The Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory: Aims and Scope

The Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory aims at advancing public administration scholarship through publication of the theoretical and empirical work of the highest quality in the field of public administration. The journal publishes multidisciplinary research-based articles which include administration, organization, policy, and management to help its audience have a better understanding of the public sector. The journal has been committed to developing a rigorous and diverse study that widens and builds public administration theory. The Journal was started in the late 1980s with the objective of bridging the gap between public administration or public management scholarship and public policy studies (Thomson, Perry, & Miller, 2009). It offers an opportunity for scholars in the field of public administration to showcase and express their best theoretical and research work. It has worked to increase the application of rigorous empirical testing of theoretical questions and the questions brought about by theoretical research outcomes (Thomson, Perry, & Miller, 2009). Its purpose has also been to develop relevant theory seeking to be a theoretically inclusive journal. The topics covered in the journal include role theory, group theory, bureaucracies, population ecology, contingency theory, public choice theory, administration or management representation decision theory, legitimacy, implementation, legislative-administrative relations, development administration, and comparative administration. Other fields published in the journal are social equity, garbage can theory, ethics, professionalism, motivation, federalism, systems theory, public administration and culture, communication, and elected executive administrative relations (Thomson, Perry, & Miller, 2009). The Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory (JPART) is specific about the methodology the scholars use and it appreciates the different empirical methods applied in the field of social sciences. The empirical methods used include, and not limited to, surveys, historical analysis, field-based observation, economic analysis, case analysis, policy analysis, experimentation, and thick description (Thomson, Perry, & Miller, 2009). The JPART also endeavors to publish study synthesis whereby a body or field of research is summarized to close knowledge gaps and it identifies theoretical problems and issues and therefore provides a future research framework for scholars. The audience of the Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory is broad including researchers who have an interest in public administration and management. It is also aimed at being of value to future researchers who will be interested in the field of public administration. Another audience targeted by the journal is students since it provides through its articles an example of high-quality research derived from present studies in the scope of public administration. The students also benefit from the journal through the picture it creates of the situation of both the empirical and theoretical knowledge in the area of study gained within a period of two decades (Thomson, Perry, & Miller, 2009). The editor of the Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory plays a critical role in the success of the journal since he/she is responsible for various managerial and organizational functions. The editor of the journal must be an established scholar in public administration. He/she must have an in-depth understanding of public administration and be knowledgeable and conversant with the researchers and scholars in the field (Thomson, Perry, & Miller, 2009). The editor is also responsible for scholars who submit their work to the journal and give reasonable feedback to them. The journal has a community of scholars in the field of public administration. The scholars are volunteers who submit their research and theories and review for the journal on a volunteer basis. Any scholar in the field of public administration can qualify after meeting the journal’s requirements and then submit his/her research or theory or be part of the editorial team. Any manuscript submitted in the Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory must not be under consideration by another Journal. After a manuscript is submitted, the editorial team reviews it and then give a constructive response to the author of the article. 

Reference 

Thomson, A. M., Perry, J. L., & Miller, T. K., Conceptualizing and Measuring Collaboration. (2009). Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory.