Public administration scholars are beginning to pay more attention the problem of common source bias, but little is known about approaches that applied researchers adopting as they attempt confront issue in their own research. In this essay, we consider various responses taken by authors six articles journal. We draw important nuances measurement have previously received and run a set empirical analyses order test effectiveness several proposed solutions common-source-bias problem. Our...

Social distancing is an effective means of containing the spread COVID-19, but only if we all participate. Who are individuals who least likely to adhere social recommendations, presently and in long term? Such knowledge important for policy makers looking sustain public's buy-in distancing. Using survey data from a sample U.S. residents (n = 1,449), authors show that some demographic factors (gender, age, race, political party) help predict intent Yet relatively poor predictors compared...

Much recent work in the study of public administration has emphasized new challenges and relatively unusual aspects management. However, it is likely that core features traditional play a crucial role, particularly regarding delivery performance. The most venerable these management have to do with “internal” We focus here on cluster key, intertwined practices: setting challenging but feasible goals, building trust through credible commitments, encouraging employee participation, providing...

An extensive literature finds that managerial decisions matter for the performance of public organizations, yet little attention has been devoted to why managers make they do. This article builds a theory management decision making based on simple assumption are concerned with and gaps their organization. Using logic borrowed from bounded rationality Bayesian theory, we theorize set prior expectations. Whether organization meets these expectations or fails do so is then used specify series...

Among the most contentious questions in public administration is how performance of organizations should be evaluated, and nowhere this issue more salient than urban schools. While significant attention has been devoted to studying administrative measures organizations, views citizens concerning have widely criticized are not frequently gathered by How these assessments relate each other central many education policy (e.g., choice, equity) important implications for democracy, bureaucratic...

The COVID-19 pandemic is a major challenge facing societies around the world. Citizen engagement in “social distancing” key containment measure for curtailing spread of virus. But what kind information should governments use encouraging social distancing compliance? Using data from pre-registered survey experiment among US residents (n = 1,502), we examine how five distinct cues—which each appeal to prosocial motivation and empathy varying degree—affect people’s willingness distance. We find...

ABSTRACTWhile recent research has shown that management matters, we know very little about the role of national contexts in shaping effects on performance. We address this issue by comparing impact similar organizations—schools—in different contexts, unitary and corporatist Denmark fragmented, adversarial Texas. hypothesize external as well internal matter more Texas than Denmark. This is because principals can gain power negotiating system, while influence teachers reduces decision...

Abstract In recent years, studies of citizen satisfaction have increasingly relied on the expectancy–disconfirmation model, which highlights role that expectations play in driving evaluations government services. But most empirical within public administration relationship between and indicate little-to-no net effect satisfaction. We argue these results may be largely driven by weaknesses existing measurement approaches inattention many to distinction two types expectations: those about what...

We consider how current and past views of a service provider jointly shape satisfaction levels. In Study 1, we replicate prior study expectancy-disconfirmation by Van Ryzin, in 2 extend the original cross-sectional design analysing four-wave panel with 654 respondents Hong Kong. 1 findings study. Our extension finds that (1) citizens' attitudes about are relatively stable over time, (2) expectations driver but their explanatory power can be modest temporary, (3) perceptions quality carry to future

A now well-established link exists between passive representation of racial and gender minorities in certain bureaucracies substantive benefits for the represented groups. However, few quantitative studies have distinguished multiple possible mechanisms by which might produce such effects. We conduct a novel set empirical analyses aimed at determining whether or not produces effects only those clients who directly interact with bureaucrats share their demographic characteristics if broader...

Public management studies are increasingly using survey data on managers' perceptions of performance to measure organizational performance. These perceptual measures tempting apply because archival or surveys target group outcomes and satisfaction often lacking, costly provide, highly policy specific rendering generalization difficult. But valid, do they generate unbiased findings? We examine these questions in a comparative study middle managers schools Texas Denmark. The findings...

Many researchers were trained primarily in the tools of either econometric-style regression or psychology-inspired structural equation modeling (SEM). Given that quantitative research public policy and administration regularly draws on both traditions modeling, frequently find themselves position reading evaluating studies utilize they don’t understand well. This study aims to address this problem through a detailed comparison each set tools, with examples offered reanalysis two datasets...

Many researchers were trained primarily in the tools of either econometric-style regression or psychology-inspired structural equation modeling (SEM). Given that quantitative research public policy and administration regularly draws on both traditions modeling, frequently find themselves position reading evaluating studies utilize they don’t understand well. This study aims to address this problem through a detailed comparison each set tools, with examples offered reanalysis two datasets...

Do internal (administrative human capital) and external (social resources work to reinforce the effects of each other? Work from multiple disciplines has approached this question, we advance literature with a theory social administrative as potential substitutes for other in production public education outcomes. We argue that capital benefits some groups more than others it interacts management improve performance. therefore expect associated be non-uniform across community groups. Using our...

Abstract Interdependence in the decision-making or behaviors of various organizations and administrators is often neglected study public administration. Failing to account for such interdependence risks an incomplete understanding choices made by these actors agencies. As such, we show how researchers analyzing cross-sectional time-series-cross-sectional (TSCS) data can utilize spatial econometric methods improve inference on existing questions and, more interestingly, engage a new set...

ABSTRACTDoes pay-for-performance – a hotly debated compensation scheme for incentivizing public service efficiency induce inadvertent heterogeneity in job attraction that is counteracting the prospects of bureaucratic diversity and representation? Using data from pre-registered conjoint experiment among US residents (n = 1,501), we examine whether (compared to fixed pay) affects differently across race, gender, age. Contrary theoretical expectations, find does not diminish within or between...

States diverge widely when it comes to education funding choices, leading substantial differences in how much states spend on schooling, the role of local versus state revenue sources, and relative among districts levels. Prior studies have documented that Democratic party control governments appears be associated with higher levels spending K-12 education, but beyond we know little about political ideology is related patterns allocation by states. This study examines this question using a...

Many areas of public management research are dominated by a top-focused perspective in which emphasis is placed on the notion that managers themselves usually best sources information about managerial behavior. Outside leadership literature, also typical survey respondents studies. An alternative can be provided subordinates’ perceptions what doing. Surveys subordinates and each pose potential advantages disadvantages when it comes to measuring management, approach likely prove more fruitful...

Public management research has identified a dizzying array of variables that affect organizational performance. While scholars have learned much by analyzing one or few specific behavioral dimensions public at time, we argue for the value more holistic and inductive approach uses data on several aspects identifying manager types. Such an accounts both cognitive processes people affected reality managers' individual decisions are interrelated. We examine overlap 21 school behavior using...

Research on citizen satisfaction has emphasized the role of service quality (including expectations for quality) in shaping citizens’ evaluations public services. This article considers an understudied but important aspect delivery—equity—and investigates how disparities outcomes between disadvantaged and advantaged groups affect providers. study also examines whether citizens with different socioeconomic status (SES) have perceptions toward outcome disparities. Using individual-level data...

Scholars and practitioners of public management need reliable data as they strive to understand organizations. This article considers various sources how can be effectively leveraged learn about organizations their employees. Common problems associated with archival survey are identified, several recommendations regarding design administration offered, including a consideration who (clients, managers, or front-line employees) might provide the best information topics that may interest...