Course Description
Basic research methods and their use in public administration from the standpoint of both public policy and public management. Topics covered include the scientific method, experimental and quasi-experimental designs, sampling, interviewing, and questionnaire construction.
Athena Title
RSCH MTHDS PUB ADMN
Equivalent Courses
Not open to students with credit in POLS 7110
Semester Course Offered
Offered fall
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
This course presents an introduction to the design, conduct, and analysis of empirical research in public administration, with a special emphasis on the evaluation of government programs. The class considers the application of both economic approaches and research design to the analysis of public programs. While the course focuses on the methodology of research, previous preparation in mathematics, statistics, or related fields is not required. The course concentrates on analytic issues in the design, critique, and interpretation of empirical research. It should help provide the basis for student papers and projects in the graduate degree programs in public administration.
Topical Outline
I. The role of research methods in analyzing public programs II. Economic approaches to analyzing public programs III. Basic elements in designing, conducting, and evaluating empirical research IV. Causal inference and validity issues V. Types of research design: Evaluation and selection VI. Measurement VII. Questions of propriety: Research design, human subjects, and utilization of findings VIII. Survey and other data collection techniques
Syllabus
Public CV