Research Methods for Public Administrators - 7th Edition
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Seventh edition published 2021
by Routledge
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The right of Gary Rassel, Suzanne Leland, Zachary Mohr, and Elizabethann O’Sullivan to be
identified as authors of this work has been asserted by them in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of
the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
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First edition published by Longman Publishing Group 1989
Sixth edition published by Routledge 2016
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Rassel, Gary R. (Gary Raymond), 1944– author. | Leland, Suzanne M.,
1971– author. | Mohr, Zachary, 1965– author. | O’Sullivan, Elizabethann, author.
Title: Research methods for public administrators / Gary Rassel, Suzanne Leland,
Zachary Mohr, Elizabethann O’Sullivan.
Description: Seventh Edition. | New York : Routledge, 2021. | Revised edition of
Research methods for public administrators, 2017. | Includes bibliographical
references and index.
Identifiers: LCCN 2020032342 (print) | LCCN 2020032343 (ebook) |
ISBN 9780367334345 (hardback) | ISBN 9780367334369 (paperback) |
ISBN 9780429319860 (ebook)
Subjects: LCSH: Public administration—Research—Methodology.
Classification: LCC JF1338.A2 O78 2021 (print) | LCC JF1338.A2 (ebook) |
DDC 351.072/1—dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2020032342
LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2020032343
ISBN: 978-0-367-33434-5 (hbk)
ISBN: 978-0-367-33436-9 (pbk)
ISBN: 978-0-429-31986-0 (ebk)
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Contents
List of Figures
Preface to the Seventh Edition
Acknowledgments
1 Beginning a Research Project
Starting the Project
Developing a Research Question
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: Variables and Hypotheses
Selecting a Topic and Formulating a Research Question
Summary
Terms for Review
Questions for Review
Problems for Homework and Discussion
Working With Data
2 Research Designs for Description
Research Methodology
Designs to Find Relationships and Show Trends
Meta-Analysis
Qualitative Research and Designs
Focus Groups
Summary
Terms for Review
Questions for Review
Problems for Homework and Discussion
Working With Data
3 Research Designs for Explanation
Establishing Causal Relationships
Internal and External Validity
Experimental Designs
Quasi-Experimental Designs
Nonexperimental Designs
Determining Causality With Cross-Sectional Studies
Summary
Terms for Review
Questions for Review
Problems for Homework and Discussion
Working With Data
4 Measuring Variables
Beginning the Measurement Process
Levels of Measurement and Types of Measures
Reliability
Operational Validity
Sensitivity
Summary
Terms for Review
Questions for Review
Problems for Homework and Discussion
Working With Data
5 Sampling
Sampling Basics and Terminology
Probability Sampling Designs
Nonprobability Sampling Designs
Sample Size and Related Issues
Other Sampling Issues
Calculation Examples for Sampling Error and Sample Size for Means
Summary
Terms for Review
Questions for Review
Problems for Homework and Discussion
Working With Data
6 Contacting and Talking to Subjects
Survey Research
Planning for a Survey
The Process of Survey Research
Mailed Questionnaires and Internet Surveys
Internet Surveys
Telephone Surveys
In-Person Interviewing
Focus Groups
Using Social Media
Selecting a Method of Data Collection
Summary
Terms for Review
Questions for Review
Problems for Homework and Discussion
Working With Data
7 Collecting Data With Questions and Questionnaires
Creating Quality Questionnaires
Questionnaire and Question Content
Questionnaire Design
A Checklist for Constructing Surveys
Summary
Terms for Review
Questions for Review
Problems for Homework and Discussion
Working With Data
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
Terms for Review
Questions for Review
Problems for Homework and Discussion
Working With Data
9 Finding and Analyzing Existing Data
Working With Secondary Data
U.S. Census Data
Using Census Data
Vital Statistics
Databases, Data Warehouses, and Big Data
Metadata
Summary
Terms for Review
Questions for Review
Problems for Homework and Discussion
Working With Data
10 Combining Indicators and Constructing Indices
Indices and Scales
Defining the Concept
Selecting the Items
Combining the Items in an Index
Weighting the Separate Items
Likert Scaling and Other Indices
Factor Analysis
Index Numbers
Summary
Terms for Review
Questions for Review
Problems for Homework and Discussion
Working With Data
11 Univariate Analysis
Computer Software for Data Management, Mapping, and Analysis
