the Social Sciences for Public Administration and Management emerging researchers (original) (raw)
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2014
This article aims to provide a conceptual and theoretical analysis of the main theoretical and philosophical perspectives in social science research for researchers doing research in the disciplinary fields of public administration, management and governance. The purpose is to provide clarity for researchers' own beliefs of how social reality should be viewed to gain the most truthful results and thus, to develop their own ontology. This will enable researchers to have a clear understanding of which research perspective would be appropriate when designing their research in order to develop their own epistemology. The article attempts to clarify what research is and more specifically the relationship between research theories and the empirical world. The conditions necessary for scientific research and the most important concepts (building blocks) of social science research are explained. The difference between ordinary everyday knowledge and information, social science theory, scientific knowledge and the use of the scientific method receive attention. The dimensions of social science research are distinguished in terms of the sociological, teleological, ontological,
Theories for research in Public Administration
Theory underpins social science endeavours by providing the philosophical assumptions on the following aspects: aspects that constitute social reality (ontology); is accepted as valid evidence of that reality (epistemology); the means to investigate the context (methodology); and the manner in which evidence is gathered (methods). Both positivists and interpretivists generally concur that theory occupies a central role in scientific inquiry into the social world. In disciplines of applied social science such as Public Administration, research generally fosters the transition from theory to practice. In this respect, theory underlies the designs, methods, and findings of the research process.
Published in the Indian Journal of Public Administration. January-March 2015. Vol. LXI, No.1 This article contextualises and locates social science in the wider debate of research methodology. It goes on to narrow down its focus to the discipline of Public Administration by tracing its evolution and reaches the conclusion that a Kuhnian historiography of a scientific discipline has characterised the growth of theory in this discipline since its inception.
Understanding theory in social science research: Public administration in perspective
Teaching Public Administration, 2020
The role theory plays in research work cannot be over-emphasized. A theory that is apt gives direction to research work in explaining, organizing, analyzing, and predicting phenomenon and showing their relationships in order to enhance understanding. Despite these roles played by theory, upcoming scholars and students many at times fail to use theory that is apt in their research work, while some skip to adopt any theory in their research, even when it is necessary to adopt one. Thus, leading to disjointed and poor research work. Lack of good theory and/or lack of its correct application instantly de-links the relationship and blurs the understanding of research questions, variables, and hypotheses, which theory integrates to give a coherent and holistic view of phenomenon, and answering the question of “why” the phenomenon is the “way” it is. Explanatory and qualitative research approaches were employed. Secondary data were collected from books, journal articles; internet materials...
Scientific conversations can be riddled with confusion when contributions to the discussion are based on notions about ways of knowing that remain implicit. Researchers often mix different methodological positions in their research designs due to their lack of awareness of distinctions between different ways of knowing and their associated methods. We engage and reflect on these differences, with particular attention to four areas: research question formulations, the character and role of concepts and theories, hypotheses versus puzzles, and case study research. We call on all researchers, including both academics and practitioners, to be aware of the ways in which scientific terms serve, in research debates, as signifiers of different logics of inquiry. Awareness of these differences is important for the sake of productive scientific discussions and for the logical consistency of research, as both of the ways of knowing that we discuss are legitimate scientific endeavors, albeit invoking different evaluative criteria.
Public Administration Research from a Practitioner Perspective
Public Administration Review, 2001
Recent research has questioned both the rigor and theoretical development of public administration research. The proposed solutions have generally endorsed a more academically oriented research agenda. Authors have discussed practitioner needs, but the focus has been on the appropriateness of different research methods rather than the types of knowledge needed. We seek to contribute to this ongoing debate by comparing the knowledge needs identified by members of the International City/County Management Association (ICMA) with 15 years of research in Public Administration Review. We found much published research matching the needs of ICMA members, but it focused on a relatively narrow range of topics. We recommend incorporating a concern for relevance into efforts to improve public administration research. This will help to ensure that we build a knowledge base that makes a substantial contribution to practice. Gregory Streib is a professor of public administration in the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies at Georgia State University. His research focuses on local government management. He is currently working on a study examining the usefulness of government Web sites.
Comment: Public management researchthe interdependence of problems and theory
Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, 1994
As a college student, I read an article with a title that thoroughly captured my fancy, "Topic X [this part of it does not matter]: Whence and Whither?" I determined that some day I must write something with that mellifluous and capacious subtitle. I came, in time, to see the chutzpa required to say something intelligent about the whence and whither of anything, and never found the heart to follow through. But reading Laurence E. Lynn's insightful account of the evolution of public management research, my favorite subtitle sprang to mind. He offers a provocative account of how the field has developed, and poses exciting but serious challenges to researchers about the future. Inspired by his analysis, I build on a few of his comments about where the field is going and why. First I consider how coherent our field can and should be. Second, I review some cautions about examining cases of best managerial practice as a research approach. Third, I suggest some ways to improve the stock of theory we use to understand public management problems and opportunities.
Public Administration theory: justification for conceptualisation
P ublic Administration has reluctantly been accepted as a science by some of its sister disciplines in the Social Sciences. This may be ascribed to the eclectic nature of the Discipline and its reliance on related disciplines to explain, direct and inform study and practice. Public Administration studies human beings engaged in administrative and managerial duties in organs of state. Therefore, any study should consider the behaviour and actions of human beings in an organisational setting operating in a political environment. Sciences depend on theory to investigate, explain and predict the phenomena being studied. A science has to be founded on justifiable laws or acceptable theories to develop new knowledge and influence practice. Public Administration is in the unenviable position that it studies social phenomena subjected to continuous change due to societal values and political changes. Thus it has to be able to adopt theories providing for universal truths, but accommodating the new domain of study, e.g. the development of public-private-partnerships and the evolution of the developmental state. Various theories related to Public Administration will be investigated in this article to establish their relevance. This will be used as a foundation to enter into a discourse regarding the identification of the requirements against which Public Administration theory should be tested. With this as a point of departure the possible development of Public Administration related theories will be discussed.