Paradigms and Research Questions

Question 1

What is research paradigm?

Answer 1

The term ‘‘paradigm’’ is frequently used as a view of reality and an intellectual framework that specifies a discipline’s proper domain, basic assumptions, appropriate research questions, and rules of inference

Question 3

What are Babbie (2005) Six major perspectives of paradigms in PA?

Answer 3

• Early Positivism (e.g., Auguste Comte)
• Conflict Paradigm (e.g., Karl Marx)
• Symbolic Interactionism (e.g., George Herbert Mead)
• Ethnomethodology (e.g., Harold Garfinkel)
• Structural Functionalism (e.g., Talcott Parsons)
• Feminist Paradigms (e.g., Simone de Beauvoir)

Question 4

what is early positivism?

Answer 4

Early positivism is a way of thinking that believes society can be studied using the same scientific methods used to study the natural world. Just like scientists use experiments and facts to understand nature, early positivists thought we could use facts and careful observations to understand human behavior and society. They believed that by gathering data and following a clear set of rules, we could discover the “laws” of how society works

Question 5

what is conflict paradigm?

Answer 5

KARL MARX gave this.

Question 6

What is conflict paradigm?

Answer 6

The conflict paradigm sees society as made up of groups with competing interests, often struggling over limited resources like money, power, or status. Imagine people fighting over a pie. Some get big slices, and others get only crumbs. The conflict view says that social problems come from these inequalities and struggles. It focuses on understanding who has power, who doesn’t, and why some groups have an unfair advantage.

Question 7

What is symbolic interactionism?

Answer 7

Symbolic interactionism focuses on how people use symbols—like words, gestures, and facial expressions—to create meaning and interact with each other. Think about how a smile or a wave of the hand can mean something friendly. Symbolic interactionism looks at everyday life as a series of small, meaningful exchanges. It helps us understand how people communicate, form identities, and develop relationships through these shared symbols.

Question 8

What is ethnomethodology?

Answer 8

Ethnomethodology studies the methods and rules people use without thinking to make sense of their daily lives. We all follow social rules we barely notice—like knowing how close to stand to someone, or how to start a conversation. Ethnomethodology tries to uncover those hidden “common sense” rules that guide our behavior, showing how we create a stable social world through ordinary actions.

Question 9

What is structural functionalism?

Answer 9

Structural functionalism sees society as a system of interconnected parts that work together to keep things running smoothly, each part serving a certain purpose or function. Imagine society like a human body. Different organs (like the heart, lungs, and stomach) have their own jobs, but all work together to keep the body healthy. Structural functionalism says the same about schools, families, governments, and religions—they all help maintain order and stability in society.

Question 10

What is feminist paradigm?

Answer 10

Feminist paradigms focus on understanding gender inequalities and the ways that society often favors men’s perspectives and interests over women’s. Feminist theories look at how rules and beliefs in society can make life harder for women than for men. They aim to understand why these inequalities exist and how we can create a more equal and fair world for all genders.

Question 11

What are Morgan’s 1980 four sociological paradigm?

Answer 11

functionalism, radical structuralism, interpretivism, and radical humanism.

Question 12

What is functionalism?

Answer 12

Functionalism views organizations and societies as composed of various parts working together to maintain stability and efficiency.
Think of an organization like a well-oiled machine, with different departments (like gears) each doing their specific job so that the whole machine runs smoothly. Functionalism focuses on how each part contributes to the system’s overall health and order.

Question 13

What is radical structuralism?

Answer 13

Radical structuralism understands that societies and organizations are shaped by deep structures of power and conflict. It holds that these conflicts are natural and drive the push toward transformation and progress.
Picture a workplace where some employees have more power and others have less. Radical structuralism says this imbalance and tension will eventually lead to changes—just like pressure inside a system can force it to rearrange itself. Conflict isn’t just a problem; it’s what makes societies evolve and adapt.

Question 14

What is Interpretivism?

