PPA 500 (Section 1) -- THESIS SEMINAR
GRADUATE PROGRAM IN PUBLIC POLICY AND
ADMINISTRATION
CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, SACRAMENTO
Fall 2002
Professor: Rob Wassmer, Ph.D.
E-Mail: rwassme@csus.edu and rwassme@attbi.com
Home Page: http://www.csus.edu/indiv/w/wassmerr
Office: Room 3037, Tahoe Hall
Office Phone: (916) 278 - 6304
Office Hours: Wednesday and Thursday, 4:00 – 6:00 p.m.; and by appointment if necessary
Course Held: To be announced, but we will meet four times during the semester for approximately 3 hours each time; the weeks we will schedule these meetings for are September 9-15, October 7-13, November 4-10, and December 9-15. In the first week of September I will contact enrolled students to set up a mutually agreed upon time.
Required Material:
(1) CSUS Guide For Thesis/Project Format, Latest Edition, Office of Research and Graduate Studies, CSUS,
available for purchase at bookstore or free on web at http://www.csus.edu/rgs/gradstud/forms/MANUAL.PDF ;
(2) Writing for Social Scientists: How to Start and Finish Your Thesis, Book, or Article; 1986, Howard S. Becker, Chicago Press;
available for purchase at bookstore or on web at Amazon.Com ;
(3) A Pocket Style Manual, 2000, Diana Hacker, Third Edition, Bedford Books;
available for purchase at bookstore or on web at Amazon.Com ;
(4) Writing Literature Reviews, 1999, Jose L. Galvan, Pyrczak Publishing;
available for purchase at bookstore or on web at Amazon.Com ;
(5) A Practical Guide for Policy Analysis: The Eightfold Path to More Effective Problem Solving, Eugene Bardach, Chatam House;
available for purchase at bookstore or on web at Amazon.Com ;
(6) Only for those who plan on writing a thesis: Teenage Birthrates in California: What Really Matters?, 1999, Deborah Franklin, (sample MPPA Master's Thesis):
available free http://www.csus.edu/indiv/w/wassmerr/Frankout.htm ;
(7) Only for those who plan on writing a project: Using Linked Data Bases to Streamline Service Delivery and Improve Program Planning in Family Health Programs, 2000, Mary Kay Patton, (sample MPPA Master's Project):
available free http://www.csus.edu/indiv/w/wassmerr/PattonProject.PDF ,
or An Analysis of Policy Alternatives to Promote California Tire Recycling Markets, 2002, Victoria Stuart, (Sample MPPA Master's Project):
available free http://www.csus.edu/indiv/w/wassmerr/Stuartout.htm .
You will need to buy all required texts before our first meeting. When a reading assignment for a particular class meeting is given, the text should be brought to the class meeting.
Internet Access:
I will ask you to read material from the Internet. Access to the Internet is also required for this class. If you do not have it at work or home, access is provided to students at the university library.
Objective:
To provide faculty and peer guidance in preparation of material to satisfy the Master’s thesis/project requirement. This includes clarification of general program expectations, familiarization with research resources, and basic support in a structured environment of feedback.
Method:
Interactive work sessions involving students reporting on progress and problem solving with peer feedback and consultation. Students are required to complete all assignments and consult with their thesis/project committee throughout semester.
To be honest, I would estimate that besides the 3 hours of classroom time required each month, this course will require at least an additional 6 hours a week of work outside of classroom.
Prerequisite:
Completion of all of the core courses in the Public Policy and Administration Program (PPA 200, 205, 207, 210, 220A, 220B, 230, 240) with at least a B- in each course and an average grade of B or better in all. The one exception is that you are taking your final required core course(s) this semester.
PPA 500B:
Those who began the program in the fall of 1998 or later, and who do not complete their entire thesis by the time that PPA500B is offered next, are required to enroll in PPA500B.
Schedule:
The following schedule lists the major topics covered and the assigned reading that accompanies them. I reserve the right to make minor changes and additions to the following schedule.
Session 1 - Week of September 9-15
Complete by time of class meeting:
1. Read pp. 142-167 in A Pocket Style Manual. This material will help you develop thesis statement and explain writing style adopted as standard for PPA.
