54(4):1255-1290.
– Name: Avail
  Label: Availability
  Group: Avail
  Data: SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: https://sagepub.com
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  Label: Peer Reviewed
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  Data: Y
– Name: Pages
  Label: Page Count
  Group: Src
  Data: 36
– Name: DatePubCY
  Label: Publication Date
  Group: Date
  Data: 2026
– Name: TypeDocument
  Label: Document Type
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  Data: Journal Articles<br />Information Analyses
– Name: Audience
  Label: Education Level
  Group: Audnce
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Elementary+Secondary+Education%22">Elementary Secondary Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Higher+Education%22">Higher Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Postsecondary+Education%22">Postsecondary Education</searchLink>
– Name: Subject
  Label: Descriptors
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Academic+Achievement%22">Academic Achievement</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Geographic+Regions%22">Geographic Regions</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Cultural+Differences%22">Cultural Differences</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Foreign+Countries%22">Foreign Countries</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Elementary+Secondary+Education%22">Elementary Secondary Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Higher+Education%22">Higher Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Cultural+Influences%22">Cultural Influences</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Leadership+Styles%22">Leadership Styles</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Intellectual+Disciplines%22">Intellectual Disciplines</searchLink>
– Name: Subject
  Label: Geographic Terms
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22North+America%22">North America</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Europe%22">Europe</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Middle+East%22">Middle East</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Africa%22">Africa</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Asia%22">Asia</searchLink>
– Name: DOI
  Label: DOI
  Group: ID
  Data: 10.1177/17411432251327645
– Name: ISSN
  Label: ISSN
  Group: ISSN
  Data: 1741-1432<br />1741-1440
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: This meta-analysis combined various leadership approaches to examine the relationship between educational leadership and student achievement. The literature review encompassed 348 independent research articles/dissertations, with a sample group of 3,659,268 study subjects. Analyses conducted using a random-effects model revealed that educational leadership had a medium-level effect on student achievement. The impact of educational leadership on student achievement was found to be more substantial in collectivist cultures (e.g. Asia) than in individualistic cultures (e.g. the USA). Among the leadership theories, instructional leadership and leadership practices demonstrated the most significant effects. The influence of educational leadership on student achievement varies according to geographical continent, national cultural background, school level, and academic achievement. As anticipated, the impact of educational leadership practices on student achievement diminished over time during exceptional circumstances such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Given the observed effect of educational leadership on student achievement, future research should investigate the influence of leadership on other school components and stakeholders.
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  Data: 2026
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  Data: EJ1509253
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        Value: 10.1177/17411432251327645
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      – Text: English
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      – SubjectFull: Cultural Differences
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      – SubjectFull: Cultural Influences
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      – SubjectFull: Leadership Styles
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      – SubjectFull: Intellectual Disciplines
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      – SubjectFull: North America
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      – SubjectFull: Europe
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      – SubjectFull: Middle East
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      – SubjectFull: Africa
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      – SubjectFull: Asia
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