PPA207: Quantitative Research Methods

PPA207: Quantitative Research Methods
Spring, 2005

Public Policy and Administration
California State University, Sacramento

Professor Miguel Ceja
3029 Tahoe Hall
cejam@csus.edu
(916) 278-5591

Office Hours
Tuesdays 4-6:00pm

Class will meet in Tahoe

COURSE OBJECTIVES
This graduate seminar is intended to prepare students to understand the nature, assumptions, and logic of quantitative methodology. The course will focus on issues of design, conceptualization, analysis, and interpretation of quantitative research procedures. The aim of this course is to help students acquire skills and gain experience in using a variety of research techniques for the purposes of understanding and making sense of public policy.

Learning objectives:

Upon completion of this course, students are expected to:

COURSE FORMAT
The graduate seminar is a space of open discussion, inquiry, and discovery. The success of the seminar rests on the free and uninhibited intellectual and emotional engagement of all participants. Effective participation and learning requires that students read class material, reflect on the readings, and come to the seminar prepared to share their ideas with classmates. In addition to class discussions, there will be analytical exercises, discussion of computer assignments and individual student presentations.

ASSIGNMENTS AND GRADING

There are four components to students’ grades:

Class attendance and participation – 10%
Article critiques – 15%
Midterm Assessment – 25%
Final presentations and course assignments – 15%
Final paper – 35%

Late Assignment and Missing Class
Late assignments will not be accepted. At my discretion a student who misses a deadline may be given an extension. Whether or not a penalty will be assessed on the late assignment depends on the reason.

Missing two class sessions or more will lower your overall grade for the class.

If you do miss class:

*Please tell me in advance, if possible.
*To demonstrate that you have engaged the material for a particular class, write a short analytical essay that reacts to one of the readings in depth.
*The reaction is due the day of the class you are scheduled to miss. This can be submitted electronically or placed in my box. If you miss a class unexpectedly, a different due date can be negotiated.

Classroom Participation
Classroom participation includes attendance, weekly class discussion, prepared questions or comments, in-class activities and student presentations.

Article critiques
You will be given two quantitative articles to critique (3-5 pages, dlb-spaced). The first critique will be due in class on February 8. The second critique will be due in class on March 8. In your critiques, please consider the following as a template for your critique:

Is the problem clearly stated;
Does the review of the literature adequately address the topic;
Is the particular methodology appropriate;
Are key variables described;
Are the results clearly presented;
Are conclusions drawn substantiated by the results; and
Are policy implications addressed

In addition to the above questions, please consider including in your article critiques, suggestions for improving the study (i.e. alternative use of variables, different methodological procedures, etc…)

Midterm Assessment
You will be given a midterm assessment after parts one and two of the course. This will take place during the class session of March 15^th.

Final Presentation and Course Assignments
Final papers will be presented to the class (conference style) using power point slides and orally peer-reviewed by the class during the last two weeks of the semester. Presentations should be no longer than 12 minutes. Presentations should include at the very least, the following slides:

Course assignments will consist of exercise problems from both the Pollock and Allison books. These will be due during the class session that they are assigned for.

Final paper
Final papers (12-15 pages, dbl-spaced) will be due on the Thursday of finals week. Paper topics are open but should be approved by week 3. A two-page prospectus that outlines your final paper topic is due on week 5. I encourage you to discuss your paper topic with me prior to week 3. Drafts of sections of the paper will be due throughout the semester. In addition, you will be required to include at least 10 references that help contextualize your topic within the existing body of literature.

For your final paper, you will be required to make use of an existing data set. From this data set you will select a dependent variable to analyze. The dependent variable you choose, along with a set of independent variables from the same data source will form the basis for all of your quantitative analysis. Most of you will use the data sets that come with the Pollock book. You also have the option of utilizing an external data set of your choosing, assuming you have access to such data set. If you decide to do this, please let me know as soon as possible.