Research Methods for Public Administrators, 5th Edition

This accessible text offers an abundance of engaging examples and provides step-by-step instructions to illustrate common research methods and techniques, providing students and future administrators with a sound foundation in model building, research design, measurement, and sampling. The book's statistical section focuses on correct use and interpretation of commonly used statistics, including linear regression.

 

The book's overall aim is to develop effective, efficient research skills among future public administrators so that they will be better policy makers. It accomplishes this not only by providing a solid foundation in technique, but also by developing an awareness of the ethical issues associated with conducting research and reporting findings.

Preface

 

Chapter 1: Beginning a Research Project: The Preliminary Steps

Chapter 2: Designs for Description

Chapter 3: Designs for Explanation

Chapter 4: Measuring Variables

Chapter 5: Sampling

Chapter 6: Contacting and Talking to Subjects

Chapter 7: Data Collection: Questions and Questionnaires

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

Chapter 9: Secondary Data Analysis: Finding and Analyzing Existing Data

Chapter 10: Combining Indicators: Index Construction

Chapter 11: Univariate Analysis

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

Chapter 13: Examining Relationships among Variables: Contingency Tables with Measures of Association, Analysis of Variance

Chapter 14: Regression Analysis and Correlation

Chapter 15: Communicating Findings and Completing the Project

 

Glossary

Index