What's Really Happening Here? Effectively Using Surveys to Learn About Organizations
ABSTRACT Scholars and practitioners of public management need reliable data as they strive to understand public organizations. This article considers various sources of data and how they can be effectively leveraged to learn about organizations and their employees. Common problems associated with archival and survey data are identified, and several recommendations regarding survey design and administration are offered, including a consideration of who (clients, managers, or front line employees) might provide the best information about various topics that may be of interest to researchers or practitioners conducting surveys. Finally, two examples of effective data collection efforts are briefly discussed.