Research Methods for Public Administrators

Elizabethann O'Sullivan, Professor Emeritus in the Department of Political Science and Public Administration at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, passed away in 2014. Gary Rassel is Professor Emeritus in the Department of Political Science and Public Administration at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Maureen Berner is Professor of Public Administration and Government in the School of Government at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Jocelyn DeVance Taliaferro is Associate Professor in the Department of Social Work at North Carolina State University.

Contents

Preface to the Sixth Edition

Acknowledgements

Chapter 1: Beginning a Research Project

Starting a Research Project

Using Models to Organize the Research Study

Building the Model

Types of Models

Limitations of Models and Model Building for Specific Users

The Components of Models

Selecting a Research Question

Notes

Terms for Review

Questions for Review

Problems for Homework and Discussion

Recommended for Further Reading

Chapter 2: Design for Description

Research Methodology

Types of Studies

Designs to Find Relationships and Show Trends

Meta-Analysis

Qualitative Research and Designs to Fill in the Details

Focus Groups

Notes

Terms for Review

Problems for Homework and Discussion

Recommended for Further Reading

Chapter 3: Designs for Explanation

Establishing Causal Relationships

Internal and External Validity

Experimental Designs

Quasi-Experimental Designs

Nonexperimental Designs

Determining Causality with Cross-Sectional Studies

Notes

Terms for Review

Questions for Review

Problems for Homework and Discussion

Working With Data

Recommended for Further Reading

Chapter 4: Measuring Variables

Beginning the Measurement Process

Measurement and Measurement Scales

Reliability

Operational Validity

Sensitivity

Summary

Notes

Terms for Review

Questions for Review

Problems for Homework and Discussion

Working with Data

Recommended for Further Reading

Chapter 5: Sampling

Probability Sampling Designs

Nonprobability Sampling Designs

Sample Size

Notes

Terms for Review

Questions for Review

Problems for Homework and Discussion

Working with Data

Recommended for Further Reading

Chapter 6: Contacting and Talking to Subjects

Survey Research

Contacting Subjects

Planning for a Survey

Mailed Questionnaires

Internet Surveys

Telephone Surveys

In-Person Interviewing

The Five Major Phases of a Focus Group Study

Using Social Media

Selecting a Method of Data Collection

Notes

Terms for Review

Questions for Review

Problems for Homework and Discussion

Working with Data

Recommended for Further Reading

Chapter 7: Collecting Data with Questions and Questionnaires

Questionnaire and Question Content

Questionnaire Structure

Question and Response Wording

Questionnaire Design

Summary

Notes

Terms for Review

Questions for Review

Problems for Homework and Discussion

Working with Data

Recommended for Further Reading

Chapter 8: Protection of Human Research Subjects and Other Ethical Issues

Illustrative Cases

Principles of Ethical Treatment of Human Subjects

Protecting Privacy and Confidentiality

Federal Policy on Protection of Human Subjects and Institutional Review Boards

Issues of Interest to Administrators

Summary

Notes

Terms for Review

Questions for Review

Problems for Homework and Discussion

Working With Data

Recommended for Further Reading

Chapter 9: Finding and Analyzing Existing Data

Working with Secondary Data

U.S. Census Data

Using Census Data

Vital Statistics

Big Data

Summary

Notes

Terms for Review

Questions for Review

Problems for Homework and Discussion

Working with Data

Recommended for Further Reading

Chapter 10: Combing Indicators and Constructing Indices

Indices and Scales

Defining the Concept

Selecting the Items

Combining the Items in an Index

Working with Separate Items

Creating Standardized Indicators for Indices

Likert Scaling and Other Indices

Factor Analysis

Index Numbers

Notes

Terms for Review

Questions for Review

Problems for Homework and Discussion

Working with Data

Recommended for Further Reading

Chapter 11: Univariate Analysis

Computer Software for Data Management, Mapping, and Analysis

Analyzing and Presenting the Data

Visual Presentation of Data

Quantitative Measures

Characteristics of a Distribution

Finding Quartiles

Other Deviation Measures

Exploratory Data Analysis

Data Visualization

Summary

Notes

Terms for Review

Questions for Review

Problems for Homework and Discussion

Working with Data

Recommended for Further Reading

Chapter 12: Examining Relationships among Variables with Tests of Statistical Significance

Debate about Statistical Significance

Stating the Null Hypothesis

Selecting an Alpha Level

Selecting a Computing a Test Statistic

Making a Decision

Reporting Tests of Statistical Significance

Modifications and Alternatives to Tests of Statistical Significance

Calculating and Interpreting Chi-Square and T-Tests

Notes

Terms for Review

Questions for Review

Problems for Homework and Discussion

Working with Data

Recommended for Further Reading

Chapter 13: Examining Relationships Between and Among Variables

Constructing and Interpreting Contingency Tables

Selecting and Using Measures of Association

Measures of Association with Control Variables

Tests of Statistical Significance and Measures of Association

Comparison of Means and Analysis of Variance

Summary

Notes

Terms for Review

Questions for Review

Problem for Homework and Discussion

Working with Data

Recommended for Further Reading

Chapter 14: Regression Analysis and Correlation

Analyzing Relationships between Two Interval Variables

Multivariate Regression Analysis

Multicollinearity

Regression and Non-Interval Variables

Regression Models to Analyze Time-Series Data

Regression and Causality

Calculating Regression and Correlation Statistics

Summary

Notes

Terms for Review

Questions for Review

Problems for Homework and Discussion

Working With Data

Recommended for Further Reading

Chapter 15: Completing the Project and Communicating Findings

Variations in Audiences and their Needs

Components of the Quantitative Report

Oral Presentations of Research Findings

Poster Presentations

Digital, On-Line, and Social Media

Ethical Issues

Summary

Notes

Terms for Review

Questions for Review

Problems for Homework and Discussion

Working with Data

Recommended for Further Reading

Glossary

Index