Table Of Content‘The second edition of Research Methods in Public Administration and Public
Management has built on the strengths of its predecessor. The revised book
has been carefully crafted to offer a comprehensive coverage of all dimensions
of the research process and includes an up-to-date literature, and relevant
cases and sensible exercises that are lucidly explained. It is an excellent con-
tribution to this quality series of texts in public management.’
John Halligan, Emeritus Professor of Public Administration and
Governance, Institute for Governance and Policy Analysis,
University of Canberra, Australia
‘This new edition after such a short time proves how indispensable this book
is. Studying and doing research in Public Administration and Public Manage-
ment has become ever more relevant, and in doing that we utilize all modern
research methodologies of the social sciences, as we should! But at the same
time research in these areas poses unique problems and challenges. Here we
fnally have our own textbook which explicates these problems and demon-
strates how to handle them, using inspiring examples from all areas of up-to-
date public administration research.’
Prof. Dr. Werner Jann, Emeritus Professor of Political Science,
Administration and Organization, Faculty for Economics and
Social Sciences, Potsdam University, Germany
Research Methods in Public
Administration and Public
Management
Research in Public Administration and Public Management has distinctive
features that influence the choices and application of research methods.
The standard methodologies for researching from the social sciences can
be difficult to follow in the complex world of the public sector. In a dynamic
political context, the focus lies on solving societal problems whilst also using
methodological principles to do scientifically sound research.
The second edition of Research Methods in Public Administration and Public
Management represents a comprehensive guide to undertaking and using
research in Public Management and Administration. It is succinct but covers
a wide variety of research strategies, including action research, experiments,
case studies, desk research, systematic literature reviews and more. It pays
attention to issues of design, sampling, research ethics and data management.
This textbook does explain the role of theory, but also offers many international
examples and practical exercises. It takes the reader through the journey of
research, starting with the problem definition, choice of theory, research design
options and tools to achieve impactful research.
New and revised material includes, but is not limited to:
Q A closer look at popular methods like the experiment and the systematic
literature review;
Q A deeper examination of research ethics and data management;
Q New examples from a wide range of countries;
Q Updated ‘Further Reading’ material and additional useful websites.
This exciting new edition will be core reading for students at all levels as well
as practitioners who are carrying out research on Public Management and
Administration.
Sandra van Thiel is Professor of Public Management at Erasmus University
Rotterdam and Radboud University, Nijmegen, the Netherlands. Her research
and teaching focus on executive agencies and research methods. She is a
frequent consultant to public sector organizations, and she is Editor-in-Chief
of IJPSM.
ROUTLEDGE MASTERS IN PUBLIC MANAGEMENT
Edited by Stephen P. Osborne
The Routledge Masters in Public Management series is an integrated set of texts. It is
intended to form the backbone for the holistic study of the theory and practice of public
management – as part of
Q a taught Masters, MBA or MPA course at a university or college,
Q a work based, in-service, programme of education and training, or
Q a programme of self guided study.
Each volume stands alone in its treatment of its topic, whether it be strategic
management, marketing or procurement and is co-authored by leading specialists in
their field. However, all volumes in the series share both a common pedagogy and a
common approach to the structure of the text. Key features of all volumes in the series
include:
Q a critical approach to combining theory with practice which educates its reader,
rather than solely teaching him/her a set of skills,
Q clear learning objectives for each chapter,
Q the use of figures, tables and boxes to highlight key ideas, concepts and skills,
Q an annotated bibliography, guiding students in their further reading, and
Q a dedicated case study in the topic of each volume, to serve as a focus for discus-
sion and learning.
