This study explores the possibility of expanding autonomy of research institutes belonging to the Provincial Office of Education using the perspective of resource dependence theory. The research institutes have explored the efforts to acquire resources by strategic choice of the organization that they do not accept environmental factors passively and actively cope with them. Based on the case of Gyeonggi Institute of Education, the possibility of securing autonomy of research institutes through related research reports and interviews with related persons was analyzed focusing on (1) the leadership of research institutes, (2) the research capacity of researchers, (3) the quality management of research, (4) the interaction with the city and provincial office of education, (5) the political influence and relationship in the utilization of research results. The conclusions are as follows: First, the research institutes can pursue limited autonomy in a way that pursues changes in dependence on various resources used by the city and provincial office of education,. This possibility requires long-term prospect of leadership for research institutes and research experience and capacity of researchers should be accumulated in the collaborative culture. Second, autonomy of research institutes and responsibility of education office interact within tension and coordination relationship. Third, research institutes and education offices should reflect the needs of special and individual education sites as much as possible.