Research Methods in Public Administration and Nonprofit Management: Quantitative and Qualitative Approaches

by David E. McNabb

Designed for practicing administrators as well as students, this book incorporates the latest thinking in public administration and nonprofit organization management. It integrates both the quantitative and qualitative approaches to research, and also provides specific instruction in the use of available statistical software programs such as Excel and SPSS. Coverage includes such important topics as research design, specifying research problems, designing questionnaires and writing questions, designing and carrying out four classes of qualitative research approaches, and analyzing both quantitative and qualitative research data. The book also encompasses the latest developments in social science research, management and organization research, and research in the social and administrative sciences.

Genres: Research

Hardcover

First published July 1, 2002

Reviews

[Steven Peterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The aim of this book is straightforward (Page 9): ". . .to provide in one location information about how to design, conduct, interpret, and report on research projects. It has been written to serve as a tool for reading and writing on any administrative or social science discipline or topic." Knowing how to carry out effective research is a critical skill in public administration. This book does a decent job of giving appropriate tools for doing research.

The first part considers the foundations of research as tied to the study of public administration (and nonprofit organizations). Topics explored include the nature of the research process and ethical issues at stake in carrying out research (including human subjects issues). Part 2 introduces the reader to the research process. What are the steps in doing research? How would we formulate research problem? Finally, what design or combination of designs should we use? Qualitative? Quantitative? Or a combination?

Part 3 explores quantitative designs, including the importance of statistics, sampling, and the use of questionnaires. The next part is intimately associated with Part 3--appropriate statistics to use to analyze data that have been collected (recall: data are plural; datum is singular). Among subjects covered in this part, chapter by chapter--descriptive statistics; tables, charts, and graphs; research hypotheses; testing hypotheses about two or more groups; looking for relationships; experiments and experimental design; and--dear to the heart of those who do statistical analysis--using SPSS (a common statistics software package).

One very positive feature of this text is a lengthy discussion of qualitative research, often given short shrift in textbooks. Among techniques considered: case study; grounded theory; ethnography; action research. There follows Part 6, focusing on how to analyze qualitative data.

Of course, if you can't communicate findings effectively--no matter how powerful the research design and data analysis--then your work won't likely have the desired impact. So, Part 7 addresses how to prepare and present research findings.

The writing is functional, but don't expect a soaring literary product. The detailed focus on qualitative methods is a real plus. All in all, a good, solid textbook.

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

Textbook for a research methods course. Wasn't great, wasn't horrible. Easy to understand but repetitive at times.

[Alexandra Chauran · Rating 3 out of 5]

Though I have a science background this book went into some considerations that I hadn't yet made.