Making and Managing Public Policy Strategic Leadership in the Public
Karen Johnston Miller and Duncan McTavish Sector, Second Edition
Paul Joyce
Financial Management and Accounting
in the Public Sector, Second Edition Marketing Management and
Gary Bandy Communications in the Public Sector,
Second Edition
Risk and Crisis Management in the Martial Pasquier and Jean-Patrick
Public Sector, Second Edition
Lynn T. Drennan, Allan McConnell and Digital Government
Alistair Stark Managing Public Sector Reform in the
Digital Era
Strategic Management in the Public Miriam Lips
Sector
Paul Joyce Research Methods in Public
Administration and Public
Performance Management in the Management, Second Edition
Public Sector, Second Edition An Introduction
Wouter van Dooren, Geert Bouckaert and Sandra van Thiel
John Halligan
For more information about this series, please visit: www.routledge.com/Routledge-
Masters-in-Public-Management/book-series/PUBMAN
Research Methods in
Public Administration
and Public
Management
An Introduction
Second Edition
Sandra van Thiel
Second edition published 2022
by Routledge
2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon, OX14 4RN
and by Routledge
605 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10158
Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business
© 2022 Sandra van Thiel
The right of Sandra van Thiel to be identified as author of this work has
been asserted by her in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright,
Designs and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or
utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now
known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in
any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing
from the publishers.
Trademark notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks or registered
trademarks, and are used only for identification and explanation without
intent to infringe.
First edition published by Coutinho Publisher 2007 in Dutch
by Routledge 2014 in English
British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Thiel, Sandra van, author.
Title: Research methods in public administration and public management :
an introduction / Sandra van Thiel.
Description: Second edition. | Abingdon, Oxon ; New York, NY :
Routledge, 2022. | Series: Routledge masters in public management |
Includes bibliographical references and index.
Subjects: LCSH: Public administration—Research.
Classification: LCC JF1338.A2 T477 2022 (print) | LCC JF1338.A2 (ebook) |
DDC 351.072—dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2021008947
LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2021008948
ISBN: 978-1-032-02764-7 (hbk)
ISBN: 978-1-032-02766-1 (pbk)
ISBN: 978-1-003-19690-7 (ebk)
Typeset in Bembo
by Apex CoVantage, LLC
Contents
List of figures ix
List of tables x
List of boxes xi
Preface xiii
1 Research in Public Administration 1
1.1 The unique features of research in Public
Administration 1
1.2 Research in Public Administration and policy 5
1.3 Aim and outline of the rest of the book 10
2 The research problem 12
2.1 Choosing and formulating a research problem 12
2.2 The research aim 15
2.3 The research question 17
3 Theoretical framework 24
3.1 The empirical cycle 24
3.2 What is theory? 28
3.3 Philosophies of science 30
3.4 The role of theory in Public Administration
research 36
4 Operationalization 43
4.1 Operationalization in three steps 43
4.2 Sampling 45
4.3 Reliability and validity 48
4.4 Validity and reliability: sources of interference 51
5 Research design 54
5.1 The different elements of the research design 54
5.2 Choosing a research strategy, method and
technique 57
6 The experiment 61
6.1 The classic experiment 61
6.2 Experimental Public Administration research 64
6.3 Simulations and gaming 66
CONTENTS
6.4 Field and policy experiments 68
6.5 Reliability and validity in experiments 70
6.6 Observation 71
7 The survey 75
7.1 The survey: characteristics and types 75
7.2 The written questionnaire 76
7.3 The reliability and validity of questionnaires 83
8 The case study 87
8.1 Case study research 87
8.2 The selection of cases 90
8.3 The reliability and validity of case studies 92
8.4 The interview 94
9 Desk research 103
9.1 Using or re-using existing data 103
9.2 Three methods for gathering and analysing
existing data 109
10 Analysing quantitative data 120
10.1 Quantitative data 120
10.2 Collecting and ordering the data 121
10.3 Analysis 128
10.4 Descriptive statistics 128
10.5 Inferential statistics 130
10.6 Reliability and validity when analysing quantitative
data 137
11 Analysing qualitative data 140
11.1 Qualitative data 140
11.2 Collecting and ordering the data 143
11.3 Analysing the data 145
11.4 The reliability and validity of qualitative data
analysis 152
12 Reporting results 154
12.1 Audiences 154
12.2 Reporting formats 157
12.3 The purpose of reporting research results 160
12.4 Writing down the results 161
12.5 Prescription 165
Glossary 170
Bibliography 185
Q viii
Figures
3.1 Schematic outline of the empirical cycle 25
6.1 Schematic outline of the classic experiment 62
10.1 Normal distribution 126
10.2 Example of a scattergram 133
11.1 Example of a taxonomic scheme of codes 149
