PSC 5913

Introduction to the Analysis of Political & Administrative Data

Professor Gary Copeland

Fall, 2005

3:30 Mondays

231 Physical Sciences

Office: 213 Dale Hall Tower

Phone: 325- 1426

copeland@ou.edu

Office Hours: 1:30 – 3:30 M,W, and 2:00 - 4:00 Tuesday    

Course Description: This course is intended to show the relevance and application of research methods and statistical techniques to problems of political and social science including public management and public affairs. The course is oriented toward utilization of quantitative procedures and interpretation of results, rather than to theoretical issues. While a significant portion of the course is devoted to data analysis and statistics, previous preparation in mathematics or statistics is not necessary or required. A primary objective of the course is to help the student with the tools essential to become an informed consumer of quantitative information. This course also serves as the entry course to higher level statistical and data analytic coursework.

Course Objectives: Upon completion of the course, students should be able to:

1.        learn the principles of research methodology, research designs, and techniques of measurement;

2.        understand statistical terminology;

3.        understand the logic behind, and the interpretation of, the statistics discussed in class;

4.        be able to conduct empirical research, including statistical calculations;

5.        become an informed consumer of quantitative information, e.g., read the literature in the field or communicate with a statistician;

6.        be prepared for more advanced coursework; and

7.        be able to utilize appropriate software to facilitate data analysis.

Textbook(s) and Instructional Materials:

Meier, Kenneth J., Jeffrey L. Brudney., and John Bohte.2005. Applied Statistics for Public and Nonprofit Administration, 6^th ed. Thompson Wadsworth Pub. Co., ISBN 0-534-60268-1

Carlson, James M. and Mark S. Hyde. 2003. Doing Empirical Research. Houghton Mifflin Co. ISBN 0-618-11672-9.

Norusis, Marija J. 2005. SPSS 13.0 Statistical Procedures Companion. Prentice Hall. ISBN 0-13-186539-0.

You will also need an inexpensive calculator that has addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, and square root functions.

In this class we will utilize SPSS as a data analysis package. You can gain access to SPSS by purchasing a (relatively) inexpensive educational package in the bookstore or by using computers in various labs across campus. The Norusis textbook along with the online “help” and “tutorial” functions will be our primary learning source for SPSS. The Norusis textbook also has a cd-rom containing a variety of datasets that she uses in her text and which should help you learn to use SPSS.

Assignments, Grading and Due Dates:

Numerical calculations are integral to this course. In order to facilitate the application and interpretation of statistics, I recommend that you obtain access to an inexpensive hand calculator and bring it to all class meetings. (Generally, you may use a calculator, but only the four basic functions plus the square root buttons. For all assignments, please show all relevant work.) In addition, exercises designed to develop analytic skills will be performed in class. You should, therefore, bring the Meier and Brudney textbook to each class.

You should also anticipate a weekly assignment that will utilize that material learned in class and through the readings each week. Some of the assignments will require the calculation of statistics and some will be computer applications using SPSS.

Other assignments include a brief research design that will be due about half way into the semester, the creation of data set that will be completed by about the 4^th week of classes and a brief data analysis paper at the end of the semester. The three assignments may be complimentary or the may be undertaken independently of each other. The data set will be used for assignments over the course of the semester. The research design is about a five page assignment that will be elaborated upon in class after we cover relevant material. The final paper is also a short paper—about five pages not counting tables. It should be about one paragraph explaining the substantive issues it addresses, about one page explaining the design and data, and several pages interpreting the statistical analysis presented. It will be evaluated based on the appropriateness and correctness of the statistical analysis presented.

There will be a final exam the last day of class, per university policy. Statistical formulae will not need to be memorized for the final.

Class attendance is absolutely essential to success in this class.

Instruction during class time will follow primarily the Meier, Brudney, and Bohte textbook. Reading assignments and approximate dates are as follows:

Reasonable Accommodations

Any student in this course who has a disability that may prevent her or him from fully demonstrating her or his abilities should contact me personally as soon as possible so we can discuss accommodations necessary to ensure full participation and facilitate your educational opportunities.