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A Strategy for Building Public Service Motivation Research Internationally
Author(s) -
Kim Sangmook,
Vandenabeele Wouter
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
public administration review
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.721
H-Index - 139
eISSN - 1540-6210
pISSN - 0033-3352
DOI - 10.1111/j.1540-6210.2010.02198.x
Subject(s) - public service motivation , construct (python library) , public service , compassion , value (mathematics) , service (business) , public value , public relations , empirical research , order (exchange) , identification (biology) , sociology , political science , public sector , business , marketing , computer science , epistemology , philosophy , botany , finance , machine learning , law , biology , programming language
As public service motivation research grows qualitatively and quantitatively, some scholars question its appropriateness for international applications. This essay sets out a strategy of convergence for international research and measurement approaches. Studies that assess commonalities in public service motivation content internationally are analyzed in order to develop a broader conceptual and more operational definition as well as consequently a more universal public service motivation construct. Public service motives, according to this review, are based on self‐sacrifice and fall into three categories: instrumental, value‐based, and identification. The dimensions of the public service motivation construct are refined along the lines of attraction to public participation, commitment to public values, compassion, and self‐sacrifice. Researchers are urged to include all of its dimensions within their empirical studies to advance contemporary public service motivation studies.