Handbook of Research Methods in Public Administration pdf

Handbook of
Research Methods
in Public
Administration
Miller/Handbook of Research Methods in Public Administration AU5384_C000 Final Proof page i 4.10.2007 5:16pm Compositor Name: BMani
PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION AND PUBLIC POLICY
A Comprehensive Publication Program
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
EVAN M. BERMAN
Huey McElveen Distinguished Professor
Louisiana State University
Public Administration Institute
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Executive Editor
JACK RABIN
Professor of Public Administration and Public Policy
The Pennsylvania State University—Harrisburg
School of Public Affairs
Middletown, Pennsylvania
1.
Public Administration as a Developing Discipline,
Robert T. Golembiewski
2.
Comparative National Policies on Health Care,
Milton I. Roemer, M.D.
3.
Exclusionary Injustice: The Problem of Illegally Obtained Evidence,
Steven R. Schlesinger
5.
Organization Development in Public Administration,

edited by
Robert T. Golembiewski and William B. Eddy
7.
Approaches to Planned Change,
Robert T. Golembiewski
8.
Program Evaluation at HEW,
edited by James G. Abert
9.
The States and the Metropolis,
Patricia S. Florestano
and Vincent L. Marando
11.
Changing Bureaucracies: Understanding the Organization before
Selecting the Approach,
William A. Medina
12.
Handbook on Public Budgeting and Financial Management,
edited by
Jack Rabin and Thomas D. Lynch
15.
Handbook on Public Personnel Administration and Labor Relations,
edited by Jack Rabin, Thomas Vocino, W. Bartley Hildreth,
and Gerald J. Miller
19.
Handbook of Organization Management,
edited by William B. Eddy
22.
Politics and Administration: Woodrow Wilson and American Public
Administration,

edited by Jack Rabin and James S. Bowman
23.
Making and Managing Policy: Formulation, Analysis, Evaluation,
edited by G. Ronald Gilbert
25.
Decision Making in the Public Sector,
edited by Lloyd G. Nigro
26.
Managing Administration,
edited by Jack Rabin, Samuel Humes,
and Brian S. Morgan
27.
Public Personnel Update,
edited by Michael Cohen
and Robert T. Golembiewski
Miller/Handbook of Research Methods in Public Administration AU5384_C000 Final Proof page ii 4.10.2007 5:16pm Compositor Name: BMani
28.
State and Local Government Administration,
edited by Jack Rabin
and Don Dodd
29.
Public Administration: A Bibliographic Guide to the Literature,
Howard E. McCurdy
31.
Handbook of Information Resource Management,
edited by Jack Rabin
and Edward M. Jackowski
32.
Public Administration in Developed Democracies: A Comparative Study,
edited by Donald C. Rowat

33.
The Politics of Terrorism: Third Edition,
edited by Michael Stohl
34.
Handbook on Human Services Administration,
edited by Jack Rabin
and Marcia B. Steinhauer
36.
Ethics for Bureaucrats: An Essay on Law and Values, Second Edition,
John A. Rohr
37.
The Guide to the Foundations of Public Administration,
Daniel W. Martin
39.
Terrorism and Emergency Management: Policy and Administration,
William L. Waugh, Jr.
40.
Organizational Behavior and Public Management: Second Edition,
Michael L. Vasu, Debra W. Stewart, and G. David Garson
43.
Government Financial Management Theory,
Gerald J. Miller
46.
Handbook of Public Budgeting
, edited by Jack Rabin
49.
Handbook of Court Administration and Management
, edited by
Steven W. Hays and Cole Blease Graham, Jr.
50.

Handbook of Comparative Public Budgeting and Financial Management
,
edited by Thomas D. Lynch and Lawrence L. Martin
53.
Encyclopedia of Policy Studies: Second Edition,
edited by
Stuart S. Nagel
54.
Handbook of Regulation and Administrative Law,
edited by
David H. Rosenbloom and Richard D. Schwartz
55.
Handbook of Bureaucracy,
edited by Ali Farazmand
56.
Handbook of Public Sector Labor Relations
, edited by Jack Rabin,
Thomas Vocino, W. Bartley Hildreth, and Gerald J. Miller
57.
Practical Public Management
, Robert T. Golembiewski
58.
Handbook of Public Personnel Administration
, edited by Jack Rabin,
Thomas Vocino, W. Bartley Hildreth, and Gerald J. Miller
60.
Handbook of Debt Management
, edited by Gerald J. Miller
61.
Public Administration and Law: Second Edition

, David H. Rosenbloom
and Rosemary O’Leary
62.
Handbook of Local Government Administration
, edited by
John J. Gargan
63.
Handbook of Administrative Communication
, edited by
James L. Garnett and Alexander Kouzmin
64.
Public Budgeting and Finance: Fourth Edition,
edited by
Robert T. Golembiewski and Jack Rabin
67.
Handbook of Public Finance
, edited by Fred Thompson
and Mark T. Green
68.
Organizational Behavior and Public Management: Third Edition,
Michael L. Vasu, Debra W. Stewart, and G. David Garson
69.
Handbook of Economic Development
, edited by Kuotsai Tom Liou
70.
Handbook of Health Administration and Policy
, edited by Anne Osborne
Kilpatrick and James A. Johnson
Miller/Handbook of Research Methods in Public Administration AU5384_C000 Final Proof page iii 4.10.2007 5:16pm Compositor Name: BMani
72.

