Article Sidebar

Download
PDF
Statistic
Read Counter : 12 Download : 4

Main Article Content

Abstract

Purpose: This study aims to examine how socially constructed community perceptions shape institutional attractiveness and explain the mismatch between objective school quality and parental school choice.


Research Method: A qualitative single-case study was conducted at SDN Sonoadi, an Indonesian public elementary school that consistently demonstrated high academic and non-academic achievement but experienced declining student enrollment during 2021–2026. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, observations, and document analysis involving school leaders, teachers, school committee members, parents, alumni, and community leaders. Data were analyzed using the interactive model of Miles, Huberman, and Saldaña, guided by the processes of externalization, objectification, and internalization.


Results and Discussion: The findings reveal that institutional attractiveness is socially constructed through shared experiences, daily interactions, cultural values, school location, religious orientation, environmental conditions, and collectively formed social images. These factors frequently outweigh objective indicators of school quality, explaining the discrepancy between educational achievement and public preference. The findings demonstrate how the processes of externalization, objectification, and internalization collectively shape parents’ school selection decisions.


Implications: The findings suggest that strengthening institutional attractiveness requires not only improving academic performance but also enhancing strategic communication, community engagement, and reputation management.


Originality: This study extends Berger and Luckmann’s Social Construction Theory by demonstrating how institutional attractiveness is socially constructed through collective meaning-making, offering a novel theoretical explanation for the paradox between school achievement and declining student enrollment.

Keywords

social construction community perception school achievement institutional attractiveness school branding

Article Details

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

How to Cite
Nurhanifah, L., Sukaris, S., & Santoso, R. A. (2026). The Construction of Public Perception of Outstanding Schools: A Qualitative Study of the Difference between Academic Performance and Institutional Attractiveness. Advances in Human Resource Management Research, 4(3), 449–468. https://doi.org/10.60079/ahrmr.v4i3.951
Download Citation
Endnote/Zotero/Mendeley (RIS)
BibTeX

