Research Methods and Statistics for Public and Nonprofit Administrators - A Practical Guide

393 Pages·2013·11.68 MB·English

by  Masami Nishishiba

Research Methods
and Statistics for
Public and Nonprofit
Administrators
Research Methods
and Statistics for
Public and Nonprofit
Administrators
A Practical Guide
The authors wish to dedicate this book to current and future
professionals in the field of public service.
Masami Nishishiba wishes to dedicate this book to her loving parents, Tetsuo and
Akiko Kawai, and to the memory of her late brother, Takeshi Kawai.
Mariah Kraner wishes to dedicate this book to her supportive husband, Josh,
and loving children, Kennedy and Logan. 
Masami Nishishiba
Matthew Jones
Mariah Kraner
Portland State University
Research Methods
and Statistics for
Public and Nonprofit
Administrators
A Practical Guide
The authors wish to dedicate this book to current and future
professionals in the field of public service.
Masami Nishishiba wishes to dedicate this book to her loving parents, Tetsuo and
Akiko Kawai, and to the memory of her late brother, Takeshi Kawai.
Mariah Kraner wishes to dedicate this book to her supportive husband, Josh,
and loving children, Kennedy and Logan. 
Masami Nishishiba
Matthew Jones
Mariah Kraner
Portland State University
FOR INFORMATION: Copyright  2014 by SAGE Publications, Inc.
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SAGE Publications India Pvt. Ltd. Nishishiba, Masami.
B 1/I 1 Mohan Cooperative Industrial Area
Research methods and statistics for public and nonprofit
Mathura Road, New Delhi 110 044
administrators : a practical guide / Masami Nishishiba,
India Matthew Jones, Mariah Kraner.
SAGE Publications Asia-Pacific Pte. Ltd. pages cm
3 Church Street Includes bibliographical references and index.
#10-04 Samsung Hub
ISBN 978-1-4522-0352-2 (pbk. : alk. paper)
Singapore 049483
ISBN 978-1-4833-0141-9 (web pdf)
ISBN 978-1-4833-2146-2 (epub)
1. Public administration—Research Methodology.
2. Nonprofit organizations—Management. I. Title.
JF1338.A2N57 2013
001.4′2024658—dc23
Acquisitions Editor: Patricia Quinlin
Associate Editor: Maggie Stanley This book is printed on acid-free paper.
Assistant Editor: Megan Koraly
Editorial Assistant: Katie Guarino
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Copy Editor: Brenda White
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Proofreader: Bonnie Moore
Indexer: Kathy Paparchontis
Cover Designer: Anupama Krishnan
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❖
Brief Contents
Preface xvi
Acknowledgments xx
SECTION I. RESEARCH DESIGN AND DATA COLLECTION 1
Chapter 1 When a Practitioner Becomes a Researcher 2
Chapter 2 Research Alignment 13
Chapter 3 Identifying the Focus of the Research:
Research Objective and Research Question 26
Chapter 4 Research Design 47
Chapter 5 Sample Selection 72
Chapter 6 Data Collection 87
SECTION II. DATA ANALYSIS 115
Chapter 7 Quantitative Data Preparation and
Descriptive Statistics 116
Chapter 8 Hypothesis Testing and Statistical
Significance: Logic of Inferential Statistics 151
Chapter 9 Comparing Means Between Two Groups 171
Chapter 10 Comparing Means of More Than Two
Groups: Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) 193
Chapter 11 Bivariate Correlation 222
Chapter 12 Chi-Square Analysis 239
Chapter 13 Regression Analysis 253
Chapter 14 Qualitative Data Analysis 281
SECTION III. SUMMING UP: PUTTING THE PIECES TOGETHER 297
Chapter 15 Writing Reports 298
Chapter 16 Using Research Methods for Continuous
Improvement: Program Evaluation and
Performance Measurement 313
Appendix A: Additional SPSS and Excel Instructions 333