Answer 14

Interpretivism focuses on understanding the meanings people attach to their experiences within organizations and societies, rather than trying to uncover one ultimate truth. Imagine researchers stepping into a company and listening to how different people explain their work, roles, and goals. Instead of using strict formulas or numbers, interpretivism tries to understand the unique stories and viewpoints, revealing new ideas and perspectives that might have been hidden before.

Question 15

What is radical humanism?

Answer 15

Radical humanism prioritizes human values, freedoms, and well-being over rigid structures or profit-driven goals. It seeks to change organizations and societies so that they serve people, rather than the other way around. Think of an organization that measures its success not just by how much money it makes, but by how happy and fulfilled its employees are. Radical humanism encourages organizations to reshape rules, policies, and practices so they genuinely respect and care for the individuals who make them run.

Question 17

What are Frederickson (1980) five models of public administration?

Answer 17

Classic Bureaucratic Model (Gulick and Urwick), Neo-Bureaucratic Model (Simon), Institutional Model (Lindblom), Human Relations Model (McGregor), Public Choice Model (Ostrom), New Public Administration (Frederickson).

Question 18

What is Classic Bureaucratic Model (Gulick and Urwick)?

Answer 18

Frederickson (1980) begins by outlining the classic bureaucratic approach, which can be traced back to thinkers like Gulick and Urwick. This model views public administration much like a machine: well-ordered, hierarchical, and guided by detailed rules and procedures. It prioritizes efficiency, predictability, and the clear division of labor. Under this perspective, administrators function as cogs within a structured system, ensuring that policies are implemented consistently and uniformly.

Question 19

What is Neo-Bureaucratic Model (Simon)?

Answer 19

Moving from structure towards process, the neo-bureaucratic model introduced by Herbert Simon acknowledges that decision-making within bureaucracy is not purely mechanical. While still respecting the formal frameworks of bureaucracy, it places greater emphasis on rational analysis, data-driven reasoning, and logical choice. Decision-makers in this model strive for objectivity, attempting to improve administrative actions by breaking decisions down into manageable parts and evaluating them methodically.

Question 20

What is Institutional Model (Lindbloom)?

Answer 20

Charles Lindblom’s institutional model brings in a more adaptive and realistic view of policymaking. Instead of strictly following linear plans, it recognizes policy as the outcome of ongoing interactions among various institutions, interest groups, and stakeholders. Policymaking, under this lens, is an incremental and negotiated process, evolving over time through compromise and understanding. The emphasis here is on how institutions shape decision-making and how multiple voices and interests slowly move policies forward.

Question 21

What is Human Relations Model (McGregor)?

Answer 21

With McGregor’s human relations model, the focus shifts toward the individuals working within public institutions. It highlights the importance of leadership style, employee morale, motivation, and organizational culture. Rather than treating personnel as interchangeable parts of a system, this view sees workers as human beings with needs, aspirations, and emotions. Effective administration, therefore, must cultivate supportive environments, encourage innovation, and nurture trust and cooperation among team members.

Question 22

What is Public Choice Model (Ostrom)?

Answer 22

Elinor Ostrom’s public choice model introduces insights from economics into the realm of public administration. It suggests that, much like in markets, people within governments—officials, administrators, and citizens—behave based on self-interest and respond to incentives. Public choice thinking encourages competition, decentralization, and mechanisms that align personal incentives with the public good. By doing so, it aims to make government more responsive, accountable, and efficient.

Question 22

What is New Public Administration (Frederickson)?

Answer 22

After reviewing these five models, Frederickson proposes a sixth one—“new public administration.” This new approach challenges the heavy emphasis on efficiency, structure, and rationality found in the previous models, championing values such as social equity, participatory governance, and humanistic principles. It calls for public administration to be more democratic, inclusive, and morally grounded. Rather than merely executing policies, it envisions administrators as active partners in shaping a fairer, more equitable society. This marks a shift from seeing government as a neutral machine towards recognizing it as a tool for promoting justice and improving the lives of all citizens.

Question 23

What are Holzer, Gabrielian, and Yang’s Five Great Ideas That Shaped Public Administration?