References

  1. Adi, T. B. (2022). Participation in Budgeting and Motivation on Employee Performance. Advances in Human Resource Management Research, 1(1), 34-44. https://doi.org/10.60079/ahrmr.v1i1.41
  2. Al Humairah, K., Irawan, A., Ibrahim, M. B. H., Yendra, Y., & Rasyid, A. (2023). Crafting Effective HRM Strategies for Enhancing Organizational Performance and Employee Engagement. Advances in Human Resource Management Research, 1(3), 126-136. https://doi.org/10.60079/ahrmr.v1i3.183
  3. Amado Mateus, M., & Juarez Acosta, F. (2022). Reputation in Higher Education: A Systematic Review. Frontiers in Education, 7(June), https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2022.925117–19
  4. Ardoin, NM, & Heimlich, J.E. (2021). Environmental learning in everyday life: foundations of meaning and context for change. Environmental Education Research, 27(12), 1681–1699. https://doi.org/10.1080/13504622.2021.1992354
  5. Arifin, H. Y., & Hanif, M. (2026). Cultivation of Religious Character through School Culture at SMAN 3 Purwokerto: A Study of Social Construction Theory. 21(1), 1355–1364. https://doi.org/10.31603/paedagogie.v21i1.16144
  6. Awoitau, R., Noch, M. Y., & Khotimah, K. (2024). The influence of motivation, training and compensation on employee performance. Advances in Human Resource Management Research, 2(3), 153-165. https://doi.org/10.60079/ahrmr.v2i3.376
  7. Bahasoan, S., & Baharuddin, I. (2023). Work discipline, work motivation and employee performance. Advances in Human Resource Management Research, 1(2), 90-101. https://doi.org/10.60079/ahrmr.v1i2.92
  8. Basalamah, M. S. A. (2023). The effect of transformational leadership style and job satisfaction on employee performance. Advances in Human Resource Management Research, 1(2), 78-89. https://doi.org/10.60079/ahrmr.v1i2.77
  9. Cermeño-Aínsa, S. (2022). Is Perception Stimulus Dependent? Review of Philosophy and Psychology, 13(3), 735–754. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13164-021-00558-1
  10. Chotimah, C., Pia Wulandari, M., & Nasution, Z. (2024). IMPROVING SCHOOL REPUTATION THROUGH EFFECTIVE STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT: A QUALITATIVE ANALYSIS IN INTEGRATED ISLAMIC JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOLS INMOJOKERTOEducation. School Growth; stakeholder engagement; Reputation Management, 3(2), 10–11. https://doi.org/10.20414/sangkep.v2i2.p-ISSN
  11. Fernández-Gubieda, S., & Gutiérrez-García, E. (2025). University Reputation Neglected: A Systematic Literature Review of Underresearched Concepts. Company Reputation Review, (0123456789). https://doi.org/10.1057/s41299-025-00234-5
  12. Fraser, N.M., & Turcan, R.R. (2025). Reconstruction of the Social Construction of Reality. British Journal of Sociology, 76(3), 657–662. https://doi.org/10.1111/1468-4446.13190
  13. Géring, Z., Thomas, R., Király, G., & Rakovics, M. (2023). The depiction of the future as a construct of legitimacy: a discursive strategy in the external communication of highly-ranked business schools. Higher Education, 85(4), 775–793. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10734-022-00865-1
  14. Greaves, E., Wilson, D., & Nairn, A. (2023). Marketing and School Choice: A Systematic Literature Review. Educational Research Review, 93(6), 825–861. https://doi.org/10.3102/00346543221141658
  15. Hailey, CA (2025). Choosing a School, Choosing Safety: How Different Dimensions of Safety Shape School Choice. AERA Open, 11(1), 1–19. https://doi.org/10.1177/23328584251329899
  16. Hardiyana, A., Tinggi, S., Economics, I., & Bandung, K. (2025). PRINCIPAL'S LEADERSHIP, ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE, MOTIVATION AND COMPETENCE TO TEACHER PERFORMANCE. 24(2), 125–138. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.23969/trikonomika.v24i2.33545
  17. Hanadelansa, H. (2023). The impact of giving rewards and punishment on increasing employee performance. Advances in Human Resource Management Research, 1(2), 66-77. https://doi.org/10.60079/ahrmr.v1i2.76
  18. Hawu, T.L.M., & Ismanto, B. (2024). Utilizing Indonesian values in the marketing of educational services to improve the institutional image. Journal of Indonesian Values and Character Education, 7(2), 281–291. https://doi.org/10.23887/ivcej.v7i2.76746
  19. Hogan, A., & Barnes, N. (2024). Politics, culture, emotion and maternal responsibility for school choice. Gender and Education, 36(7), 716–729. https://doi.org/10.1080/09540253.2024.2354842
  20. Houston, DM, & Henig, J.R. (2023). "Good" Schools: Academic Performance Data, School Choice, and Segregation. AERA Open, 9(1), 1–18. https://doi.org/10.1177/23328584231177666
