JOURNAL OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION RESEARCH AND THEORY

Scope & Guideline

Connecting Theory and Practice for Impactful Public Policy

Introduction

Welcome to the JOURNAL OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION RESEARCH AND THEORY information hub, where our guidelines provide a wealth of knowledge about the journal’s focus and academic contributions. This page includes an extensive look at the aims and scope of JOURNAL OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION RESEARCH AND THEORY, highlighting trending and emerging areas of study. We also examine declining topics to offer insight into academic interest shifts. Our curated list of highly cited topics and recent publications is part of our effort to guide scholars, using these guidelines to stay ahead in their research endeavors.
LanguageEnglish
ISSN1053-1858
PublisherOXFORD UNIV PRESS
Support Open AccessNo
CountryUnited Kingdom
TypeJournal
Convergefrom 1991 to 2024
AbbreviationJ PUBL ADM RES THEOR / J. Publ. Adm. Res. Theory
Frequency4 issues/year
Time To First Decision-
Time To Acceptance-
Acceptance Rate-
Home Page-
AddressGREAT CLARENDON ST, OXFORD OX2 6DP, ENGLAND

Aims and Scopes

The JOURNAL OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION RESEARCH AND THEORY focuses on the intersection of public administration and theory, emphasizing empirical research and theoretical advancements in the field. It aims to bridge the gap between scholarly research and practical application in public sector governance.
  1. Public Administration Theory Development:
    The journal seeks to advance theoretical frameworks that explain various phenomena within public administration, including governance, policy implementation, and bureaucratic behavior.
  2. Empirical Research in Public Sector:
    It prioritizes empirical studies that utilize qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-methods approaches to investigate real-world public administration issues.
  3. Interdisciplinary Insights:
    The journal encourages contributions that integrate perspectives from political science, sociology, economics, and organizational studies to enrich the understanding of public administration.
  4. Citizen Engagement and Public Participation:
    Research focused on how citizens interact with public institutions, including issues of representation, accountability, and service delivery is a significant area of interest.
  5. Administrative Burden and Performance:
    The journal frequently addresses the impact of administrative processes on service delivery and how these burdens affect citizens' experiences and perceptions of government.
  6. Collaborative Governance:
    There is a strong emphasis on studies that explore collaborative approaches to governance, including partnerships between public agencies, non-profits, and private entities.
  7. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion:
    The journal highlights research examining the impacts of diversity and inclusion within public organizations and their implications for policy and service delivery.
Recent publications in the JOURNAL OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION RESEARCH AND THEORY indicate several emerging themes that reflect current trends in public administration research. These themes highlight the evolving challenges and dynamics within the public sector.
  1. Emotional and Psychological Factors in Public Administration:
    There is an increasing interest in how emotional capital, psychological well-being, and affective styles influence public sector performance and citizen interactions.
  2. Impact of Administrative Burden on Equity:
    Research is increasingly focusing on how administrative burdens disproportionately affect marginalized populations, addressing issues of racial and social equity in public service delivery.
  3. Collaborative Governance and Environmental Challenges:
    There is a notable trend towards studying collaborative governance frameworks, particularly in the context of environmental policy and sustainability efforts.
  4. Digital Transformation and AI in Public Administration:
    Emerging studies are exploring the implications of digital tools, artificial intelligence, and data analytics on public sector decision-making and service delivery.
  5. Diversity and Inclusion in Public Sector Leadership:
    A growing body of research is dedicated to examining the role of diversity, equity, and inclusion in public sector leadership, emphasizing the importance of representation in governance.
  6. Political Economy of Public Administration:
    There is a rising interest in the political economy aspects of public administration, particularly how economic factors influence governance structures and administrative practices.

Declining or Waning

While the journal has consistently published on a variety of important topics, certain themes have shown a decline in focus over recent years, reflecting changing priorities in public administration research.
  1. Traditional Bureaucratic Models:
    There appears to be a waning interest in classical bureaucratic models and theories, with a shift towards more dynamic, adaptive frameworks that consider contemporary challenges in governance.
  2. Focus on Local Government Issues:
    Research specifically centered on local government operations and challenges has become less prominent, as there is a broader emphasis on national and global governance issues.
  3. Static Performance Measurement:
    There is a noticeable decline in studies that focus solely on static performance measurement in public agencies, as the field moves towards more dynamic assessments of performance that account for context and change.
  4. Conventional Policy Implementation Studies:
    Research that merely examines policy implementation without considering the broader political, social, and economic contexts is becoming less frequent, as scholars seek more holistic approaches.
  5. Overly Quantitative Approaches:
    There is a diminishing focus on purely quantitative methodologies in favor of qualitative and mixed-methods approaches that provide richer insights into public administration phenomena.

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