Public Administration: 50 MCQs

 Multiple Choice Questions

1. Who explained the intellectual development of Public Administration through five Paradigms?

A. Robert Dahl

B. Nicholas Henry

C. Robert T. Golembiewski

D. Herbert Simon

Answer: B. Nicholas Henry

2. The Politics–Administration Dichotomy Paradigm covers which period according to Nicholas Henry?

A. 1887–1926

B. 1927–1937

C. 1938–1947

D. 1948–1970

Answer: A. 1887–1926

3. The Principles of Administration Paradigm covers:

A. 1887–1926

B. 1927–1937

C. 1938–1947

D. 1971 onwards

Answer: B. 1927–1937

4. Public Administration as Political Science covers:

A. 1927–1937

B. 1938–1947

C. 1950–1970

D. 1971 onwards

Answer: C. 1950–1970

5. Public Administration as Administrative Science or Management covers:

A. 1948–1955

B. 1956–1970

C. 1971–1980

D. 1927–1937

Answer: B. 1956–1970

6. Public Administration as Public Administration began according to Nicholas Henry in:

A. 1948

B. 1950

C. 1956

D. 1970

Answer: D. 1970

7. Who developed the four-stage analysis of Public Administration based on ‘locus’ and ‘focus’?

A. Nicholas Henry

B. Robert T. Golembiewski

C. Woodrow Wilson

D. Dwight Waldo

Answer: B. Robert T. Golembiewski

8. ‘Locus’ refers to:

A. Analytical subject

B. Method of administration

C. Field or place of study

D. Decision-making process

Answer: C. Field or place of study

9. ‘Focus’ refers to:

A. Field of study

B. Analytical subject given importance

C. Administrative organisation

D. Political environment

Answer: B. Analytical subject given importance

10. Who published “The Study of Administration” in 1887?

A. Frank J. Goodnow

B. Woodrow Wilson

C. L.D. White

D. W.F. Willoughby

Answer: B. Woodrow Wilson

11. Woodrow Wilson is popularly known as the:

A. Father of American Political Science

B. Father of Public Administration

C. Father of Administrative Behaviour

D. Father of Comparative Administration

Answer: B. Father of Public Administration

12. According to Wilson, politics is primarily concerned with:

A. Policy implementation

B. Recruitment

C. Policy-making

D. Administrative control

Answer: C. Policy-making

13. According to Wilson, administration is primarily concerned with:

A. Policy implementation

B. Political conflict

C. Legislation

D. Election management

Answer: A. Policy implementation

14. Which work did Frank J. Goodnow publish in 1900?

A. The Administrative State

B. Politics and Administration

C. Administrative Behaviour

D. Principles of Public Administration

Answer: B. Politics and Administration

15. Frank J. Goodnow is also known as the:

A. Father of Comparative Public Administration

B. Father of American Public Administration

C. Father of Behaviouralism

D. Father of Development Administration

Answer: B. Father of American Public Administration

16. According to Goodnow, Politics represents:

A. Implementation of policies

B. Expression of the will of the state

C. Organisational structure

D. Administrative efficiency

Answer: B. Expression of the will of the state

17. According to Goodnow, Administration is concerned with:

A. Expression of state will

B. Political representation

C. Execution of policies

D. Constitutional amendment

Answer: C. Execution of policies

18. Which organisation's 1914 report emphasised preparing specialised persons for government positions?

A. United Nations

B. American Political Science Association

C. American Administrative Association

D. League of Nations

Answer: B. American Political Science Association

19. Who wrote “Introduction to the Study of Public Administration”?

A. L.D. White

B. W.F. Willoughby

C. Herbert Simon

D. Dwight Waldo

Answer: A. L.D. White

20. L.D. White’s “Introduction to the Study of Public Administration” was published in:

A. 1887

B. 1900

C. 1926

D. 1937

Answer: C. 1926

21. The Principles of Administration Paradigm began with the publication of which work?

A. Administrative Behaviour

B. Principles of Public Administration

C. The Administrative State

D. Politics and Administration

Answer: B. Principles of Public Administration

22. Who wrote “Principles of Public Administration”?

A. W.F. Willoughby

B. L.D. White

C. Herbert Simon

D. Robert Dahl

Answer: A. W.F. Willoughby

23. The central concern of the Principles of Administration stage was:

A. Political participation

B. Universal principles of administration

C. Public choice

D. Comparative politics

Answer: B. Universal principles of administration

24. Which concept received major emphasis during the Principles of Administration stage?

A. Efficiency

B. Political participation

C. Welfare state

D. Public choice

Answer: A. Efficiency

25. Who co-authored “Papers on the Science of Administration”?

A. March and Simon

B. Gulick and Urwick

C. Cyert and March

D. Barnard and Dahl

Answer: B. Gulick and Urwick

26. “Papers on the Science of Administration” was published in:

A. 1926

B. 1931

C. 1937

D. 1947

Answer: C. 1937

27. Which approach challenged the classical principles approach during the Era of Challenge?

A. Behavioural Approach

B. Legal Approach

C. Historical Approach

D. Marxist Approach

Answer: A. Behavioural Approach

28. The Era of Challenge covers which period in the given classification?

A. 1927–1937

B. 1938–1947

C. 1948–1970

D. 1971 onwards

Answer: B. 1938–1947

29. Which two major pillars of classical Public Administration were challenged during the Era of Challenge?

A. Public Choice and Policy Approach

B. Dichotomy and Principles of Administration

C. Comparative Administration and Development Administration

D. Ecology and Behaviouralism

Answer: B. Dichotomy and Principles of Administration

30. The Hawthorne Studies are closely associated with:

A. Henri Fayol

B. Elton Mayo

C. Herbert Simon

D. Robert Dahl

Answer: B. Elton Mayo

31. Hawthorne Studies highlighted the importance of:

A. Formal organisation only

B. Informal organisation

C. Political parties

D. Constitutional law

Answer: B. Informal organisation

32. Who called the traditional principles of administration ‘proverbs’?

A. Robert Dahl

B. Herbert A. Simon

C. Dwight Waldo

D. John Gaus

Answer: B. Herbert A. Simon

33. Herbert Simon gave central importance to which concept?

A. Political socialisation

B. Decision-making

C. Constitutionalism

D. Federalism

Answer: B. Decision-making

34. Which book was written by Herbert A. Simon in 1947?

A. The Administrative State

B. Administrative Behaviour

C. Politics and Administration

D. Principles of Public Administration

Answer: B. Administrative Behaviour

35. Who wrote “The Science of Public Administration: Three Problems”?

A. Robert Dahl

B. Herbert Simon

C. Dwight Waldo

D. Frank Goodnow

Answer: A. Robert Dahl

36. Robert Dahl criticised the idea of:

A. Policy implementation

B. Universal principles of Public Administration

C. Human Relations Theory

D. Decision-making

Answer: B. Universal principles of Public Administration

37. According to Robert Dahl, which factor cannot be completely removed from Public Administration?

A. Technology

B. Normative values

C. Budget

D. Organisation

Answer: B. Normative values

38. Dahl emphasised the importance of:

A. Cross-cultural and comparative studies

B. Political neutrality alone

C. Classical principles

D. Complete separation of politics and administration

Answer: A. Cross-cultural and comparative studies

39. The Crisis of Identity stage is associated with which period?

A. 1887–1926

B. 1927–1937

C. 1938–1947

D. 1948–1970

Answer: D. 1948–1970

40. During the Crisis of Identity, one group attempted to reconnect Public Administration with:

A. Economics

B. Political Science

C. Sociology only

D. Law only

Answer: B. Political Science

41. Who wrote “Trends in the Theory of Public Administration” in 1950?

A. John Gaus

B. Roscoe Martin

C. Robert Dahl

D. Vincent Ostrom

Answer: A. John Gaus

42. Which approach viewed Public Administration in relation to Administrative Science or Management?

A. Management-oriented approach

B. Legal approach

C. Historical approach

D. Classical political approach

Answer: A. Management-oriented approach

43. Which of the following is associated with F.W. Riggs?

A. Ecological Approach

B. Public Choice Approach

C. Decision-Making Approach

D. Scientific Management

Answer: A. Ecological Approach

44. Who is associated with the Public Choice Approach in Public Administration?

A. Vincent Ostrom

B. Elton Mayo

C. L.D. White

D. W.F. Willoughby

Answer: A. Vincent Ostrom

45. The Public Policy Perspective began approximately in:

A. 1948

B. 1956

C. 1971

D. 1987

Answer: C. 1971

46. The major focus of the Public Policy Perspective is:

A. Administrative hierarchy

B. Public Policy Analysis

C. Scientific management

D. Formal organisation

Answer: B. Public Policy Analysis

47. According to Dwight Waldo, the complete separation of politics and administration had become an:

A. Administrative principle

B. Outworn credo

C. Scientific law

D. Universal principle

Answer: B. Outworn credo

48. The Public Policy Approach made Public Administration more:

A. Isolated

B. Interdisciplinary

C. Centralised

D. Mechanistic

Answer: B. Interdisciplinary

49. Which university was the first in India to include a full-compulsory paper on Public Administration in its M.A. Political Science course during the 1930s?

A. Madras University

B. Delhi University

C. Lucknow University

D. Calcutta University

Answer: C. Lucknow University

50. Which university started a Diploma Course in Public Administration in 1937?

A. Lucknow University

B. Madras University

C. Delhi University

D. Bombay University

Answer: B. Madras University