An examination of dissertation research: The relationship between gender, methodological approach, and research design

ABSTRACT

In the fields of public administration, policy, and public affairs, more women are earning PhD degrees and entering male-dominated academic and public sector job markets. This trend raises questions about the future of dissertation research and implications of gender on methodological approach and research design. This study examines the state of dissertation methods and research design in public administration, policy, and public affairs doctoral programs through the lens of gender between the years 2010 and 2014. A total of 986 dissertations are reviewed from PhD programs housed in universities that have NASPAA accredited MPA programs. Chi-square tests of independence and multinomial logistic regression illustrate that choice of methodological approach is not independent of gender, but rather there is a significant association between the two, and choice of research design also impacts methodological approach. Descriptive statistics show an increased trend in females using quantitative approaches to dissertation research.

KEYWORDS:

• Dissertation trends
• gender
• methodology
• research design

Notes

^1. There are distinctions between gender identity and biological sex. Gender identity is the condition of being male, female, or neuter. Biological sex refers to the biological aspects of being male or female (American Psychological Association, 2015).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Luisa M. Diaz-Kope

Luisa M. Diaz-Kope is an assistant professor in the Department of Political Science and International Affairs at the University of North Georgia and the coordinator for the Master of Public Administration Program. Dr. Diaz-Kope’s research interests include collaboration, watershed management, and inter-organizational relationships theory. Her work appears in the journals of International Journal of Public Administration, Public Works Management & Policy, and Politics and Policy. Currently her research examines motivational determinants in cross-sector watershed collaboration.

Katrina Miller-Stevens

Katrina Miller-Stevens is an assistant professor at Colorado College in the Department of Economics and Business. Her research interests bridge the nonprofit, public, and private sectors with particular focus on individual employee values, lobbying, and collaboration. In this effort, she explores the similarities and differences of employee values of individuals working in for-profit enterprises, local government, and nonprofit organizations. She also examines impacts of government regulations on nonprofit lobbying expenditures and board governance practices. In the area of collaboration, she develops new typologies and frameworks that explain how the public, nonprofit, and private sectors work together to address social and environmental issues.

Tiffany J. Henley

Tiffany J. Henley is an assistant professor in the Dyson College of Arts and Sciences’ Department of Public Administration at Pace University. Her research explores the implications of healthcare reform and how states make policy decisions. This line of inquiry is multidimensional, in that it includes elements of political science, economics, governance, and management. She is also interested in gender studies and collaboration while observing how multiple agencies work together to solve societal problems. This body of work is multidisciplinary and includes elements of public policy and management, federalism, and governance.