2. Read pp. 1-12 in A Practical Guide for Policy Analysis. This will also help you develop your thesis statement.
3. Read Chapter 3 in Writing Literature Reviews. Again, this is help on developing a thesis statement.
4. Read Chapters 1 and 2 in Writing for Social Scientists. Come prepared to discuss.
5. Look at the thesis or project options available to complete your PPA culminating experience. These are described in Ted Lascher's note and at end of this syllabus. Decide which better fits the analysis of your thesis question. Incorporate this decision into the write up of your prospectus.
Due at class time:
A two to three-page, double-spaced, typed prospectus on the topic you are considering. See description below and example here. Bring two copies of your prospectus to first meeting. List on prospectus who you intend your major advisor to be. Your major advisor must be someone who is a full-time professor in PPA program. Make sure you talk to this person before our first meeting. If you need help in finding someone, please contact me ASAP.
The prospectus should be in three specific parts. Each part should be two to three paragraphs long. The first part should include a discussion of the broad context of the proposed research and the need for it. In the second part specifically write out the research question you will address in your work. In the final part describe the methodology you will use to offer answers to these questions (case studies, modeling, data, statistical analysis,. etc.) Are you using thesis or project format?
In the first session you will matched with another student who is doing research most similar to your own. Another assignment is to mark up your partner's prospectus with specific suggestions on how to improve the overall idea. Get a copy of your comments to your partner within a week after our meeting. Also get your prospectus to your major advisor for comment. Tell them that you will need there comments within two weeks.
Session 2 - Week of October 7-13
Complete by Time of class meeting:
1. Read pp. 94-104 in A Pocket Style Manual. This material will help you develop literature review.
2. Read pp. 47-69 in A Practical Guide for Policy Analysis. This will also help you develop your literature review.
3. Read Chapters 1-2, and 4-8 in Writing Literature Reviews. Again, this is help on developing a literature review.
4. Read Chapters 3, 4, and 5 in Writing for Social Scientists. Come prepared to discuss.
5. Thesis writers: read Chapter 2 in Teenage Birthrates in California. Project writers: read pp. 13-46 in a Practical Guide for Policy Analysis and Chapters 1 and 2 in Using Linked Data Bases to Streamline Service Delivery and Improve Program Planning in Family Health Programs or An Analysis of Policy Alternatives to Promote California Tire Recycling Markets. Come prepared to discuss.
Due at class time:
Bring a copy of your prospectus after you have given it to your major advisor and they have made comments on it.
In the proper format, submit a bibliography (example here) of at least 10 articles or books, and three popular press articles, that will be in your literature review. For each article or book, prepare a one-page, double-spaced summary (example here) of the article or book (see Chapters 6-8 in Writing Literature Reviews for help). For the popular press articles these need only be half-page summaries. Finally, submit a two-page, single-spaced, outline of your literature review - your Chapter 2 in thesis or Chapters 1 and 2 in project (thesis example here). Bring two copies of all assignments to class.
Another assignment is to mark up your partner's literature review materials with specific suggestions on how to improve the overall idea. Get a copy of the comments made to your partner within a week after our meeting. Also get your literature review materials to your major advisor for comment.
Session 3 - Week of November 4-10
Complete by Time of class meeting:
1. Read pp. 71-94 in A Practical Guide for Policy Analysis. This will also help you develop your methods chapter.
3. Read Chapters 9-11 in Writing Literature Reviews. This is help on incorporating comments into your drafts.
4. Read Chapters 6 and 7 in Writing for Social Scientists. Come prepared to discuss.
5. Thesis writers: read Chapter 3 in Teenage Birthrates in California. Project writers: read Chapters 3 and 4 in Using Linked Data Bases to Streamline Service Delivery and Improve Program Planning in Family Health Programs or An Analysis of Policy Alternatives to Promote California Tire Recycling Markets. Come prepared to discuss.
Due at class time:
Bring a copy of your literature review materials after you have given it to your major advisor and they have made comments on it.
Two copies of your completed first draft of your entire literature review (Chapter 2 of a thesis or Chapters 1 and 2 of a project). These should be around 20 to 25 double-spaced and typed pages.
Another assignment is to mark up your partner's literature review chapter with specific suggestions on how to improve the overall idea. Get a copy of the comments made to your partner within a week after our first meeting. Also get your literature review chapter to your major advisor for comment.
