A Content Analysis of Applied Research Projects Completed from 1999-2005 at Texas State University in the Masters of Public Administration Program

Purpose: The purpose of this research project is three fold. The first purpose is to review the literature that addresses the problems associated with research in public administration and the quality of methodology in public administration using criteria from the literature. Second the educational pedagogy used to supervise the Applied Research Projects (ARPs) at Texas State University is examined. Finally, the actual Texas State ARPs from 1999-2005 are described. Method: The analysis of ARPs is completed using content analysis. Content analysis is used because it involves a direct examination of the documents. Content analysis has been the methodology of choice for critiquing public administration research (see Perry and Kraemer (1986), Houston and Delevan (1990), Adams and White (1994), McCurdy and Cleary (1984), Gute (1999), Almaguel (1997), Nall (1994), and Beck (1993)). Findings: When comparing Texas State Applied Research Project to the previous authors (Gute1999 and Almaguel 1997) the ARPs have similarities as well as a few differences. Some of the major similarities are that the ARPs do have clearly stated purposes and use conceptual frameworks. Some of the major differences are the average size of the ARPs have decreased. Also, the ARPs from 1999-2005 focus more on state government than local or national government as shown by the previous two authors. The remaining findings are discussed in the conclusion chapter of this research.

Name thesis:degree_name

Masters in Public Administration

Level thesis:degree_level

Masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Public Administration

Grantor

Texas State University

Year dc:date.issued

2005

Author dc:creator

• Ilo, Saidat

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Shields, Patricia M.

Committee member dc:contributor.committeemember

• Youngblood, Arlene

• content analysis
• applied research projects
• Texas State University
• masters

Language dc:language.iso

en

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/10877/3661

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:digital.library.txst.edu:10877/3661