  21. Hussin, N. A. M., Ismail, N. A., & Noor, N. A. M. (2022). The Influence of School Image, Service Quality, and Trust on Parets' Decision in Choosing an Elementary School. The Influence of School Image, Service Quality, and Parental Trust on School Choice Decisions, 4(1), 99–114. https://doi.org/DOI: https://doi.org/10.61987/jemr.v5i2.1896
  22. Indriati, P., Widyastuti, S., & Zulkifli, Z. (2025). Student Experience and Digital Engagement as Drivers of Private College Reputation: A Systematic Literature Review 2005–2025. Journal of Social Sciences, Economics, and Management Research, 5(3), 2558–3575. https://doi.org/10.59141/jrssem.v5i3.1106
  23. Ismail, H. A. (2023). The Impact of Work Environment and Competence on Employee Performance. Advances in Human Resource Management Research, 1(2), 102-113. https://doi.org/10.60079/ahrmr.v1i2.88
  24. Jumady, E. (2022). The role of organizational culture, work environment and motivation in improving employee performance. Advances in Human Resource Management Research, 1(1), 26-33. https://doi.org/10.60079/ahrmr.v1i1.40
  25. Kadarisman, Y. P., & Rahman, M. R. (2024). School Improvement Framework for Indonesia Okvir za izboljšanje šol v Indoneziji. Journal of the Center for Education Policy Studies, (December), 1–32. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.26529/cepsj.1865
  26. Khan, T.H., & MacEachen, E. (2021). Foucauldian Discourse Analysis: Beyond Social Constructist Analytical. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 20, 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1177/16094069211018009
  27. Khurin Najwa, K. (2024). EXPLORING the Influence of Brand Image and Tuition Costs on Parents' Decision to Choose a School: The Impact of Word-of-Mouth (WoM) Mediation. JIV-Journal of Vision Science, 19(1), 43–55. https://doi.org/10.21009/jiv.1901.5
  28. Khurniawan, A. W., Sailah, I., Muljono, P., Indriyanto, B., & Maarif, M.S. (2021). Collaborative strategies of total quality management and school governance to improve the effectiveness of vocational school-based enterprises. Journal of Educational and Social Research, 11(2), 10–21. https://doi.org/10.36941/jesr-2021-0026
  29. Lee, J.S., & Stacey, M. (2024). Perceptions of justice to income-based educational inequality: The impact of social and ideological class orientation. Australian Journal of Social Issues, 59(4), 883–904. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajs4.321
  30. Li, R., Quang, H., Filipčíková, M., Xu, Y., Kumfor, F., Spehar, B., & McDonald, S. (2025). Why Does Culture Affect Facial Emotional Perception? Systematic review. Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, 56(6), 680–710. https://doi.org/10.1177/00220221251334811
  31. Maryati, O., Herlambang, Y. T., Indonesia, U. P., Cibiru, K., & Barat, J. (2026). Science in the Framework of Social Construction: An Analysis of Berger and Luckmann's Perspectives. 10(3), 2576–2582. https://doi.org/: https://doi.org/10.51169/ideguru.v10i3.1910
  32. Masrom, M.B., Busalim, A.H., Abuhassna, H., & Mahmood, NHN (2021). Understanding student behavior on online social networks: a systematic literature review. International Journal of Educational Technology in Higher Education, 18(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s41239-021-00240-7
  33. Mejía-Rodríguez, A.M., & Kyriakides, L. (2022). What is important for student learning outcomes? A systematic review of studies that explore system-level factors of educational effectiveness. Educational Review, 10(3), 1–35. https://doi.org/10.1002/rev3.3374
  34. Mundzir, A., & Iyus Wiadi. (2025). ACDAL's Framework for Parent Customer Journeys in School Choice through Social Media Content. Commerce: Journal of Business and Management, 4(1), 1–25. https://doi.org/10.61978/commercium.v4i1.1093
  35. Nadav, N., Benoliel, P., & Schechter, C. (2025). Thinking about the principal's system and school effectiveness: The mediating role of collective teacher efficacy. Educational Management Administration and Leadership, 53(1), 195–213. https://doi.org/10.1177/17411432231152355
  36. Naheen, F., & Elsharnouby, T.H. (2024). You are what you communicate: about the relationship between university brand personality, identification, student participation, and civic behavior. Journal of Marketing for Higher Education, 34(1), 368–389. https://doi.org/10.1080/08841241.2021.1992814
  37. Niedlich, S., Kallfaß, A., Pohle, S., & Bormann, I. (2021). A comprehensive view of trust in education: Conclusions from a systematic literature review. Education Review, 9(1), 124–158. https://doi.org/10.1002/rev3.3239
