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PAR Features
Research Articles
PAR welcomes manuscripts using diverse theoretical and research frameworks about topics across the domain of public administration. Articles are expected to adhere to high-quality scientific standards and promote knowledge and understanding for professionals and practitioners interested in theory, empirical research, and salient developments in the field. Research topics appropriate for PAR encompass a broad domain, ranging from theoretical and empirical research about public organizations, policy analysis, evaluation research, and normative theory that explores value questions associated with public administration. To this end, PAR encourages submissions that emphasize these broader elements as well as pieces that have a particular focus, including, but not limited to international and comparative research, and research syntheses.
International and comparative research that builds knowledge and theory that is useful for practitioners and scholars around the world is encouraged. PAR is dedicated to engaging the global public administration community through research that provides readers with opportunities to compare practices and processes and interpret international trends and developments in the field.
Research syntheses should apply a rigorous and critical assessment of a body of theory and empirical research, articulating what is known about a phenomenon and ways to advance research about the topic under review. Research syntheses should identify significant variables and effect sizes, a systematic and reproducible search strategy, and a clear framework for studies included in the larger analysis. Meta-analyses that statistically combine studies to determine an overall effect or effect size are encouraged.
All submissions should include three to five sentence-length takeaway points for readers that provide Evidence for Practice. Articles from practitioners or co-authored by practitioners and scholars are welcome. Authors should submit manuscripts electronically through PAR’s online submission portal – Editorial Manager (http://www.editorialmanager.com/par). NOTE: Beginning January 2018 PAR will no longer commission research under the Perspectives, Commentaries, Evidence in Public Administration, Administrative Profiles features. Rather we will consider such pieces as either stand-alone research articles or, where appropriate, as articles eligible for the Viewpoint feature. Further inquiries regarding submission of articles should be addressed to the Editor-in-Chief (Jeremy.Hall@ucf.edu).
Viewpoint
Academics and practitioners have different audiences, viewpoints, interests, intellectual approaches, research methods, and styles of discourse. PAR serves as a critical instrument for bridging these differences, and is committed to engaging the practice community in a new way to increase involvement and participation. PAR seeks manuscripts from stakeholders and/or organizations that are attuned to the problems and concerns confronting their constituents in large numbers.
PAR encourages key groups from the practitioner community to submit research from their organizations that may be pertinent to the broader PAR and ASPA audience. Viewpoint will begin with the January/February 2018 issue and will feature the writings of prominent practitioners on topics of importance. Manuscripts should be 2000-3000 words in length and actively engage both scholars and practitioners in a timely dialogue on cutting edge topics, service innovation, and problems and constraints facing their stakeholders. Further inquiries regarding proposals and submissions should be addressed to Viewpoint Editor Stephen E. Condrey (steve@condrey-consulting.com) or Viewpoint Associate Editor Tonya T. Neaves (tneaves@gmu.edu).
Book Reviews
The Book Review feature aims to engage scholars and practitioners in a lively discussion of books that take on timely topics, advances in theory and/or practice, service innovation, and problems and constraints facing public administration and policy stakeholders. PAR takes a broad view of the field of public administration, and welcomes reviews of books published outside the United States. The feature aims to engage our audience in a critical discussion of the work of contemporary authors that represents the diverse field of public administration. Book reviews should strive for clarity, conciseness, and timeliness. Length of manuscripts should be appropriate to content. Review articles that bring together a number of books are encouraged. Please follow the same style instructions as those noted for regular manuscripts.
Anyone interested in submitting a book review or suggesting a book for review should contact Book Review Editor Galia Cohen, Tarleton State University (COHEN@tarleton.edu).