Nudging and Muddling through

Bibliographic Data

ID15748639
AuthorsGregg G Van Ryzin (0000-0003-4107-5319, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, corresponding author)
Year2021
Volume4
Issue4
Pages339-345
Publication date2021-09-08
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenuePerspectives on Public Management and Governance (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2398-4910 • E-ISSN: 2398-4929
PublisherOxford University Press (OUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1093/ppmgov/gvab021
OpenAlexW3202503659
LanguageEN
Citations received7
References cited27

Despite its grounding in prestigious theories of behavioral science, the findings of both academic and applied behavioral public administration (BPA) have tended to present a rather mixed picture of often contradictory results that appear highly context dependent. And more developed theory and better methods may not do much to remedy the situation. Rather, we should perhaps begin to view BPA through the lens of Charles Lindblom’s notion of a science of muddling through. That is, BPA should perhaps be seen not so much as a theory-driven attempt to uncover universal regularities of human thought and behavior, but rather as a method of incremental, limited adjustments—tested by successive randomized controlled trials (RCTs)—that form part of an evolutionary process of trial-and-error aimed at solving applied problems in localized settings. Implications for academic and applied BPA are discussed

Behavioural sciences · Cognitive psychology · Context (archaeology · Economics · Epistemology · Positive economics · Process (computing · Psychotherapist · Randomized controlled trial · Sociology · Behavioral Health and Interventions · Computer Science · Decision-Making and Behavioral Economics · Health Policy Implementation Science · Medicine · Psychology · History · Philosophy · Social Psychology

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