Handbook on Taxation
, edited by W. Bartley Hildreth
and James A. Richardson
73
. Handbook of Comparative Public Administration in the Asia-Pacific
Basin
, edited by Hoi-kwok Wong and Hon S. Chan
74
. Handbook of Global Environmental Policy and Administration,
edited by
Dennis L. Soden and Brent S. Steel
75
. Handbook of State Government Administration,
edited by
John J. Gargan
76.
Handbook of Global Legal Policy,
edited by Stuart S. Nagel
78.
Handbook of Global Economic Policy,
edited by Stuart S. Nagel
79
. Handbook of Strategic Management: Second Edition,
edited by
Jack Rabin, Gerald J. Miller, and W. Bartley Hildreth
80.
Handbook of Global International Policy,
edited by Stuart S. Nagel
81.
Handbook of Organizational Consultation: Second Edition,

edited by
Robert T. Golembiewski
82.
Handbook of Global Political Policy,
edited by Stuart S. Nagel
83.
Handbook of Global Technology Policy,
edited by Stuart S. Nagel
84.
Handbook of Criminal Justice Administration
, edited by
M. A. DuPont-Morales, Michael K. Hooper, and Judy H. Schmidt
85.
Labor Relations in the Public Sector: Third Edition
, edited by
Richard C. Kearney
86.
Handbook of Administrative Ethics: Second Edition,
edited by
Terry L. Cooper
87.
Handbook of Organizational Behavior: Second Edition
, edited by
Robert T. Golembiewski
88.
Handbook of Global Social Policy,
edited by Stuart S. Nagel
and Amy Robb
89.
Public Administration: A Comparative Perspective, Sixth Edition,

Ferrel Heady
90.
Handbook of Public Quality Management
, edited by Ronald J. Stupak
and Peter M. Leitner
91.
Handbook of Public Management Practice and Reform
, edited by
Kuotsai Tom Liou
93.
Handbook of Crisis and Emergency Management
, edited by
Ali Farazmand
94.
Handbook of Comparative and Development Public Administration:
Second Edition,
edited by Ali Farazmand
95.
Financial Planning and Management in Public Organizations
,
Alan Walter Steiss and Emeka O. Cyprian Nwagwu
96.
Handbook of International Health Care Systems,
edited by Khi V. Thai,
Edward T. Wimberley, and Sharon M. McManus
97.
Handbook of Monetary Policy,
edited by Jack Rabin
and Glenn L. Stevens
98.

Handbook of Fiscal Policy,
edited by Jack Rabin and Glenn L. Stevens
99.
Public Administration: An Interdisciplinary Critical Analysis,
edited by
Eran Vigoda
100.
Ironies in Organizational Development: Second Edition, Revised
and Expanded,
edited by Robert T. Golembiewski
101.
Science and Technology of Terrorism and Counterterrorism
, edited by
Tushar K. Ghosh, Mark A. Prelas, Dabir S. Viswanath,
and Sudarshan K. Loyalka
Miller/Handbook of Research Methods in Public Administration AU5384_C000 Final Proof page iv 4.10.2007 5:16pm Compositor Name: BMani
102.
Strategic Management for Public and Nonprofit Organizations
,
Alan Walter Steiss
103.
Case Studies in Public Budgeting and Financial Management:
Second Edition,
edited by Aman Khan and W. Bartley Hildreth
104.
Handbook of Conflict Management,
edited by William J. Pammer, Jr.
and Jerri Killian
105.
Chaos Organization and Disaster Management,

Alan Kirschenbaum
106.
Handbook of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Administration
and Policy,
edited by Wallace Swan
107.
Public Productivity Handbook: Second Edition,
edited by Marc Holzer
108.
Handbook of Developmental Policy Studies,
edited by
Gedeon M. Mudacumura, Desta Mebratu and M. Shamsul Haque
109.
Bioterrorism in Medical and Healthcare Administration,
Laure Paquette
110.
International Public Policy and Management: Policy Learning Beyond
Regional, Cultural, and Political Boundaries,
edited by David Levi-Faur
and Eran Vigoda-Gadot
111.
Handbook of Public Information Systems, Second Edition,
edited by
G. David Garson
112.
Handbook of Public Sector Economics,
edited by Donijo Robbins
113.
Handbook of Public Administration and Policy in the European Union,
edited by M. Peter van der Hoek