Answer 23

1. Honest, Nonpartisan, and Businesslike Government,
2. Classic Management Models,
3. Politics and Policy Making,
   and expertise.
4. Human Relations
5. Program Effectiveness or Performance

Question 24

What is Honest, Nonpartisan, and Businesslike Government?

Answer 24

Holzer, Gabrielian, and Yang (2006) start by highlighting the progressive movement’s influence on early public administration. During this period, the field aimed to separate administration from politics, emphasizing impartiality and efficiency. Administrators looked to private sector practices for inspiration, focusing on neutrality and the idea that democratic values would be safeguarded through elected officials’ policymaking, while administrators simply carried out those policies efficiently.

Question 25

What is Classic Management Models?

Answer 25

Closely linked to the first idea, classic management models brought a more systematic, scientific approach to administration. Influenced by principles like POSDCORB and scientific management methods from scholars like Taylor, Gulick, and Fayol, these models treated organizations as mechanical systems. Efficiency and rational organization were paramount, and the ‘‘ideal-type’’ bureaucracy described by Weber provided a framework for structuring public institutions around clear hierarchies, division of labor, formal rules, and merit-based selection.

Question 26

What is Politics and Policy Making?

Answer 26

In contrast to the neutrality emphasized early on, the third idea acknowledges that administration and politics are inseparable. After World War II, scholars recognized that administrators are inherently involved in policymaking, power struggles, and the representation of interests. Rather than seeing administrators as neutral implementers, this perspective asks how bureaucratic power and authority shape policy, how the bureaucracy can be both effective and democratically accountable, and how it can balance representation and expertise.

Question 27

What is Human Relations?

Answer 27

The human relations perspective introduced a more people-centered view of public administration. Sparked by the Hawthorne experiments and sociological thinking, it recognized that organizations are also social systems, not just technical structures. Factors like motivation, leadership style, teamwork, and organizational culture become crucial. This school of thought emphasized the importance of understanding employees’ needs, values, and interpersonal dynamics to achieve not only efficiency but also employee satisfaction and organizational effectiveness.

Question 28

What is Program Effectiveness or Performance?

Answer 28

Over time, due to expansions in government responsibilities and changing social conditions, measuring how well programs actually performed became a primary concern. Public administration began focusing on outcomes and results, balancing multiple values—efficiency, equity, responsiveness—in pursuit of improved performance. The field adopted evaluation tools, performance measurements, and governance models to adapt continuously and enhance the quality and effectiveness of public services.

Question 29

What are six approaches to public administration studies?

Answer 29

Managerial Approach, Political Approach, Judicial Approach, Ethical Approach, Historical Approach, Integrated (Holistic) Approach

Question 30

What is managerial approach?

Answer 30

The managerial perspective centers on improving efficiency, effectiveness, and economy within public organizations. It focuses on individuals, groups, and organizational structures and processes to streamline operations and achieve better performance.

Question 31

What is political approach?

Answer 31

From a political viewpoint, public administration is concerned with how well government actions represent citizen interests, respond to public demands, and ensure accountability. The key issues revolve around power dynamics, resource allocation, and the influence of various communities and political institutions.

Question 32

What is judicial approach?

Answer 32

The judicial lens examines public administration through legal structures, emphasizing legal rights, privileges, due process, and fairness. Regulations, laws, and judicial procedures guide conflict resolution, compliance, and the equitable treatment of citizens.

Question 33

What are ethical approach?

Answer 33

Under the ethical perspective, the focus is on morality, integrity, and principles guiding public service. It stresses the importance of ethical decision-making and maintaining high standards of honesty, fairness, and responsibility in governance.

Question 34

What is historical approach?

Answer 34

Public administration can also be understood through historical analysis, learning from past events and governance models. This approach aims to avoid repeating previous mistakes and uses historical lessons to inform current and future policy and practice.

Question 35

What is integrated approach?

Answer 35

integrated approach takes a broad, comprehensive view, examining the entire process of governing and the range of values underpinning democracy. It seeks to understand and improve public administration as a whole, integrating insights from all other approaches for a more complete and informed perspective.