Ties That Do Not Bind: Musings on the Specious Relevance of Academic Research

Abstract

This article discusses the lack of congruence between academic research and practice in the field of public administration. It argues that this disconnect can be traced to the ambiguous and conflicting goals and expectations of scholarly research: (1) the creation of theoretical versus pragmatic knowledge; (2) the use of data‐supported versus logic‐driven information; (3) the use of the scientific method versus case studies; (4) the prestige of academic‐oriented versus practitioner‐oriented journals; and (5) the pressures of academic tenure versus the need for organizational effectiveness. The article explores the state of academic research in other disciplines and offers five solutions to narrow the gap between the academy and the agency settings.