Refurbishment of the Durban Bus Station/Railway Station.
Public Administrators, who are not researchers, have practical uses for research in this age. There is an increasing expectation for public administrators to demonstrate effectiveness in policies, programs, and management. Research can focus on almost any issue related to public administration, policies, or programs. Because the scope of government is large, the issues can be almost anything: public safety, poverty, economic development, schools, safety of vehicles, food production, national security, housing, product safety, delinquency, and so on. Research is used to identify the causes and consequences of public problems in order to guide policy development and implementation. The research and innovation department of eThekwini seeks to improve the total outlook of the Long-Distance bus terminus in Durban ,popularly known as the Durban station. The Durban Station is the central railway station in the city of Durban, South Africa, located just north of the central business district. The station services the people of South Africa for both long distance services, from Johannesburg and Cape Town, as well as local travellers through a network of commuter rail services that stretch as far as KwaDukuza (Stanger) to the north, Kelso to the south, and Cato Ridge inland. Future of Durban Station will feature world-class amenities, including a state-of-the-art high- speed terminal to KSIA, a new exhibition centre, business lounges and a newly built, modern office tower. This station has become a destination, rather than a place to wait for a train, giving commuters a truly wonderful shopping, and traveling experienceAs such, the research and innovation department projected that the duration of the project to be 2 years in which the first year will be awarded towards making consultations with other municipalities that have done such refurbishments before, consult with other stakeholders as well as gathering any information the research department may find useful for this project. The research methodology to be implemented for this project involves the use of variables, theories, hypothesis testing and identification of the research problem as well. The researchers are urged to ascertain the testability of the hypothesis used. The research and development department agreed that a common data pool created by the researchers based on information available from other municipality websites and word of mouth was to be used for this project. A data sampling method was adopted in a clear bid to collect data from 6 municipalities in SouthAfrica,8 buses companies operating at the current Durban Station, five hundred users of the Durban Station which includes passengers, uber drivers as well as hawkers and vendors.
Data collection was projected to take at least 5months considering the large sample population that had been defined. Interview, focus group discussions, questioners and surveys where selected to be data collection methods for this astir project. This data gathered was both qualitative and quantitative in nature. These two data collection methods elected represent an invincible weapon of data collection and is hence they are deemed important, efficient and effective. Concluding remarks to the effect of this project where that it is important to plan and design how the research and innovation department was going to address the project and make sure that all collected data is relevant. Unlike a scientific report, there are no strict set of rules so the most important part is making sure that the study is focused and concise; otherwise, it would end up having to wade through a lot of irrelevant information in turn wasting researcher time and project turnover.
Question 1
Research in the public sector provides scientific knowledge which can be used to determine the general applicability of aims, as well as efficient utilisation of resources. Considering this statement, provide an in- depth discussion on the research process.
Question 2
2.1 Critically analyse the need for and importance of sampling in public sector research activities.
2.2 Discuss the difference between explanatory and descriptive research. Provide examples.