A Survey Of Research In Public Administration

This basic introduction to survey research for public administration is organised around the fundamental stages of the research process - planning, design, implementation, analysis and presentation

Contributed articles.

Opinion surveys are increasingly used to measure citizen response to governmental initiatives. Survey Research for Public Administration helps clarify the basics of survey research as they apply to public administration. Author David H. Folz organizes the book around the fundamental stages of the research process: planning, design, implementation, analysis, and presentation of data. Folz fills the book with practical illustrations and does not assume an extensive background in statistics. Thorough coverage of the use of computers in data analysis is provided, complete with illustrations of SPSS screens. This practical volume, Survey Research for Public Administration is integral for professionals and students in research methods, social work, sociology, and political science. "This book is succinct enough to be a quick source of reference and detailed enough in exposition to rival most of the other acclaimed textbooks. I would strongly recommend it for both practitioners and graduate students, since it is informative enough to be a quick reference and obviates a plethora of examples." --Albert O. Assibey-Mensah, Ph.D., Kentucky State University, Frankfort

Includes bibliographic essay, 1970-1979.

An overview of experimental research and methods in public management, and their impact on theory, research practices and substantive knowledge.

A complete guide to applied research, featuring original data and detailed case studies Applied Research Methods in Public and Nonprofit Organizations takes an integrative approach to applied research, emphasizing design, data collection, and analysis. Common case studies across chapters illustrate the everyday nature of research, and practical exercises reinforce concepts across all sections of the text. The book includes forms and formats for data collection and analysis, plus writing excerpts that demonstrate results reporting and presentation. The accompanying instructor's guide features assignments, discussion questions, and exercises referenced in the book, and the authors' own data sets are available for use online. Conducting research, analyzing results, and synthesizing the findings for key stakeholders is fundamental to the study and practice of public and nonprofit management. Aligned with management curriculum for both sectors, the book focuses on the common ground these organizations share when it comes to planning, conducting, and using research in day-to-day professional activities. The original research examples presented are in the context of this shared commonality, including resource acquisition, evaluative processes, and future planning through the lens of common social policy issues facing leaders today. Topics include: The research process and applied research designs Applied research questions and literature Data collection in the field and survey research Data analysis, writing, and presentation The examples highlight intergovernmental institutions in which public service occurs, and provide expanded reach to nonprofit organizations and the networked collaborations that make up a significant portion of today's public service. For students and practitioners of public administration, public policy, and nonprofit management, Applied Research Methods in Public and Nonprofit Organizations provides a comprehensive reference to this critical skillset.

Research in public administration and public management has distinctive features that influence the choices and application of research methods. Periods of change and upheaval in the public sector provide ample opportunities and cases for research, but the standard methodologies for researching in the social sciences can be difficult to follow in the complex world of the public sector. In a dynamic political environment, the focus lies on solving social problems whilst also using methodological principles needed for doing scientifically sound research. Research Methods in Public Administration and Public Management represents a comprehensive guide to doing and using research in public management and administration. It is impressively succinct but covering a wide variety of research strategies including among others: action research, hypotheses, sampling, case selection, questionnaires, interviewing, desk research, prescription and research ethics. This textbook does not bog the nascent researcher down in the theory but does provide numerous international examples and practical exercises to illuminate the research journey. Sandra Van Thiel guides us through the theory, operationalization and research design process before explaining the tools required to carry-out impactful research. This concise textbook will be core reading for those studying research methods and/or carrying out research on public management and administration.