A Science of Public Administration?

Many realms of social inquiry, particularly public administration, are in the midst of an era of unprecedented epistemological introspection, driven primarily by frustration with the prevailing positivism of applied research. Thus far, this process has yet to render coherent alternative paradigms. H...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Public administration review 1990-05, Vol.50 (3), p.383-392
Main Author: Daneke, Gregory A.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Chaos theory
Conceptual frameworks
Government
Inquiry and Field Theory
Policy analysis
Positivism
Public administration
Public officials
Public policy
Science
Scientific method
Social Change
Social evolution
Social research
Social sciences
Studies
System theory
Systems Approach
Systems theory
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Summary:Many realms of social inquiry, particularly public administration, are in the midst of an era of unprecedented epistemological introspection, driven primarily by frustration with the prevailing positivism of applied research. Thus far, this process has yet to render coherent alternative paradigms. However, an increased emphasis on some type of systems theory is implicit in many reconceptualizations and even explicit in a few. Rebuilding the systems paradigm requires recognition of its alternative view of scientific enterprise, its ability to embrace emerging conceptual advances from other domains (such as chaos theory and applied quantum logic), and its usefulness as a basis for purposeful action.
ISSN:0033-3352
1540-6210
DOI:10.2307/976620