The experimental method in Public Administration: lessons from replication in Psychology / O método experimental na Administração Pública: algumas lições das replicações na Psicologia

Abstract In recent years, an increasing number of studies adopting the experimental method have appeared in Public Administration journals. It has been argued that the advantage of experiments in behavioral sciences is that researchers can control contextual factors while investigating the effect of manipulations on a variable of interest. Another point is that experiments can be replicated and, thus, increase confidence in research results. However, replications are rarely undertaken, especially in the behavioral sciences. This article examines the results of the "Open Science Reproducibility Project: Psychology," which replicated 100 experiments previously published in leading Psychology journals. Based on the findings of this project, we present seven recommendations to Public Administration scholars that can improve the quality of their experiments.

Resumen En los últimos años, han aparecido en revistas de Administración Pública un número creciente de estudios que adoptan el método experimental. Se ha argumentado que la ventaja de los experimentos en las ciencias del comportamiento es que permiten a los investigadores controlar los factores contextuales mientras investigan el efecto de las manipulaciones en una variable de interés. Otro argumento es que los experimentos se pueden reproducir y, por tanto, aumentar la confianza en los resultados de la investigación. Sin embargo, las repeticiones rara vez se realizan, especialmente en las ciencias del comportamiento. En este artículo examinamos los resultados del Open Science Reproducibility Project: Psychology, que repitió 100 experimentos publicados anteriormente en las principales revistas de Psicología. Con base en los hallazgos de este proyecto, presentamos siete recomendaciones a los académicos del área de Administración Pública que pueden mejorar la calidad de sus experimentos.

Resumo: Nos últimos anos, um número crescente de estudos adotando o método experimental tem surgido em periódicos de Administração Pública. Tem-se argumentado que a vantagem dos experimentos nas ciências comportamentais é que este permite aos pesquisadores controlar os fatores contextuais enquanto investigam o efeito das manipulações em uma variável de interesse. Outro argumento é que os experimentos podem ser replicados e, assim, aumentar a confiança nos resultados da pesquisa. No entanto, replicações raramente são realizadas, especialmente nas ciências comportamentais. Neste artigo, examinamos os resultados do Open Science Reproducibility Project: Psychology, que replicou 100 experimentos publicados anteriormente nas principais revistas de Psicologia. Com base nas conclusões deste projeto, apresentamos sete recomendações a acadêmicos da área de Administração Pública que podem melhorar a qualidade de seus experimentos.

Implicações teóricas do novo institucionalismo: uma abordagem Habermasiana / Theoretical implications of the new institutionalism: a Habermasian approach

The current article analyzes the theoretical implications of the New Institutionalism, especially in public policy-making, adopting Jürgen Habermas’ theories of action and democracy as the critical reference. Based on an analysis of texts by two leading institutionalists – Ellen Immergut and Elinor Ostrom –, the article argues that the New Institutionalism, especially the approach that adopts the premises of rational choice, meets its limits in a concept of action limited to strategic action and negligence vis-à-vis processes of institutional legitimization. It is suggested that the institutionalist approach can overcome its dilemmas by adopting a Habermasian perspective, since the latter integrates the concepts of strategic action and communicative action in the same theoretical argument and presents legitimacy as the central aspect in the concept of justice.

A ética do discurso e o modelo dos consensos democráticos: uma réplica a J. Eisenberg / Discourse ethics and the model of democratic consensus: a reply to J. Eisenberg

The present article is a critical analysis of the model proposed by José Eisenberg in "Justificação, Aplicação e Consenso: Notas sobre Democracia e Deliberação" (Dados, 44(1):195-213, 2001), which aims to explain the genesis of political arrangements in contemporary democracies. The articleÆs analysis focuses on Jürgen HabermasÆ "discourse ethics" concepts, adopted by the model in question as its main theoretical reference. Based on the works of the German philosopher and social theorist, the article seeks to demonstrate that these concepts were initially developed from the Habermasian notion of discourse and, consequently, are not based on empirical consensus, as the model under analysis suggests. The article also points to other problems in the modelÆs theoretical consistency and suggests an approach for its improvement