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A complete guide to applied research, featuring original data and detailed case studiesApplied Research Methods in Public and Nonprofit Organizations takes an integrative approach to applied research, emphasizing design, data collection, and analysis. Common case studies across chapters illustrate the everyday nature of research, and practical exercises reinforce concepts across all sections of the text. The book includes forms and formats for data collection and analysis, plus writing excerpts that demonstrate results reporting and presentation. The accompanying instructor's guide features assignments, discussion questions, and exercises referenced in the book, and the authors' own data sets are available for use online.Conducting research, analyzing results, and synthesizing the findings for key stakeholders is fundamental to the study and practice of public and nonprofit management. Aligned with management curriculum for both sectors, the book focuses on the common ground these organizations share when it comes to planning, conducting, and using research in day-to-day professional activities. The original research examples presented are in the context of this shared commonality, including resource acquisition, evaluative processes, and future planning through the lens of common social policy issues facing leaders today. Topics include:* The research process and applied research designs* Applied research questions and literature* Data collection in the field and survey research* Data analysis, writing, and presentationThe examples highlight intergovernmental institutions in which public service occurs, and provide expanded reach to nonprofit organizations and the networked collaborations that make up a significant portion of today's public service. For students and practitioners of public administration, public policy, and nonprofit management, Applied Research Methods in Public and Nonprofit Organizations provides a comprehensive reference to this critical skillset.

Applied Research Methods in Public and Nonprofit Organizations

List of Figures and Tables xiiiAcknowledgments xviiThe Authors xixIntroduction 1Integrating Case Studies into Learning About Applied Research Methods 2The Cases 3Community Garden Initiative: Exploring Community Interest in Local Food Projects 4Statewide Needs Assessment: Understanding the Status of Aging Women 6Election Administration and Technology: Understanding the Implementation and Implications of Election Policy Decisions 8National Program Evaluation: Domestic Violence Prevention and Faith-Based and Community Organizations 11Criminal Justice Policy Reform: Exploring Innovation Across Sectors 13Structure of the Book and Message to Instructors 15Part One: Research Basics: What Do We Want to Know and Why? 19Chapter One Overview and Context of the Research Process 21The Research Process 21The Applied Research Context 25Public Administration, Nonprofit Studies, and Other Subfields 27Information Literacy 28Information Quality and Types of Sources 29Finding High-Quality Information 37Values, Beliefs, and Certainty in Applied Disciplines 38Grand Theory and Theories of the Middle Range 40Case Comparisons 41Ethics and Institutional Review Boards 43Specific Concerns for Public Administration and Nonprofit Studies 45Decision Trees 47Applied Research Project Planning 47Typical IRB Review Considerations 48Conclusion 49Overview of the Book 50Chapter Support Materials 51Chapter Two Applied Research Questions, Literature, and Theory 55Asking Good Research Questions 56Case Illustrations of Research Questions 57Research Questions and Sponsored Research 60Case Illustrations of Research Questions in Sponsored Research 60Using Literature and Building Theory 62The Literature Review 62Literature Sources 63Literature Searches 65A Note About Citations 69Theory Building 71Developing Research Expectations and Hypotheses 75Theories of Change and Logic Models 79Theories of Change 79Logic Models 82Steps for Development of Theories of Change 86Decision Tree 90Decisions About Applied Research and Using a Theory of Change 90Conclusion 91Chapter Support Materials 92Chapter Three Applied Research Designs 99General Parameters of Design 99Major Design Types 100Experimental Design 100Quasi-Experimental Design 105Nonexperimental Design 108Case Illustrations of Research Design Approaches 113Sampling 117Random or Probability Sampling 118Nonrandom or Nonprobability Sampling 121Sample Size 123Case Illustrations of Sampling Approaches 123Decision Trees 127Selecting a Research Design Type 127Choosing a Sampling Strategy 129Conclusion 130Chapter Support Materials 131Part two: Data Collection: Where and How Can We Gather Information? 135Chapter Four Qualitative Data Collection in the Field 137Validity, Reliability, and Error in Qualitative Research 138The Process of Conducting Field Research 142Interviews 146Writing Interview Questions 148Putting Respondents at Ease 149Focus Groups 151Direct Observation 152Content Analysis 154Case Studies 159Case Illustrations of Data Collection 161Statewide Needs Assessment 161Election Administration and Technology 162National Program Evaluation 163Decision Tree 163Data Collection Strategy 164Conclusion 165Chapter Support Materials 165Chapter Five Survey Research 171The Survey Research Process 172Survey Design 175Crafting Quality Questions 176Response Categories 181Demographic Questions 188Problems and Controversies in Survey Research 189Case Illustrations of Survey Use 191Statewide Needs Assessment 191Criminal Justice Policy Reform 192National Program Evaluation 192Decision Tree 193Decisions About Methods of Survey Distribution 193Conclusion 194Chapter Support Materials 195Part Three: Analyzing Data and Communicating About Them: What Do They Mean? How Can They Be Used? 199Chapter Six Data Analysis 201Context and Descriptive Analysis 202Qualitative Analysis 203Quantitative Analysis 207Coding 208Levels of Measurement 209Descriptive Statistics 210Statistical Significance 216Bivariate Statistics 219Multivariate Statistics 225Codebooks 232Case Applications of Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis 233Decision Tree 240Conclusion 242Chapter Support Materials 242Chapter Seven Writing and Presentations 249General Tips for Writing 250A Productive Writing Process 250Feedback and (Constructive) Criticism 251Readability and Appeal 252A Note About Style 254Types of Writing 256Needs Assessments and Asset Mapping 256Grant Applications 258Funder Reports 264Stakeholder Documents 266Journal Articles 268Applied Dissertations 270Presentations 271Presenting Material to Stakeholders 274Academic Presentations 275Case Illustrations of Writing and Presentation 277Decision Tree 277Decisions About Making Presentations 277Conclusion 280Chapter Support Materials 282Glossary 287Bibliography and Works Cited 303Index 309