Evidence-based research in public administration: A literature review on policy formulation and service delivery
Tlangelani Ngobeni, Mutshutshu Michael Nekhavhambe & Ephraim Mahole
Abstract
Research is essential in public administration, supporting evidence-based policy making and effective service delivery. Despite its significance, integrating research into governance remains inconsistent, often leading to subpar policies and limited effects on service outcomes. While previous studies have explored evidence use in policy or service delivery, few have examined how research informs both areas comprehensively, especially in the South African context. Hence, this study aims to examine evidence-based research in public administration, with a focus on its role in policy-making and service delivery. Adopting an interpretivist approach and qualitative design, the study uses desktop data from published documents relevant to the subject. Guided by the Evidence-Based Policy (EBP) framework, the review systematically combines studies from published reports and journals, providing a context-specific and integrated view not covered in earlier reviews. Content and thematic analyses identified patterns in research utilization, theoretical connections, and interpretive insights on accountability and participatory governance. Findings indicate that research enhances informed decision-making, uncovers service gaps, supports transparency and accountability, and encourages citizen participation, although political interference, limited capacity, and resource constraints limit its impact. Despite the limited availability of rigorous, up-to-date studies, the depth of this review is restricted, underscoring the need for stronger evidence to inform public sector policy and service delivery. The study recommends institutionalizing research integration, boosting capacity, and adopting participatory approaches to maximize evidence use. This review contributes to the literature by offering a comprehensive, evidence-based understanding of research’s strategic role in promoting the use of evidence in policy development and service delivery.
Keywords
research, public administration, policy-making, service delivery, decision-making, evidence-based policy, accountability and governance
Author information & Contribution
Tlangelani Ngobeni. Corresponding author. PhD, Supervisor, University of Venda. Email: ngobenitlaange@gmail.com
Mutshutshu Michael Nekhavhambe. PhD, Lecturer, University of Venda. Email: Mutshutshu.Nekhavhambe@univen.ac.za
Ephraim Mahole. PhD. Lecturer, University of Venda. Email: Ephraim.Mahole@univen.ac.za
“All authors equally contributed to the conception, design, preparation, data gathering and analysis, and writing of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.”
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).
Funding
This work was not supported by any funding.
Institutional Review Board Statement
Not Applicable
Data and Materials Availability
The data supporting the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
AI Declaration
AI Declaration The author declares the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in writing this paper. In particular, the author used Quillbot in summarizing key points and paraphrasing ideas and Grammarly, for grammar, tone, and clarity. The author takes full responsibility for ensuring proper review and editing of content generated using AI.
Notes
Acknowledgement
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Cite this article:
Ngobeni, T., Nekhavhambe, M.M. & Mahole, E. (2026). Evidence-based research in public administration: A literature review on policy formulation and service delivery. International Review of Social Sciences Research, 6(1), 156-184. https://doi.org/10.53378/irssr.353327
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