  38. Ocasio, W. (2023). Institutions and Their Social Construction: A Cross-Layered Perspective. Organizational Theory, 4(3). https://doi.org/10.1177/26317877231194368
  39. Paderes, J.D., & Yacapin, V.L. (2026). The Impact of Social Influence and School Reputation on Perceived Brand Image: Moderating the Role of Social Media Influence. XIII(2321), 236–247. https://doi.org/10.51244/IJRSI
  40. Parma, A., Agasisti, T., & Ranci, C. (2024). School choice drivers: Primary school selection in the context of free choice. British Journal of Education Research, 50(3), 1396–1419. https://doi.org/10.1002/berj.3981
  41. Pawar, SK (2024). Social media in higher education marketing: a systematic literature review and research agenda. Business and Convincing Management, 11(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/23311975.2024.2423059
  42. Piao, X. (2024). Learning quality, inequalities and sustainable development: evidence from global learning data. Find Sustainability, 5(1). https://doi.org/10.1007/s43621-024-00359-3
  43. Puspitasari, T. W., Akbar, M. A., & Lina, R. (2025). Leadership Style and Work Discipline on employee performance. Advances in Human Resource Management Research, 3(1), 15-29. https://doi.org/10.60079/ahrmr.v3i1.321
  44. Qazi, Z., Qazi, W., Raza, S. A., & Yousufi, S. Q. (2022). Antecedents Affecting University Reputation and Student Satisfaction: A Study in the Context of Higher Education. Corporate Reputation Review, 25(4), 253–271. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41299-021-00126-4
  45. Rapp, A.C., & Corral-Granados, A. (2024). Understanding inclusive education – the theoretical contributions of systems theory and constructionist perspectives. International Journal of Inclusive Education, 28(4), 423–439. https://doi.org/10.1080/13603116.2021.1946725
  46. Schreurs, Z. E. A., & Chang Rundgren, S.-N. (2021). Environment, Segregation, and School Choice. Multidisciplinary Journal of School Education, 10(2(20)), 111–133. https://doi.org/10.35765/mjse.2021.1020.06
  47. Shayo, H.J., Rao, C., & Kakupa, P. (2021). Conceptualizing and Measuring Trust in the Home-School Context: A Scoping Review. Frontiers in Psychology, 12 (November), 1–15. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.742917
  48. Singer, J., & Lenhoff, S.W. (2022). Race, Geography, and School Choice Policy: A Critical Analysis of Detroit Students' Suburban School Choice. AERA Open, 8(1), 1–19. https://doi.org/10.1177/23328584211067202
  49. Stribbell, H., & Duangekanong, S. (2022). Satisfaction as a primary antecedent of word of mouth and mediator is important for service quality and brand trust in international education. Communication of Humanities and Social Sciences, 9(1). https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-022-01459-z
  50. Matahari, Z., & Lim, M.A. (2023). A systematic literature review of higher education reputation management: an active/reactive framework. International Journal of Chinese Education, 12(2), 1–19. https://doi.org/10.1177/2212585X231175164
  51. Syahrika Luthfi, Fadli, & Beby Karina Fawzeea Sembiring. (2025). The Influence of Brand Image, Price Perception, and Service Quality on Parents' Decisions in Choosing Private Schools with Brand Trust as Intervention Variables at the F.Tandean Tebing Tinggi Education Foundation. International Journal of Asian Business and Management, 4(3), 747–768. https://doi.org/10.55927/ijabm.v4i3.384
  52. Wiesner, C. (2022). Conduct qualitative and interpretive research: reflecting principled principles and challenges. Political Research Exchange, 4(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/2474736X.2022.2127372
  53. Wulandari, D., Saputri, F., Nabila, P. S., & Syuja, A. R. (2025). The Role of Social Media in Influencing Public Opinion on the Development of Education Issues in Indonesia. 3(1), 562–567. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14628154
  54. Zhang, L. (2025). Estimate the effect of schools and teachers on students' academic performance using a multilevel model with three or more levels: literature review. Find Education, 4(1). https://doi.org/10.1007/s44217-024-00392-4
  55. Zhou, Y., Zhou, Y., & Machtmes, K. (2024). Blended method integration strategies used in education: A systematic review. Methodological Innovation, 17(1), 41–49. https://doi.org/10.1177/20597991231217937
  56. Zul, H., Zulfadil, Z., Samsir, S., Garnasih, R. L., & Suci, A. (2025). Forming a Trio of Strengths Parents' Private School Choice: Image, Appeal, and Experience. International Journal of Multidisciplinary Business Research and Applied Education, 6(12), 5893–5907. https://doi.org/10.11594/ijmaber.06.12.03