114.
Nonproliferation Issues for Weapons of Mass Destruction,
Mark A. Prelas and Michael S. Peck
115.
Common Ground, Common Future: Moral Agency in Public
Administration, Professions, and Citizenship
, Charles Garofalo
and Dean Geuras
116.
Handbook of Organization Theory and Management: The Philosophical
Approach, Second Edition,
edited by Thomas D. Lynch
and Peter L. Cruise
117.
International Development Governance,
edited by Ahmed Shafiqul
Huque and Habib Zafarullah
118.
Sustainable Development Policy and Administration,
edited by
Gedeon M. Mudacumura, Desta Mebratu, and M. Shamsul Haque
119.
Public Financial Management,
edited by Howard A. Frank
120.
Handbook of Juvenile Justice: Theory and Practice,
edited by
Barbara Sims and Pamela Preston
121.
Emerging Infectious Diseases and the Threat to Occupational Health

in the U.S. and Canada,
edited by William Charney
122.
Handbook of Technology Management in Public Administration,
edited by David Greisler and Ronald J. Stupak
123.
Handbook of Decision Making,
edited by Göktu˘g Morçöl
124.
Handbook of Public Administration, Third Edition,
edited by Jack Rabin
125.
Handbook of Public Policy Analysis,
edited by Frank Fischer,
Gerald J. Miller, and Mara S. Sidney
126.
Elements of Effective Governance: Measurement, Accountability
and Participation,
edited by Kathe Callahan
127.
American Public Service: Radical Reform and the Merit System,
edited by James S. Bowman and Jonathan P. West
128.
Handbook of Transportation Policy and Administration,
edited by Jeremy Plant
Miller/Handbook of Research Methods in Public Administration AU5384_C000 Final Proof page v 4.10.2007 5:16pm Compositor Name: BMani
129.
The Art and Practice of Court Administration,
Alexander B. Aikman
130.

Handbook of Globalization, Governance, and Public
Administration,
Ali Farazmand and Jack Pinkowski
131.
Handbook of Globalization and the Environment,
edited by
Khi V. Thai, Dianne Rahm, and Jerrell D. Coggburn
132.
Personnel Management in Government: Politics and Process,
Sixth Edition,
Norma M. Riccucci and Katherine C. Naff
133.
Handbook of Police Administration,
edited by Jim Ruiz
and Don Hummer
134.
Handbook of Research Methods in Public Administration,
Second Edition,
edited by Gerald J. Miller and Kaifeng Yang
135.
Social and Economic Control of Alcohol: The 21st Amendment
in the 21st Century,
edited by Carole L. Jurkiewicz
and Murphy J. Painter
Available Electronically
Principles and Practices of Public Administration
, edited by
Jack Rabin, Robert F. Munzenrider, and Sherrie M. Bartell
PublicADMINISTRATION
netBASE

Miller/Handbook of Research Methods in Public Administration AU5384_C000 Final Proof page vi 4.10.2007 5:16pm Compositor Name: BMani
Edited by
Gerald J. Miller
Rutgers University
Newark, New Jersey, U.S.A.
Kaifeng Yang
Florida State University
Tallahassee, Florida, U.S.A.
CRC Press is an imprint of the
Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business
Boca Raton London New York
Handbook of
Research Methods
in Public
Administration
Miller/Handbook of Research Methods in Public Administration AU5384_C000 Final Proof page vii 4.10.2007 5:16pm Compositor Name: BMani
Auerbach Publications
Taylor & Francis Group
6000 Broken Sound Parkway NW, Suite 300
Boca Raton, FL 33487-2742
© 2008 by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC
Auerbach is an imprint of Taylor & Francis Group, an Informa business
No claim to original U.S. Government works
Printed in the United States of America on acid-free paper
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
International Standard Book Number-13: 978-0-8493-5384-0 (Hardcover)
This book contains information obtained from authentic and highly regarded sources. Reprinted material is quoted
with permission, and sources are indicated. A wide variety of references are listed. Reasonable efforts have been made to
publish reliable data and information, but the author and the publisher cannot assume responsibility for the validity of
all materials or for the consequences of their use.

