Methodology
Introduction
The methodology approach implemented in this thesis aims to provide important data on the definition of transparency of U.S. states, public officials, through the use of internet data portals in the disclosure of information to the public. This methodology utilizes existing data published by US PIRG transparency 2.0 to provide critical data for the study. The methodology collects important data from the sampled state to provide detailed results of the studies. The results are obtained through a comparative analysis of published data on the transparency of the sampled states.
The primary methodology of this study will provide an evaluation of the state’s transparency based on the data disclosure at its open government data points and portal. The dimension used to involves an evaluation of the nature data disclosed. The general dimensions of evaluation of openness will be administration, disclosure of subsidies data, finance, budgets, human resources, innovation, and physical assets. In this methodology, the comprehensive frameworks of the study cover entities of information that are covered in the transparency reports, and the trends in the disclosure of data by the state governments. The transparency trend is evaluated based on transparency performance data between 2010 and 2019 by U.S. PIRG transparency 2.0. In order to supplement the existing data source from the transparency reports, a survey was conducted to evaluate and compare disclosure websites by the state. Conclusively, the study will ultimately rely on transparency data published in 2015 by PIRG transparency 2.0 and subsidiary data collected through a comparative analysis of transparency portals of the sampled states.
US PIRG Transparency
The ways governments utilize public resources and disclose that data to the general public are crucial aspects of democracy. The presence of transparency on the expenditure of public resources is key to fighting corruption, public officials’ accountability, and public confidence in the administration. U.S. PIRG is an organization that acts as an advocate of public interests. One of US PIRG’s main priorities is to ensure public officials’ accountability through an assessment of how different states disclose their information to the public. The organization has a special interest in tax and budget reforms, product safety, and consumer protection. Reforms in these areas are key to achieving democracy and protecting the needs of society. The agency publishes Transparency assessments reports each year, I which its assessment reports will be to providing primary data for this study. Its transparency reports focus checkbooks website, tax subsidy information, economic development information, quasi-public agencies, and a state database that provides local or county expenditure.
The theoretical framework for data analysis
The study is based on the framework that the definition of transparency varies from one jurisdiction to another, and from one year to another—generally, the definition of transparency in an open government view is dynamic. Therefore, the nature of data accessible varies from time to another, affecting transparency from one state to another. Lack of permanent or standard definition for transparency affects the disclosure of sensitive information by the public officials using the open government portals. The establishment of open data portals is meant to increase proactive disclosure of information to the public and discourage secrecy. The definition of transparency differs from one state to another due to multiple views influencing that vary from one state to another. One of the main goals of this study is to assess how transparency has been defined by different officials in the use of the internet that portals mean for proactive disclosure of governmental data.
In order to comprehensively evaluate transparency as a dynamic concept in open government governments initiative, I will use open government theory to provide a theoretical framework for the study. It is a theory that requires the state governments to deliberately disclose their data to the public to enhance democracy and participation of citizens in budgetary processes. Through the open government initiative, the states are innovative in creating data disclosure websites that are user friendly and allow comprehensive disclosure of data. The use of online portals in disclosure of data is more effective in that it saves money by reducing costly information requests and easy elimination of inefficient information. They also allow interaction between the governments and the citizens to promote public confidence.