Theoretical and philosophical considerations in the realm of the social sciences for public administration and management emerging researchers

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dc.contributor.author Auriacombe, C.J.
dc.contributor.author Holtzhausen, Natasja
dc.date.accessioned 2015-06-19T05:26:12Z
dc.date.available 2015-06-19T05:26:12Z
dc.date.issued 2014-12
dc.description.abstract This article aims to provide a conceptual and theoretical analysis of the main theoretical and philosophical perspectives in social science research for researchers doing research in the disciplinary fields of public administration, management and governance. The purpose is to provide clarity for researchers’ own beliefs of how social reality should be viewed to gain the most truthful results and thus, to develop their own ontology. This will enable researchers to have a clear understanding of which research perspective would be appropriate when designing their research in order to develop their own epistemology. The article attempts to clarify what research is and more specifically the relationship between research theories and the empirical world. The conditions necessary for scientific research and the most important concepts (building blocks) of social science research are explained. The difference between ordinary everyday knowledge and information, social science theory, scientific knowledge and the use of the scientific method receive attention. The dimensions of social science research are distinguished in terms of the sociological, teleological, ontological, methodological and axiological dimensions as well as on the disciplinary, practical and project levels. The importance of systematic data gathering by meeting specific criteria of the scientific method is emphasised. The keys necessary to unlock the scientific world and to gain an understanding of the importance of scientific knowledge and reasoning as opposed to how knowledge and information are commonly used, is presented. en_ZA
dc.description.librarian am2015 en_ZA
dc.description.uri http://www.assadpam.net/ en_ZA
dc.identifier.citation Auriacombe, CJ & Holtzhausen, N 2014, 'Theoretical and philosophical considerations in the realm of the social sciences for public administration and management emerging researchers', Administratio Publica, vol. 22, no. 4, pp. 4-25. en_ZA
dc.identifier.issn 1015-4833
dc.identifier.uri http://hdl.handle.net/2263/45598
dc.language.iso en en_ZA
dc.publisher Association of Teachers in Public Administration en_ZA
dc.rights Association of Teachers in Public Administration en_ZA
dc.subject Social science research en_ZA
dc.subject Researchers en_ZA
dc.subject Social reality en_ZA
dc.subject Epistemology en_ZA
dc.subject Public administration en_ZA
dc.subject Public management en_ZA
dc.subject Governance en_ZA
dc.title Theoretical and philosophical considerations in the realm of the social sciences for public administration and management emerging researchers en_ZA
dc.type Article en_ZA


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