Except as permitted under U.S. Copyright Law, no part of this book may be reprinted, reproduced, transmitted, or uti-
lized in any form by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopy-
ing, microfilming, and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without written permission from the
publishers.
For permission to photocopy or use material electronically from this work, please access www.copyright.com (http://
www.copyright.com/) or contact the Copyright Clearance Center, Inc. (CCC) 222 Rosewood Drive, Danvers, MA 01923,
978-750-8400. CCC is a not-for-profit organization that provides licenses and registration for a variety of users. For orga-
nizations that have been granted a photocopy license by the CCC, a separate system of payment has been arranged.
Trademark Notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks or registered trademarks, and are used only for
identification and explanation without intent to infringe.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Handbook of research methods in public administration / editors: Gerald J. Miller and Kaifeng Yang.
2nd ed.
p. cm. (Public administration and public policy series)
Originally published: New York : M. Dekker, c1999.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN-13: 978-0-8493-5384-0 (alk. paper)
ISBN-10: 0-8493-5384-X (alk. paper)
1. Public administration Research Methodology. I. Miller, Gerald. II. Yang, Kaifeng.
JF1338.A2H34 2007
351.072 dc22 2007018721
Visit the Taylor & Francis Web site at

and the Auerbach Web site at

Miller/Handbook of Research Methods in Public Administration AU5384_C000 Final Proof page viii 4.10.2007 5:16pm Compositor Name: BMani
Dedication
Yang: Ivy Jade Yang
Miller: Milan W. Nelson II
Miller/Handbook of Research Methods in Public Administration AU5384_C000 Final Proof page ix 4.10.2007 5:16pm Compositor Name: BMani

Miller/Handbook of Research Methods in Public Administration AU5384_C000 Final Proof page x 4.10.2007 5:16pm Compositor Name: BMani
Contents
Preface xvii
Introduction xix
Contributors xxiii
Part I
Theory-Based Public Administration Inquiry
1
Chapter 1 The Logic of Inquiry in the Field of Public Administration 3
Norma M. Riccucci
Chapter 2 Theory 13
Hugh T. Miller
Chapter 3 Dealing with Multiple Paradigms in Public Administration Research 25
Kaifeng Yang, Yahong Zhang, and Marc Holzer
Chapter 4 Where Do Research Questions Come from and How Are They Developed? 45
Samuel J. Yeager
Chapter 5 Writing a Literature Review: The Art of Scientific Literature 61
Domonic A. Bearfield and Warren S. Eller
Part II
Research Design
73
Chapter 6 Purpose and Significance of Research Design 75
Jonathan B. Justice
Chapter 7 The Research Problem, Method, and Serendipity:
An Investigator’s Journey 93
James S. Bowman
Chapter 8 Threats to Validity in Research Designs 109
Nicholas A. Giannatasio
Miller/Handbook of Research Methods in Public Administration AU5384_C000 Final Proof page xi 4.10.2007 5:16pm Compositor Name: BMani
xi

Chapter 9 The Responsible Conduct of Social Research 129
Phyllis Coontz
Chapter 10 Qualitative Research Methods 141
Vache Gabrielian, Kaifeng Yang, and Susan Spice
Chapter 11 Comparative Research in Public Administration:
A Historical-Institutionalist Perspective 169
Robert S. Kravchuk
Chapter 12 Legal Research Methods 189
Julia Beckett
Part III
Measurement and Data Collection
203
Chapter 13 Describing and Measuring Phenomena in Public Administration 205
Lung-Teng Hu and Dorothy Olshfski
Chapter 14 Sampling and Data Collection 213
Alana Northrop and Shelly Arsneault
Chapter 15 Using the Survey as an Instrument of Inquiry in Research 241
Sarmistha Rina Majumdar
Chapter 16 Questionnaire Construction 255
Donijo Robbins
Chapter 17 Collecting Survey Data via Telephone: A Primer 269
Richard W. Schwester
Chapter 18 Obtaining Archival and Other Existing Records 279
Suzanne J. Piotrow ski
Part IV
Data Management
291
Chapter 19 General Issues in Data Management 293
Roslyn K. Chavda
Miller/Handbook of Research Methods in Public Administration AU5384_C000 Final Proof page xii 4.10.2007 5:16pm Compositor Name: BMani

xii
Chapter 20 Constructing Data Sets and Manipulating Data 303
Carmine Scavo
Chapter 21 Managing Large-Scale Electronic Data for Public
Administration Research: An Information System Approach 323
Yu-Che Chen
Part V
Basic Quantitative Analysis
341
Chapter 22 Introduction to Data Analysis 343
Kamal Chavda
Chapter 23 Applying Matrix Algebra in Statistical Analysis 361
Sarmistha Rina Majumdar
Chapter 24 Univariate Analysis 375
Changhwan Mo
Chapter 25 Statistics for Nominal and Ordinal Data 385
Michael Margolis
Chapter 26 Analysis of Variance 405
Carmen Cirincione
Chapter 27 Linear Correlation and Regression 427
Leslie R. Alm and Susan G. Mason
Part VI
Advanced Quantitative Analysis
455
Chapter 28 Multivariate Regression Analysis 457
Elizabeth A. Graddy and Lili Wang
Chapter 29 Multivariate Techniques for Dichotomous Dependent Variables:
An Application to Public Policy 489
Mack C. Shelley, II
Miller/Handbook of Research Methods in Public Administration AU5384_C000 Final Proof page xiii 4.10.2007 5:16pm Compositor Name: BMani

