Common Method Bias in Public Management Studies

TLDR

Questionnaire surveys are widely used in public management research to measure both independent and dependent variables, but this practice introduces a risk of common method bias that has received limited attention as a distinct methodological issue. The study aims to discuss the challenge of common method bias in public management research and illustrate it through an analysis of intrinsic work motivation and sickness absence. The authors propose solutions for mitigating common method bias when alternative methods cannot be employed.

Abstract

The questionnaire survey is one of the most commonly used methods of data collection in public management research. These surveys often provide the information used to measure both the independent and dependent variables in an analysis. However, this introduces the risk of common method bias—a serious methodological challenge that has not received much attention as a distinct topic in public management research. We discuss the challenge of common method bias in relation to public management studies and illustrate the problem using an analysis of intrinsic work motivation and sickness absence. Thereafter, we discuss solutions for reducing common method bias when it is not possible to use different methods.