Abstract

VAN DER WALDT, G. Public Administration and Management Research: 'Thermostat' or 'Thermometer'?. JCMAN [online]. 2020, vol.17, n.spe2, pp.1-16. ISSN 1815-7440.  https://doi.org/10.35683/jcm205.83.

An analysis of the status of social sciences research reveals that multiple variables currently influence the scientific stance of knowledge production endeavours, both in higher education institutions and in government circles. This raises a critical question as to whether research conducted in applied social science disciplines such as Public Administration and Management (PAM) can be considered as a thermostat (i.e. 'heats the temperature' by influencing the policy agenda proactively through evidence-based input) or thermometer (i.e. implying that disciplinary research is characterised by merely 'reading' the current agenda and responding reactively to existing policies and strategies implemented by the government of the day). The purpose of this article was to address these fundamental questions by considering multiple issues. The contribution of the article is mainly centered in three (3) aspects, namely to critically reflect on the status of social sciences in general and pAm research in particular; to propose suggestions for improving the readiness of PAM academia to conduct policy-relevant research; and to make recommendations for enhancing engagement between academia and practitioners. The approach was informed by an interpretivist, anti-positivistic research paradigm, utilising a literature review and a desktop survey as research instruments. The results revealed that the potential contribution of social science research in general and PAM research in particular are hampered by rather negative perceptions regarding the empirical quality, scientific robustness and limited applied nature of research results. Main contributions made are suggestions to improve engagement between academia and practice, thus enhancing the potential contribution of PAM research for public policy enhancement.

Keywords : Academics; disciplinary relevance; PAM; research and social sciences.

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