xiii
Chapter 30 Identifying Dimensions and Types in Public Administr ation Research:
Introduction to Principal Components Analysis, Factor Analysis,
and Cluster Analysis 515
George Julnes
Chapter 31 Confirmatory Factor Analysis: A Practical Introduction 565
David H. Coursey
Chapter 32 Introduction to Panel Data Analysis: Concepts and Practices 575
Tae Ho Eom, Sock Hwan Lee, and Hua Xu
Chapter 33 Forecasting Methods for Serial Data 595
Dan Williams
Part VII
Other Techniques
667
Chapter 34 Data Envelopment Analysis for Performance Assessment
and Decision Making 669
Patria de Lancer Julnes
Chapter 35 Content Analysis 689
Chieh-Chen Bowen and William M. Bowen
Chapter 36 Meta-Analysis 705
Chieh-Chen Bowen
Chapter 37 Q Methodology 721
Steven R. Brown, Dan W. Durning, and Sally C. Selden
Chapter 38 Methods of Network Analysis 765
Simon A. Andrew and Richard C. Feiock
Chapter 39 Economic Modeling 787
Ronald John Hy and Jim R. Wollscheid
Chapter 40 Grounded Analysis: Going Beyond Description to Derive Theory
from Qualitative Data 823
Ralph S. Brower and Hong-Sang Jeong

Miller/Handbook of Research Methods in Public Administration AU5384_C000 Final Proof page xiv 4.10.2007 5:16pm Compositor Name: BMani
xiv
Chapter 41 Research Methods Using Geographic Information Systems 841
Akhlaque Haque
Part VIII
Reporting, Presentation, and Teaching
859
Chapter 42 Presenting Quantitative Research Results 861
Jane E. Miller
Chapter 43 Styles of Scholarship in Public Administration 879
Kyle Farmbry and Lamar Vernon Bennett
Chapter 44 Making the Translation: Strategies for Effective Data Presentation 893
Marc Holzer, Kathryn Kloby, and Aroon Manoharan
Chapter 45 Influencing the Policy Process: Making Performance Reports
Relevant to Citizens 903
Kathe Callahan
Chapter 46 Applying for Research Grants 929
Neil De Haan
Index 945
Miller/Handbook of Research Methods in Public Administration AU5384_C000 Final Proof page xv 4.10.2007 5:16pm Compositor Name: BMani
xv
Miller/Handbook of Research Methods in Public Administration AU5384_C000 Final Proof page xvi 4.10.2007 5:16pm Compositor Name: BMani
Preface
The need for more rigorous and systematic research in public administration has grown as the
complexity of problems in government and nonprofit organizations has increased. This book
describes and explains the use of research methods that will strengthen the research efforts of
those solving gove rnment and nonprofit problems.
This book is aimed primarily at those studying research methods in masters and doctoral level
courses in curricula that concern the public and nonprofit sector. Thus, students in programs in
public administration, nonprofit management, criminal justice, nursing, and education, to mention a

few, will be provided detailed information on conceptualizing, planning, and implementing research
projects of many different types.
The book is also aimed at consumers of research reports. For example, government executives
who fund research must be able to determine whether the research objectives set out in the project
are properly conceptualized and whether the research methods chosen are appropriate to the
objectives and concepts. This volume will inform such research consumers.
We would like to thank many anonymous peer reviewers for their critical reading of the chapters
in this book. Other groups merit public attention. The first group has two members who served
without anything but our thanks, and we thank them again in public—Professor Hindy L. Schachter,
New Jersey Inst itute of Technology, and Professor Alfred Tat-Kei Ho, Indiana University-Purdue
University Indianapolis. The second group is a group of methodologists who helped us by providing
ideas for chapters, arguing with us about whether the quantitative–qualitative balance seemed right,
and reviewing pieces of chapters or combinations of chapters or the entire manuscript. For these and
the support of the book they represent, we thank you. The third group is comprised of the authors
who appear here. Each of the authors worked incredibly hard to produce their best thinking and
teaching ideas. All of them made suggestions about cross-indexing and ensuring that consistency
was not forgotten. Many helped each other beyond what any editor could have asked. We thank
each of you with enthusiasm.
Kaifeng Yang
Gerald J. Miller
Miller/Handbook of Research Methods in Public Administration AU5384_C000 Final Proof page xvii 4.10.2007 5:16pm Compositor Name: BMani
xvii
Miller/Handbook of Research Methods in Public Administration AU5384_C000 Final Proof page xviii 4.10.2007 5:16pm Compositor Name: BMani
Introduction
This handbook has multiple purposes, and they build on each other. First, the handbook provides a
comprehensive survey of research methods used in public administration research, whether in
government administration of public programs or in academic research aimed toward theory
building and theory testing. Second, the author s document past uses of these methods in public
administration. They link systematic research techniques to their uses in public adminis tration
literature and practice in the past and present. Third, the chapters explore potential emerging uses

