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The MCQs below are drawn from the Public Administration subject category.
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71
Which concept, formulated by C. Wright Mills, describes the ability to see the relationship between individual experiences (personal troubles) and larger social forces (public issues)?
A. Sociological imagination
B. Social structure
C. Collective conscience
D. Cultural capital
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Explanation
Mills' sociological imagination refers to linking personal troubles to public issues and understanding individuals within broader social contexts.
72
One significant advantage of e‑governance in public administration is that it
A. eliminates the need for public managers
B. increases transparency and reduces opportunities for corruption by improving access to information
C. guarantees equal digital access for all citizens regardless of capacity
D. removes the requirement for accountability mechanisms
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Explanation
E-governance enhances transparency and access to information, which can reduce corruption and improve citizen oversight of public services.
73
The principle of subsidiarity in public administration means that
A. central government should retain all decision-making powers
B. decisions should be made only by international bodies
C. public functions should be performed by the lowest level competent to do them effectively
D. private actors should always replace public institutions
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Explanation
Subsidiarity holds that responsibilities should be assigned to the lowest competent level to enhance responsiveness and efficiency.
74
Public choice theory in the study of public administration primarily assumes that
A. bureaucrats are perfectly altruistic and always place public interest first
B. individuals in public institutions act largely as self-interested agents responding to incentives
C. collective decision-making always yields socially optimal outcomes
D. administrative decisions are unaffected by institutional incentives
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Explanation
Public choice theory applies economic assumptions of self-interest and incentives to public actors, explaining behavior as responses to those incentives.
75
Which characteristic most closely reflects Max Weber’s ideal-type bureaucracy?
A. Impersonality and rule-bound decision-making based on formal rules
B. Personalized leadership and ad hoc decision-making
C. Appointment based on kinship or favoritism
D. Absence of hierarchical authority
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Explanation
Weber’s bureaucracy is characterized by impersonal, rule-based procedures and merit-based authority to ensure predictable administration.
76
Which of the following best describes a core feature of New Public Management (NPM)?
A. Re-emphasis on hierarchical control and strict rule-following
B. Adoption of market-oriented mechanisms, performance measurement and managerial autonomy
C. Complete abolition of public sector contracting and outsourcing
D. Subordination of efficiency to bureaucratic procedure
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Explanation
NPM emphasizes market mechanisms, performance measurement, and managerial autonomy to improve efficiency and service delivery.
77
The principal–agent problem in public administration primarily arises because
A. agents (bureaucrats) often have more information than principals (political officials) and may pursue divergent interests
B. principals always have complete information about administrative processes
C. agents are always perfectly aligned with the public interest
D. principals directly control every administrative decision
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Explanation
The principal–agent problem stems from information asymmetry and differing objectives between principals and agents, enabling agents to act in their own interest.
78
Which reliability coefficient is most appropriate for assessing the temporal stability of a psychological test when the same test is administered to the same group twice over time?
A. Internal consistency (e.g., Cronbach’s alpha) measuring item homogeneity.
B. Test–retest reliability measuring stability of scores over time.
C. Inter-rater reliability assessing agreement between different scorers.
D. Split-half reliability correlating two halves of a single administration.
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Explanation
Test–retest reliability evaluates whether test scores remain consistent across administrations separated by time, indicating temporal stability.
79
According to standard public policy models, which stage immediately follows agenda-setting?
A. Policy evaluation
B. Policy formulation
C. Policy termination
D. Policy implementation
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Explanation
After an issue reaches the agenda, policymakers develop and formulate specific policy options before implementation and evaluation.
80
The principal–agent problem in public administration primarily refers to:
A. Tension between different political parties over policy
B. The risk that agents (e.g., bureaucrats) will pursue their own interests rather than the principals' (e.g., elected officials') objectives
C. Conflicts between the judiciary and the legislature
D. The difficulty citizens face in monitoring elections
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Explanation
The principal–agent problem describes delegation risks where agents may shirk or pursue private goals contrary to principals' interests.