Organizing and Presenting the Data
Visual Presentation of Data
Quantitative Measures
Incidence and Prevalence
Characteristics of a Distribution
Other Deviation Measures
Exploratory Data Analysis
Data Visualization
Summary
Terms for Review
Questions for Review
Problems for Homework and Discussion
Working With Data
12 Examining Relationships Between Variables With Tests of Statistical
Significance
Debate About Statistical Significance
Stating Null and Research Hypotheses
Selecting an Alpha Level
Selecting and Computing a Test Statistic
t-Test
Analysis of Variance
Making a Decision
Using Computer Output to Decide
Evaluating Associated Probability
Significance Tests As Evidence
Reporting Tests of Statistical Significance
Modifications and Alternatives to Tests of Statistical Significance
Alternative Approaches
Support for Using Tests of Statistical Significance
Calculating and Interpreting Chi-Square and t-Tests
Chi-Square
Summary
Terms for Review
Questions for Review
Problems for Homework and Discussion
Working With Data
13 Examining Relationships Between Nominal and Ordinal Variables:
Contingency Tables, Measures of Association, and Control Variables
Constructing and Interpreting Contingency Tables
Selecting and Using Measures of Association
Selecting a Measure of Association
Assessing Relationships by Introducing Control Variables
Cramer’s V
Using Nominal and Ordinal Measures
Summary
Terms for Review
Questions for Review
Problems for Homework and Discussion
Working With Data
Appendix 13.1: Calculating Common Measures of Association for
Nominal and Ordinal Data
14 Regression Analysis and Correlation
Analyzing Relationships Between Two Interval Variables
Other Factors in Interpreting a Linear Regression Equation
Multivariate Regression Analysis
Multicollinearity
Regression and Non-Interval Variables
Interpreting the Fit of Logistic Regression Models
Regression Models to Analyze Time-Series Data
Regression and Causality
Summary
Terms for Review
Questions for Review
Problems for Homework and Discussion
Working With Data
Appendix 14.1: Calculating Bivariate Regression and Correlation
Statistics
15 Completing the Project and Communicating Findings
Variations in Audiences and Their Needs
Components of the Quantitative Report
Poster Presentations
Ethical Issues
Summary
Terms for Review
Questions for Review
Problems for Homework and Discussion
Working With Data
Glossary
Index
Figures
1.1 A Logic Model Applied to a Housing Program
1.2 Examples of Relationships—Positive, Negative, and Nonlinear
1.3 Beginning a Research Project
2.1 U.S. Property Crime Rate and Unemployment rate 1980–2016
2.2 Designs for Description
3.1 Reduction in Natural Gas Consumption
3.2 Example of Impacts of Interrupted Time Series
3.3 New York City Crime Rate 1980–1995
3.4 Percentage of Defendants Convicted on Rape or Rape-Related Charges,
Chicago, 1970–1984
3.5 Median Sales Price of Single-Family Homes by Year
3.6 Model to Infer Training Effect on Earnings
3.7 Designs for Explanation
4.1 The Measurement Process
5.1 Steps in Constructing a Systematic Sample
5.2 Share of Each Staff Type in the Organization
5.3 Proportionate Stratified Sampling
5.4 Disproportionate Stratified Sampling
5.5 Illustration of Cluster and Multistage Sampling
5.6 Sampling Error in Estimating Parameters
5.7 Sampling Methods
6.1 Phases of Focus Group Study
6.2 Contacting Subjects and Obtaining Information
7.1 Data Collection
8.1 Protection of Human Research Subjects
9.1 Census Response Rate
9.2 Secondary Data Analysis
10.1 A Review of Issues in Developing Indices
10.2 Constructing Indices
11.1 GIS Map of Community Facilities
11.2 Bar Graph for County of Injury
11.3 Number of New Jobs by Sector, 1984–1990
11.4 Infant Death Rate in a Sample of NC Counties, 2012
11.5 Number of Families by Size of Tax Bill in Southwood
11.6 Frequency Polygon: Tested IQ of a General Population
11.7 Histogram: Tested IQ of a General Population
11.8 Pie Chart: Sources of Revenue for West City
11.9 Bar Graph: Sources of Revenue for West City
11.10 County Property Tax Levy by Year
11.11 Examples of Skewed Distributions
11.12 Proportions for the Normal Curve
11.13 Box Plot of 1999 Murder Rates in Western and Southern States
11.14 Two Box Plots of 1999 Murder Rates in Western and Southern States
11.15 Univariate Analysis
12.1 Review of Steps in Testing Statistical Significance
12.2 Average Monthly Earnings by Program
12.3 Analysis of Variance Table
12.4 Testing Statistical Significance of a Relationship
13.1 Support for City–County Consolidation by Residence
13.2 Support for City–County Consolidation by Evaluation of Local
Services
13.3 Support for Consolidation by Rating of Local Services and Place of