of methods in public administration. These chapters illustrate to students, faculty, and practitioners
how various methods may be used to help answer emerging theoretical public policy and nonmarket
organization management questions. Therefore, the handbook provides a reference on systematic
research methods in public administration and (1) how they could aid in understanding traditional
questions in public administration and (2) how students, researchers, and practitioners might use
them to help answer emerging theoretical and practical questions.
This book can serve as the primary text in research methods courses in masters of public
administration programs and the research methods sequence courses in PhD in public administra-
tion, public policy, and public management programs. These courses are surveys that must cover a
vast amount of material and work done in public administration. This handbook can help by giving
survey courses a focus—exemplary research already published—and will also be able to give
students a practical introduction to almost every topic now taught in the research methods course.
This book has four signi ficant strengths. First, the exposition here contributes to the improvement
and sophistication of research and research methods used in public administration research wherever
done, in the university, in the public agency, or among consultants and researchers funded by
foundations and other such organizations. Second, it stands as a reference manual for researchers as
they deal with various quandaries in carrying out their various projects. Third, the chapte rs expose
doctoral students to the wide variety of methodologies available to them. Finally, we hope that the
authors give masters students an awareness of the variety of methods available to them, and we also
hope that the chapters provide a high level of comfort to students in using systematic methods,
whether in understanding work they read or in their own research. Thus, the revolution of desktop
computing and the Web have made powerful research methods readily available to current and future
students. This handbook can increase their awareness and ease in dealing with those methods, both for
understanding studies that they use in their jobs as well as in carrying out research projects.
The book follows the linear logic of many methods courses and the planning process in
pursuing research projects on contemporary public administration problems. The logic allows
eight groups of chapters:
1. Theory-based public administration inquiry
2. Research design
3. Measurement and data collection

4. Data management
5. Basic quantitative analysis
6. Advanced quantitative analysis
7. Other techniques
8. Reporti ng, presentation, and teaching
The first set of chapters reveals both the logic of inquiry and the practical problems of locating
research in the context of existing research. The section starts with ‘‘The Logic of Inquiry in the
Miller/Handbook of Research Methods in Public Administration AU5384_C000 Final Proof page xix 4.10.2007 5:16pm Compositor Name: BMani
xix
Field of Public Administration’’ by Norma M. Riccucci followed by Hugh T. Miller’s ‘‘Theory,’’
‘‘Dealing with Multiple Paradigms in Public Administration Research’’ by Kaifeng Yang, Yahong
Zhang, and Marc Holzer, and ‘‘Where Do Research Questions Come From and How Are They
Developed?’’ by Sam J. Yeager. The section ends with ‘‘Writing a Literature Review: The Art of
Scientific Literature’’ by Domonic A. Bearfield and Warren S. Eller.
Authors deal with the practical and difficult problems related to research design in the second
section. Design alone stands as the big problem; therefore the section begins with Jonathan B.
Justice’s ‘‘Purpose and Significance of Research Design.’’ James S. Bowman foll ows the opener
with ‘‘The Research Problem, Method, and Serendipity: One Investigator’s Journey.’’ Special
problems in design concern authors in the remaining chapters, with ‘‘Threats to Validity in Research
Designs’’ by Nicholas A. Giannatasio; ‘‘Responsible Conduct of Social Research’’ by Phyllis
Coontz; ‘‘Qualitative Research Methods’’ by Vache Gabrielian, Kaifeng Yang, and Susan Spice;
‘‘Comparative Research in Public Administration’’ from the perspective of history and institutions
by Robert S. Kravchuk; and ‘‘Legal Research Methods’’ by Julia Beckett.
The complex problems of measurement and data collection follow in the chapters in the third
section. An overview by Lung-Teng Hu and Doro thy Olshfski entitled ‘‘Describing and Measuring
Phenomena in Public Adm inistration’’ begins the section. Following the overview, Alana Northrop
and Shelly Arsneault describe ‘‘Sampling and Data Collection.’’ Detailed information on survey
research follows with the chapters ‘‘Using the Survey as an Instrument of Inquiry in Research’’
authored by Sarmistha Rina Majumdar, ‘‘Questionnaire Construction’’ by Donijo Robbins, and
Richard W. Schwester’s primer on ‘‘Collecting Survey Data via Telephone.’’ The section ends with

