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It Is a Working Hypothesis: Searching for Truth in a Post-Truth World
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It Is a Working Hypothesis: Searching for Truth in a Post-Truth World
Annotation
PII
S013216250007107-0-
Publication type
Article
Status
Published
Authors
Patricia М. Shields 
Occupation: Prof.
Affiliation: Texas State University
Address: United States, Texas
Nandhini Rangarajan
Occupation: Assoc. Prof.
Affiliation: Texas State University
Address: United States, Texas
Mattia Casula
Affiliation: Ca' Foscari University
Address: Italy, Venice
Edition
Issue 10
Pages
39-47
Abstract

Public administration research methodology should be flexible and comprehensive enough to include many methodologies and approaches to inquiry. In this paper we show how certain kinds of qualitative and mixed method studies often lack of a clear theoretical structure and as a result are poorly aligned across the stages of the research process. This paper introduces Working Hypotheses as a useful micro-conceptual framework with the capacity to address the alignment issue. It is particularly applicable to deductive case studies, which use qualitative or mixed methods. We show how positivism, postmodern and pragmatist philosophies shape quantitative, qualitative and mixed methods research. We also examine how types of reasoning (inductive, deductive and abductive) underlie approaches to research. The working hypothesis conceptual framework is introduced, placed in a philosophical context, defined, and applied to public administration and policy. 

Keywords
research methodology, qualitative, quantitative, mixed methods, case study, working hypothesis, induction, deduction, abduction, positivism, pragmatism
Received
12.10.2019
Date of publication
13.10.2019
Number of purchasers
89
Views
628
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0.0 (0 votes)
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S013216250007107-0-1 Дата внесения правок в статью - 07.10.2019
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