Research Ideals and Realities

Discipline and disciplines of civilization are about to struggle for knowledge: to gain, expand,
understand, and use is responsibly; how to balance humanity, hope, and informed self-confidence in the
process involved; and how to channel the efforts creatively to facilitate transformative achievement.

Research in public affairs and administration is an especially hat struggle for several reason.

First The subjects are too vast to define as a discipline.

Second It is a field that deals with people and their creations.

Third Research takes time and other resources.

Fourth Field is more complicated.

Social Research A process of steps used to collect and analyzed information to increase our
understanding of a topic or issue.

Research is a systematic gathering and analyzing of information.

1. Pose a question

2. Collect data to answer a question

3. Present an answer to a question

Purpose of Research Exploration. Description. Explanation.

Qualitative Research Quantitative Research

Inductive research approach
Exploratory research
Structured, semi-structures, and unstructured
techniques, and observation.
Deductive research approach
Generating numerical data or data that can be
transformed into useable statistics
Survey

Mixed Method Research Combining quantitative and qualitative research designs. Pragmatic research
approach.

Evaluation Research Applied research approach. Programs can and should be determine systematically
assessed to determine their worth of value.

New Trends in Research Wit the growth of science and technology, the science or research of public
human affairs also evolved to match the needs and trends of this generation. Thus, the research of
public human affairs also now includes electronic systems such as online-surveys, mobile surveys, kiosk
surveys, face-to-face interview thru the internet, telephone interviews, longitudinal studies, website
interceptors, and online polls.

Research Ethics

Honesty Do not fabricate, falsify, nor misrepresent data.

Objectivity - Avoid or minimize bias or self-deception.

Integrity Act with sincerity.

Carefulness

Openness