a chapter on an often overlooked source for data in ‘‘Obtaining Archival and Other Existing
Records’’ by Suzanne J. Piotrowski.
Concerning anticipating and solving data management problems, the chapter authors in the
fourth section give practical, consi dered advice based on experience. ‘‘General Issues in Data
Management’’ by Roslyn K. Chavda starts the section. Carmine Scavo follows with his chapter
‘‘Constructing Data Sets and Manipulating Data.’’ The section’s third chapter deals with very real,
practical problems for researchers, ‘‘Managing Large-Scale Electronic Data for Public Administra-
tion Research’’ by Yu-Che Chen.
From basic to advanced quantitative analysis, the next two sections cover the fundamentals with
substantial numbers of illustrations. The section on basic analysis has four chapters, in the first of
which Kamal Chavda introduces basic concepts and ideas. An introduction and discussion, ‘‘Apply-
ing Matrix Algebra in Statistical Analysis,’’ by Sarmistha Rina Majumdar completes the introduc-
tory set of chapters. Changhwan Mo’s chapter on ‘‘Univariate Analysis’’ is followed by ‘‘Statistics
for Nominal and Ordinal Data’’ by Michael Margolis, ‘‘Analysis of Variance’’ by Carmen
Cirincione, and ‘‘Linear Correlation and Regression’’ by Leslie R. Alm and Susan G. Mason.
The following section on advanced analysis describes six techniques. The six are ‘‘Multivariate
Regression Analysis,’’ a chapter by Elizabeth A. Graddy and Lili Wang; ‘‘ Multivariate Techniques
for Dichotomous Dependent Variables’’ by Mack C. Shelley; the chapter on principal component
analysis, factor analysis, and other clustering techniques by George Julnes; ‘‘Confirmatory Factor
Analysis: A Practical Introduction’’ by David Coursey; an introduction to panel data analysis by Tae
Ho Eom, Sock Hwan Lee and Hua Xu; and Dan Williams’‘‘Forecasting Methods for Serial Data.’’
Public administration researchers have used a large number of unique analytic techniques to
gain insight about the nonmarket sector’s unique and knotty problems. In the seventh section, ‘‘Data
Envelopment Analysis’’ by Patria De Lancer Julnes begins discussion on special techniques.
The section presents ‘‘Content Analysis’’ by Chieh-Chen Bowen and William M. Bowen and
‘‘Meta-Analysis’’ by Chieh-Chen Bowen next. Five other chapters round off the section, with
‘‘Q Methodology’’ by Steven R. Brown and Dan W. Durning with Sally C. Selden, ‘‘Methods of
Network Analysis
’’ by Simon A. Andrew and Richard C. Feiock, ‘‘Economic Modeling’’ by Ronald
John Hy and Jim R. Wollscheid, ‘‘Grounded Analysis’’ by Ralph Brower and Hong-Sang Jeong,

and ‘‘Research Methods Using Geographi c Information Systems’’ by Akhlaque Haque.
Miller/Handbook of Research Methods in Public Administration AU5384_C000 Final Proof page xx 4.10.2007 5:16pm Compositor Name: BMani
xx
The research consumption problem concerns authors in the final section. The ultimate problem
in research is impact, how researchers can overcome illusive, tricky, and sizeable barriers to
influence other researchers, public and nonprofit decision makers, the citizens nonmarket organi-
zations serve, and the foundations and grant-making institutions that make the enterprise of
public administration research possible. In the ninth section, the groups to reach and convince of
research’s merits get attention in the five chapters: ‘‘Presenting Quantitative Research Results’’ by
Jane E. Miller; ‘‘Styles of Scholar ship in Public Administration’’ by Kyle Farmbry and Lamar
Bennett; ‘‘Strategies for Effective Data Presentation’’ by Marc Holzer, Kathryn Kloby, and Aroon
Manharan; ‘‘Influencing the Policy Process and Making Reports Usable to Citizens’’ by Kathe
Callahan; and ‘‘Applying for Research Grants’’ by Neil DeHaan.
Miller/Handbook of Research Methods in Public Administration AU5384_C000 Final Proof page xxi 4.10.2007 5:16pm Compositor Name: BMani
xxi
Miller/Handbook of Research Methods in Public Administration AU5384_C000 Final Proof page xxii 4.10.2007 5:16pm Compositor Name: BMani
Contributors
Leslie R. Alm is professor and chair of the Department of Public Policy & Administration at Boise
State University, and is the director of the master of public administration progra m. He has recently
published articles in American Review of Canadian Studies, The Social Science Journal, and State
and Local Government Review.
Simon A. Andrew is an assistant professor in the Department of Public Administration at Univer-
sity of North Texas in Denton. His recent articles include publications in the International Journal
of Public Administration and in Administrative Change: A Journal on Political and Administrative
Development.
Shelly Arsneault is an associate professor in the Department of Political Science at California State
University, Fullerton. Her recent publications include work on rural welfare program administration
and women in state legislatures. Sh e received her PhD from Michigan State University.
Domonic A. Bearfield is an assistant professor at the George Bush School of Government and
Public Service. He received his PhD in public administration from Rutgers University-Newark.