Appendix B: Emily’s Survey Form 339
Glossary 342
Index 356
About the Authors 366
❖
Contents
Preface xvi
Acknowledgments xx
SECTION I. RESEARCH DESIGN AND DATA COLLECTION 1
Chapter 1 When a Practitioner Becomes a Researcher 2
Case Descriptions of Practitioners Becoming Researchers 3
Emily: HR Director at a City 3
Jim: Deputy Fire Chief 4
Mary: Manager at a Nonprofit Organization 6
Purpose of This Book 6
Research Skills as Leadership Skills 8
1. Research skills help you develop problem solving, solution
construction, and social judgment skills. 8
2. Research skills help you acquire resources. 8
3. Research skills help you allocate resources more effectively. 9
4. Research skills help you advocate. 10
5. Research skills help you become a better decision maker. 10
6. Research skills support ethical leadership. 10
Chapter Summary 11
Review and Discussion Questions 11
Key Terms 12
Chapter 2 Research Alignment 13
When the Research Process is Not Aligned 14
Emily’s Case 14
Research Flow and Components 18
Overall Flow of Research 18
Step 1. Identifying the Focus of the Research (Research Objective) 18
Step 2. Identifying the Specific Questions You Are
Trying to Answer (Research Question) 20
Step 3. Identify How You Collect the Information
You Need (Research Design) 20
Step 4. Identify From Whom or What You Collect the
Information (Sample Selection) 21
Step 5. Collect the Data (Data Collection) 21
Step 6. Analyze the Data (Data Analysis) 22
Step 7. Interpret and Report the Results (Reporting) 23
Chapter Summary 24
Review and Discussion Questions 25
Key Terms 25
Chapter 3 Identifying the Focus of the Research:
Research Objective and Research Question 26
Identifying the Focus of the Research 27
Jim’s Case 27
Mary’s Case 29
Research Objectives 30
Jim’s Case 31
Identifying Research Objectives 32
Types of Research 32
Theory Building Approaches: Inductive Versus Deductive 33
Types of Data Analysis 35
Mary’s Case 36
Research Questions 37
Jim’s Case 37
Focusing Your Research Questions 38
Identifying Types of Research Questions 40
Literature Review 42
Chapter Summary 44
Review and Discussion Questions 44
Key Terms 46
Chapter 4 Research Design 47
Identifying Research Design 48
Emily’s Case 48
Mary’s Case 49
Research Design: A Game Plan 49
Types of Research Design 50
Conditions for Cause and Effect 51
Temporal Precedence 52
Covariation of Cause and Effect 52
No Plausible Alternative Explanation 53
Key Elements of Experimental Research Design 56
Variations of Quasi-Experimental Research Design 59
Jim’s Case 59
Making a Causal Argument Based on the
Experimental Design 63
Jim’s Case (Continues) 63
Other Variations of Experimental and Quasi-Experimental Design 66
Ethical Considerations in Experimental and
Quasi-Experimental Design 69
Chapter Summary 69
Review and Discussion Questions 70
Key Terms 71
Chapter 5 Sample Selection 72
Identifying Samples 73
Emily’s Case 73
Mary’s Case 74
Sample Selection 74
Identify an Appropriate Sampling Frame 75
Identify an Appropriate Sample Size 77
Identify an Appropriate Sampling Technique 78
Probability Sampling 79
Simple Random Sampling 79
Systematic Random Sampling 79
Stratified Random Sampling 80
Cluster Sampling 81
Non-Probability Sampling 82
Convenience Sampling 83
Purposive Sampling 84
Emily’s Case 84
Chapter Summary 85
Review and Discussion Questions 85
Key Terms 86
Chapter 6 Data Collection 87
Identifying Data Collection Methods 88
Emily’s Case 88
Jim’s Case 90
Mary’s Case 90
Types of Data 91
Survey 91
Advantages of Surveys 92
Survey Errors 92
Writing Survey Questions 94
Types of Questions 94
Key Considerations in Wording Survey Questions 94