ABSTRACT

This chapter discusses navigating and analyzing “big data” resources that can be used by public administrators to make better informed decisions regarding their constituencies, service delivery quality, and/or internal organizational performance. The use of surveys, in-depth interviews, and focus groups are original data collection methods. Often overlooked by public administrators is the fact that scientifically reliable and valid data may already have been collected, and this data can be used to inform decision-making. The chapter considers an example where a public administrator could inform decision-making using big data. The use of existing/big data sources through the United States Census Bureau would allow a public administrator to collect these data as part of a larger research project. Existing data through the use of key informants was used to collect information about how municipalities deliver police services. Most public administration students and future public administrators know very little about data analysis techniques.