TY - JOUR
T1 - The future of public administration research: An editor's perspective
AU - McDonald III, Bruce D
AU - Hall, Jeremy
AU - O'Flynn, Janine
AU - Thiel, Sandra Van
PY - 2022
Y1 - 2022
N2 - Research in the field of public administration has changed
and advanced significantly in recent years. These advancements concern both how we engage in research—such as the methods we apply, the interdisciplinary nature of the theories we use, and the research questions we ask. Increasingly,
we are witnessing a shift in public-sector values away from
efficiency and effectiveness and toward a paradigm that
highlights equity. In this article, we reflect on these changes
from our position as editors-in-chief of some of the leading
journals in the field. In addition to describing the progress of
this discipline, we explore emerging windows of opportunity
for new research. One such window is research on ways to
incorporate interdisciplinary perspectives and methods. We
also see the need for work in such areas as social equity,
comparative administration, artificial intelligence, and climate
change. Finally, we argue for a more proactive approach in
disseminating research to those involved in the day-to-day
decision-making processes of public organizations.
AB - Research in the field of public administration has changed
and advanced significantly in recent years. These advancements concern both how we engage in research—such as the methods we apply, the interdisciplinary nature of the theories we use, and the research questions we ask. Increasingly,
we are witnessing a shift in public-sector values away from
efficiency and effectiveness and toward a paradigm that
highlights equity. In this article, we reflect on these changes
from our position as editors-in-chief of some of the leading
journals in the field. In addition to describing the progress of
this discipline, we explore emerging windows of opportunity
for new research. One such window is research on ways to
incorporate interdisciplinary perspectives and methods. We
also see the need for work in such areas as social equity,
comparative administration, artificial intelligence, and climate
change. Finally, we argue for a more proactive approach in
disseminating research to those involved in the day-to-day
decision-making processes of public organizations.
U2 - 10.1111/padm.12829
DO - 10.1111/padm.12829
M3 - Article
SN - 0033-3298
VL - 100
SP - 59
EP - 71
JO - Public Administration
JF - Public Administration
IS - 1
ER -