Quantitative Research in Public Administration

Abstract

Scholarly research in American public administration has been maligned by both academicians and practitioners. The criticisms range from dissatisfaction with research designs in doctoral dissertations to claims that refereed journal articles lack theoretical foundation. This article examines the application of quantitative methodologies in a random sample of four mainstream public administration journals over a 4-yearperiod. The evaluation reveals that a significant number of authors in the sample used inappropriate quantitative techniques. The implications of these findings are discussed within the broader context of policy prescription and evaluation.

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