Research Interests

The primary research puzzle that I aim to address through my research is:

"How can public administration and policymaking processes be reformed to dismantle systemic barriers and inequities that impede equitable service delivery and outcomes for low socioeconomic status individuals?"

I believe that focusing on this research question not only addresses a fundamental issue of social justice and equity, ensuring that all individuals, regardless of their socioeconomic status, have fair access to public services and opportunities, but also has far-reaching implications for the well-being and upward mobility of low-income communities, as equitable service delivery and policymaking can help break cycles of poverty and disadvantage.

By tackling this complex research question, my research holds the potential to contribute to meaningful and transformative changes in public administration and policymaking, ultimately fostering greater social equity and improving the lives of marginalized and underserved communities.

Past and Current (Ongoing) Research Areas

Social Equity

My main research interest lies in the issues associated with social equity.

I am particularly focused on socioeconomic status (SES), or social class.

Related studies:

Miyeon Song, Seung Ho An, & Sun Gue (Susan) Yang. 2025. “Socioeconomic Disparities, Service Equity, and Citizen Satisfaction: Cross-National Evidence.” Public Administration Review 85 (4): 973-988
(Dissertation Ch 1): Sun Gue (Susan) Yang. “Representative Bureaucracy and Socioeconomic Representation: How Does Childhood Socioeconomic Background Influence Social Workers?”
(Dissertation Ch 2): Sun Gue (Susan) Yang. “Making Strange Bedfellows? Representative Bureaucracy and Contagion Effect Among Social Workers.”
(Dissertation Ch 3): Sun Gue (Susan) Yang. “Exploring the Influence of Socioeconomic Background on Social Workers’ Interactions: A Qualitative Investigation.”

Government Performance and Citizen Engagement

I am interested in how the performance of government and public programs/services influences the engagement and satisfaction of service recipients and citizens, as a way to assess the quality of democratic governance

Related studies:

Miyeon Song, Seung Ho An, & Sun Gue (Susan) Yang. 2025. “Socioeconomic Disparities, Service Equity, and Citizen Satisfaction: Cross-National Evidence.” Public Administration Review 85 (4): 973-988

Human Resource/Public Personnel Management

I am interested in human resource and public personnel management, particularly in how bureaucrats, administrators, and public managers engage with clients and their institutional organizations, and how their identities and personal backgrounds shape these interactions.

Related works:

Sun Gue (Susan) Yang. OnlineFirst. “Exploring the Role of SES, Motivation, and Representation Among High SES Social Workers: A Qualitative Inquiry.” Public Personnel Management
Helen H. Yu & Sun Gue (Susan) Yang. Accepted. “Does Occupational Type Matter for Female Supervisors in Federal Law Enforcement? Exploring the Challenges that Sworn vs. Non-Sworn Face in the Workplace.” International Journal of Public Administration
Jiyoon Kang, Sanghoon Park, & Sun Gue Yang. 2022. “Leadership in Communication: How Leadership and Communication Affect Public Service Motivation (PSM).” Journal of Research Methodology 7 (1): 1-38.

Child-related Policies

My heart places children and their well-being in a special place. I am especially intrigued in finding whether policies that are ought to protect children are actually efficient and whether those policies are working.

Related works:

“Predictors of Child Well-Being Within Multicultural Families in Korea.” OMNES: The Journal of Multicultural Society with Dr. Robert Rudolf (2021)
"The Linkage Between Child Poverty and Family Poverty with the Paradox of Education and Remittance: A Case Study in Chiang Mai, Thailand.” International Journal of Economic Research with Dr. Komsan Suriya (2017)

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