Preparing Public Administration Scholars for Qualitative Inquiry: A Status Report

Abstract

This paper reiterates in succinct form the discipline’s discussion of how qualitative inquiry stands to contribute substantively to public affairs knowledge and why it is therefore a necessary skill to develop as scholars in the field and its cognates; public administration, public policy, and political science. It then presents empirical data on doctoral research methods requirements collected in 2004-2005 and 2011-2012 to demonstrate that while preparation in qualitative inquiry is improving, at least one-third of the doctoral programs associated with NASPAA-accredited Master of Public Administration degree programs still fail to prepare candidates in qualitative inquiry. Therefore, the discussion is still relevant and doctoral programs are encouraged to continue curricular reform and enhancement. Furthermore, scholars are encouraged to continue research on research in public administration.