ERIC Number: EJ1116508
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2016-Oct
Pages: 14
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0144-7394
EISSN: N/A
Comparative Research: An Approach to Teaching Research Methods in Political Science and Public Administration
Engbers, Trent A
Teaching Public Administration, v34 n3 p270-283 Oct 2016
The teaching of research methods has been at the core of public administration education for almost 30 years. But since 1990, this journal has published only two articles on the teaching of research methods. Given the increasing emphasis on data driven decision-making, greater insight is needed into the best practices for teaching public administration research methods. This research note attempts to build on these previous articles to offer a new approach to the teaching of undergraduate research methods within a department of political science and public administration. The approach combines traditional approaches to experiential education with a focus on comparison among different methodological tools. Grounded in both learning theory and developmental psychology, the article outlines a research method assignment that encourages comparison and uses focus groups and pre-/post-tests of substantive knowledge to demonstrate learning. Implications and advice for teaching are provided.
Descriptors: Public Administration Education, Political Science, Comparative Analysis, Teaching Methods, Courses, Research Methodology, College Instruction, Undergraduate Study, Experiential Learning, Learning Theories, Developmental Psychology, Assignments, Focus Groups, Pretests Posttests, Problem Based Learning
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A