His research focuses on improving the understanding of patronage, a concept central to the study of
public sector human resource systems. He currently serves as the newsletter editor for the section
for public administration of the American Political Science Association.
Julia Beckett is an associate professor in the Department of Public Administration and Urban
Studies at the University of Akron in Ohio. She recently coedited Public Administration and Law
and authored ‘‘Five Great Issues in Public Law and Public Administration’’ in the Handbook of
Public Administration.
Lamar Vernon Bennett is a doctora l candidate in public administration and policy at The
American University, School of Public Affairs in Washington, DC. He received his Masters of
Public Administration from Rutgers University, New York. His research interests include urban
education reform, public management, and performance measurement.
Chieh-Chen Bowen is associate professor and associate department chair in the Department of
Psychology at Cleveland State University in Cleveland, Ohio. Besides her strong academic back-
ground in research methods and statistics in social sciences, her recent publications cover the areas
of international human resource management, selection, and performance management.
William M. Bowen is professor and director of the PhD program in urban studies and public affairs
in the Maxine Goodman Levin College of Urban Affairs at Cleveland State University. He has
authored or coauthored approximately 40 scholarly articles and three books related to research-
based decision making and problem solving in regional analysis and planning, especially in relation
to economic development, environmental issues, and energy studies.
James S. Bowman is professor of public administration at the Askew School of Public Adminis-
tration and Policy, Florida State University. His primary area is human resource management. He is
author of over 100 journal articles and book chapters. Bowman coauthored, with Berman, West,
Miller/Handbook of Research Methods in Public Administration AU5384_C000 Final Proof page xxiii 4.10.2007 5:16pm Compositor Name: BMani
xxiii
and Van Wert, Human Resource Management: Paradoxes, Processes and Problems (2nd ed., Sage,
2006) and The Professional Edge: Competencies for Public Service (Sharpe, 2004). He is editor-in-
chief of Public Integrity.
Ralph S. Bro wer is associate professor in the Askew School of Public Administration and Policy
and Director of the Center for Civic and Nonprofit Leadership at Florida State University. His

academic interests include nonprofit organizations, organization theories, and qualitative research
methods.
Steven R. Brown is a professor of political science at Kent State University, where he has taught for
40 years. He is the author of Political Subjectivity (1980) and has been a author or coauthor of a
hundred book chapters and scholarly articles, the most recent appearing in Handbook of Decision
Making (2007), Psycho-Oncology (2007), and Quality & Quantity (2006).
Kathe Callahan is an assistant professor in the School of Public Affairs and Administration at
Rutgers University-Newark. Her research focuses on citizen participation and performance meas-
urement. Her most recent book, Elements of Effective Gove rnment: Measurement, Accountability
and Participation, was recently published by Taylor & Francis.
Kamal Chavda is the assistant director of the University of New Hampshire’s Survey Center, in
Durham. He also serves as lecturer in the Department of Political Science. He received his PhD from
Rutgers University-Newark.
Roslyn K. Chavda is an assistant professor in the Department of Political Science at the University
of New Hampshire. Her research interests are in the area of the impact of regulatory activity on
economic development. She received her PhD in public administration from Rutgers University.
Yu-Che Chen is an assistant professor in the Division of Public Administration at Northern Illinois
University. His research and teaching interests are in e-government and collaboration. His recent
works appear in the International Journal of Electronic Government Research, Social Science
Computer Review, and IBM reports.
Carmen Cirincione was an assistant professor at the Department of Political Science, University
of Connecticut when he wrote the chapter.
Phyllis Coontz is associate professor and director of the doctoral program in the Graduate
School of Public and International Affairs at the University of Pittsburgh. She has published
numerous articles on gender, crime, drug use, sports gambling, social control, gender bias,
female criminality, and research ethics. She has a forthcoming book examining sports book-
making and gambling policy in the United States and is the editor of another book on German
social theory.
David H. Coursey is a visiting professor at the Decision Theater (www.decisiontheater.org),
Arizona State University. He specializes in methods, e-gov, and general public management. His

current research concerns issues in measurement theory.
Neil De Haan serves as the director of grants for Essex County College, Newark, New Jersey and
teaches grants writing in the School of Public Affairs and Administration at Rutgers University-
Newark in New Jersey. He has over 30 years of experience in grants writing and management. He
received his PhD from Rutgers University-Newark.
Miller/Handbook of Research Methods in Public Administration AU5384_C000 Final Proof page xxiv 4.10.2007 5:16pm Compositor Name: BMani
xxiv