Journal Article

Revisiting the Motivational Bases of Public Service: Twenty Years of Research and an Agenda for the Future

Hondeghem, Annie, Perry, James L., Wise, Lois Recascino

2010

Overview

How has research regarding public service motivation evolved since James L. Perry and Lois Recascino Wise published their essay \"The Motivational Bases of Public Service\" 20 years ago? The authors assess subsequent studies in public administration and in social and behavioral sciences as well as evolving definitions of public service motivation. What have we learned about public service motivation during the last two decades? What gaps in our understanding and knowledge have appeared with respect to the three propositions offered by Perry and Wise? This essay charts new directions for public service motivation scholarship to help clarify current research questions, advance comparative research, and enhance our overall understanding of individuals' public service motives.

• Publisher: Blackwell Publishing Ltd,Wiley Subscription Services,American Society for Public Administration
• Subject: Altruism / Behavioral Science Research / Behavioral sciences / Beliefs / Community Relations / Comparative analysis / Definitions / Economic motivation / Economic research / Educational administration / Employee motivation / Government (Administrative Body) / Government services / Graphs / Human resources / Individual behaviour / Individual Needs / Merit Pay / Motivation / Motivation research / Organizational behavior / Prosocial Behavior / Public Administration / Public servants / Public Service / Public Services / Research methods / Resistance (Psychology) / Scholarship / Self interest / Social factors / Social research / Social services / Studies / Symposium on Public Service Motivation Research: From "Selfless" to "selfish" Norms to PSM