Session 4 - Week of December 9-15
Complete by Time of class meeting:
1. Read Chapters 8 and 10 in Writing for Social Scientists. Come prepared to discuss.
2. Read CSUS Guide for Thesis/Project Format. Come prepared to discuss.
3. Thesis writers: read remainder of Teenage Birthrates in California. Project writers: read remainder of Using Linked Data Bases to Streamline Service Delivery and Improve Program Planning in Family Health Programs or An Analysis of Policy Alternatives to Promote California Tire Recycling Markets. Come prepared to discuss.
Due at class time:
Bring a copy of your literature review chapter after you have given it to your major advisor and they have made comments on it.
Two copies of your completed first draft of your entire methods chapters (Chapter 3 of a thesis or Chapters 3 - 5 of a project). These should be around 20 to 25 double-spaced and typed pages.
Another assignment is to mark up your partner's methods chapter with specific suggestions on how to improve the overall idea. Get a copy of the comments made to your partner within a week after our first meeting. Also, get your methods chapter to your major advisor for comment. I will need their approval of it for you to receive a passing grade in class.
SUGGESTED FIVE-CHAPTER OUTLINE FOR PPA THESIS
Chapter 1: INTRODUCTION
What is the question you are investigating? In theory and application, why is this an important question? Relate the topic to the public policy and/or administrative material you have learned in this program. Site general interest publications that raise the importance of this topic. Describe how the rest of your thesis/project will flow.
Chapter 2: LITERATURE REVIEW
What is already known about this issue? Review a select sample of academic literature, existing reports, and/or policy/administrative history of this issue. Reference the material you have been exposed to in the program. Conclude with a summary of what gaps in our understanding/knowledge of the topic your research will fill. Identify the specific variables involved in your study.
Chapter 3: METHODOLOGY
What is the method you will use to gather the facts to answer your research question? Include data collection and data analysis methods. Be specific and detailed.
Chapter 4: RESULTS
Present your findings with an analysis. Save the major findings and conclusions for Chapter 5.
Chapter 5: CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS
Summarize what you have done in each of the previous chapters and then draw conclusions. What does your analysis say? What are the answers you have derived to your research questions? What surprised you? What could you not find? Any suggestions on how to do differently?
SUGGESTED SIX-CHAPTER OUTLINE FOR PPA PROJECT
Professor Nancy Shulock (based on A Practical Guide for Policy Analysis) offers below an innovative way to think about the organization of Master's project in a six chapter format. Also provided in italics are suggested ways that this six chapter format could be worked into a thesis format. This is helpful advice in thinking about major categories that can be covered in each chapter, be it in a more traditional five chapter format of a thesis or six chapter format of a project.
Chapter 1: DEFINE THE PROBLEM
Specific problem (Ch. 1: Introduction)
Larger context and background (Ch. 1: Introduction)
Others' experiences (Ch. 1: Introduction)
Literature review (Ch. 2: Literature Review)
Chapter 2: ENVIRONMENT
Political environment and constraints (Ch. 1: Introduction)
Legal mandates and issues (Ch. 1: Introduction)
Economic factors (Ch. 1: Introduction)
Social issues (Ch. 1: Introduction)
Chapter 3: ALTERNATIVES
Analyze causes of problem (Ch. 3: Methodology)
Define the variables inherent in alternatives (Ch. 3: Methodology)
Reduce and simplify number of alternatives (Ch. 3: Methodology)
Chapter 4: CRITERIA
Select and justify criteria for evaluating alternatives (e.g. cost/benefit, equity, political feasibility, accountability) (Ch. 3: Methodology)
Relative weighting of criteria (Ch. 3: Methodology)
Methodology (Ch. 3: Methodology)
Chapter 5: ANALYSIS OF ALTERNATIVES
Project outcomes of all alternatives (Ch. 4: Results)
Analyze outcomes in terms of criteria (Ch. 4: Results)
Summarize and contrast alternatives (Ch. 4: Results)
Confront the trade-offs (Ch. 4: Results)
Chapter 6: RECOMMENDATION AND CONCLUSIONS
Tailor recommendation to proper audience/clients (Ch. 5: Conclusion)
Long-term versus short-term issues (Ch. 5: Conclusion)
Pay attention to implementation (Ch. 5: Conclusion)