Analyzing the role of institutional Research on curriculum of higher education from Curriculum Experts Approachs

Todays, growth in expectations from universities make up the universities which must connect to external environment and try to response to stakeholder demands and expectations. In order to shape this process, the concept of Institutional Research (IR( as a process which, according to the external environment, the improvement of internal provides, emerged. One of the improvements in the curriculum of higher education within the university environment can occur. In this study, the mentality of curriculum experts according to their different experiences about university research and its relevance to the curriculum in higher education be identified. Q methodology was used for this purpose. 20 specialist research data collected was analyzed by Q-methodology. The results showed that three different approaches to the relationship between Institutional Research (IR( and university curriculum was identified. These approaches were: problem solving approach in which IR create and identify new problems for university curriculum, strategic approach in which IR affected and directed university curriculum vision, knowledge application approach in which IR facilitate knowledge based relationship between industry and university and modify university curriculum.