David Folz,  Survey Research for Public Administration (Sage, 1997).

 Robert K. Yin, Case Study Research: Design and Methods, 2^nd edition (Sage 1994)

Requirements

 In this class, the topics we discuss become more advanced as the semester proceeds.  Therefore, it is essential that you attend every class and keep up with the reading and assignments. To ensure you are keeping up with data analysis methods we discuss in class, problem sets completed late will not receive full credit. The consequences of falling behind in completion of the steps required for the research project should be more obvious: you will make it more difficult for yourself to complete subsequent steps on time. Each step must be completed before the next step is turned in for you to receive any credit for it at all. Missing class will also mean that you may not receive assignments, handouts, or hear announcements for which you will be held responsible.  Should you miss more than 3 classes during the semester, you will receive a grade of “incomplete” and be required to repeat the class.

Practice in Applying Research and Data Analysis Techniques

 Over the course of the semester you will be given nine homework assignments.   Each will be graded on a scale from 1 to 10, based on a demonstration of your understanding of what you are being asked to do, completeness, and whether or not it was turned in on time. (Since these are designed to reinforce the material covered in the lecture, they should be completed as soon as possible after that lecture).  Of these, the one that received the lowest score (or was not turned in at all) will be dropped and thus won’t affect your grade.  To summarize,

 Homework assignments:

·          Purpose: To ensure that you gain an understanding of important data analysis skills by giving you the opportunity to apply that knowledge to problems that you might be asked to solve as a public administrator.

·          Requirements: Completion of a minimum of 8 out of 9 problem sets over the course of the semester.

·          Due date: One week after the assignment is distributed (points will be deducted from your grade if your problem set is received late).

·          Weight: In total, 35% of your final grade.

1. Understanding and Critiquing Published Quantitative Research, February 12:

2. Content Analysis, Due February 26

3. Evaluating Case Study Research, Due March 19

4. Designing Survey Questions Due March 26

5. Descriptive Statistics and Probability Theory Due April 2

6. Using t-tests to Compare Means  Due April 16

7. Relationships Between Nominal Level Data  Due April 23

8. Bivariate Correlation and Regression  Due April 30

9. Multiple Regression Due May 14

Research Project

 In addition, you will be required to design and conduct your own research project.   This will involve several separate assignments, each building upon the previous one.  Please see attached style sheet for more explanation of each of these steps.  Again, the key to successful completion of this project is to spend time making sure the paper at each step is complete, well-written, and turned in on time. If you keep up with assigned due dates for each step, you should have no problem completing the following step on time.  To receive any credit for a step in this process, you must turn it in before the next step is due.

 Steps

 1)     Literature Review:

·          Purpose: To provide you with knowledge of how to identify, summarize and connect to your research, findings from previous, related research efforts.

·          Required: (a) identification of a research topic by Sept. 19 for discussion in class, (b) 3-5 page literature review based on a minimum of 5 journal articles, reports, or books.

·          Due date: March 19

·          Weight: 10% of final grade

2)     Prospectus: 

·          Purpose: To ensure that you know how to develop a complete and realistic research proposal.

·          Required: 6-10 page prospectus (including the literature review written in step 1), that identifies the research question you wish to answer, your specific hypotheses, the theory supporting those hypotheses, the means by which you intend to collect the data, the variables you will be measuring and how you will operationalize them, and your strategy for analyzing the data.

·          Due date: April 16

·          Weight: 15% of final grade

3)     Research paper

·          Purpose: To give you the opportunity to apply your research design by collecting, analyzing, and presenting the data you need to test your hypothesis and help answer your research question.

·          Required: a 10 page (maximum) paper that includes the literature review of step 1 and discussion of research design developed in step 2, as well as your findings and conclusions.

·          Due date: May 14

·          Weight: 25% of final grade

4)     Verbal briefing on your research design and findings

·          Purpose: To give you a chance to practice the skills required for giving a concise and effective verbal briefing.

·          Required: a briefing (not to exceed 12 minutes) on your research project and major findings and conclusions.  Also required is attendance at both briefing sessions.

·          Due date: May 14 or 21

·          Weight: 15% of final grade.

Note about research paper:  For this class, you should focus most directly on the design and analysis of the data for the project you choose.  However, the work you do for this paper can lay the foundation for a more finished product, such as a term paper, thesis, Master’s research project, convention paper, or article.  Therefore, you should choose your topic with care and, if possible, make it something that can ultimately contribute to a larger effort.

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