Residence
13.4 Model of a Spurious Relationship: Storks Deliver Babies
13.5 Three-Variable Model With Control Variable Separately Related to
Both Independent and Dependent Variables
13.6 Two- and Three-Variable Models: a. Positive Relationship Between
Age and Salary and b. Positive Relationship of Age to Experience
Leading to Higher Salary
13.7 Examining Relationships Among Variables
14.1 Scatterplots
14.2 Scatterplot and Regression Line of Car Repair Costs and Miles
14.3 Scatterplot of a Relationship Where an Outlier Strengthens a Weak
Relationship
14.4 Beta Weights for Three Multiple-Regression Equations
14.5 Employment Over Time
14.6 Regression Analysis
15.1 Identifying and Preparing for the Audience
15.2 Concentric Circles As a Way to Organize Research Literature
15.3 Twitter Thread of Institutional Research
15.4 Communicating Findings
Preface to the Seventh Edition
The authors are pleased to present the seventh edition of Research Methods
for Public Administrators. Designed for advanced undergraduate and
introductory graduate courses in research methods and applied statistics, the
intended audiences are those who are or soon will be administrators in
public and nonprofit organizations and those who teach them. The material
is not limited to this audience—students and faculty in other disciplines will
find the methods covered here useful as well. We are pleased that teachers
and students have found previous editions valuable. The dynamic nature of
public administration as a field and of the methods and statistics used to
study it continues to amaze us.
Many technical and substantive innovations in research methods and data
applications have been developed since the publication of the previous
edition of Research Methods for Public Administrators. New trends in
public administration have affected practice in and study of the field. These
include more emphasis on behavioral public administration and greater use
of concepts from psychology and sociology. This has led to more use of the
methods of psychology, as well as including experimental research. This
emphasis is seen in the articles and journals of the field. Edition seven of
the text addresses these methods and includes examples from this genre. We
take these issues into account and continue to offer a practical introduction
to the methodological tools that public administrators and policy analysts
use to conduct research in our world.
As the authors completed work on the manuscript, students, faculty, and
the world of higher education were facing a changed world, largely due to a
global viral pandemic but for other this edition of the text were mindful of
these changes as we worked. reasons as well. The format for delivering
instruction had to change along with it. The authors of this edition of the
text were mindful of these changes as we worked.
New to This Edition
The seventh edition continues in the tradition of previous editions and
emphasizes method, analysis, and application. We have revised the book to
incorporate changes in research design methods and emphasis and in media
and how they are used to gather and analyze data and report results.
We have updated information and exercises, changing existing
material where we thought it useful. Sections on newer topics such as
replicability of data and metadata have been added. We have added
more information and examples of experimental research in public
administration.
Software packages are easier to use and have greater capability. More
statistical packages with greater capacity of managing and analyzing
data are available. Geographic information systems (GISs) and the
capability of GIS software to combine geographic analysis with
statistical application have grown extensively. The coverage of these
topics has been expanded.
Qualitative research methods are more widely used and more generally
accepted. Accordingly, we have expanded the coverage of qualitative
approaches and included additional examples. Practitioners often use
them in combination with or instead of quantitative methods. Today’s
students need to understand and be able to use both quantitative and
qualitative methods.
New examples and references have been added and earlier ones
updated. We have included more visual displays to illustrate concepts.
A wealth of resources, interactive sites, and exercises are now
available online.
All chapters have been revised, some more than others.
Chapter 3 includes more information on experiments based on
stronger interest in behavioral public administration in the
profession.
Chapter 4 on measuring variables has new examples.
In Chapter 5, the discussion of nonprobability sampling designs
has been expanded.
