Seminar in Research Methods for Public Administration

California State University, Northridge

MPA 620
Intersession 2000

Professor:  Matthew Cahn              
Phone:   (home)   (805) 654-1463
Email:   matthew.cahn@csun.edu

Friday               1/7 & 1/21        6:00 pm to 9:45 pm
Saturday           1/8 & 1/22        8:00 am to 5:00 pm
Sunday             1/9 & 1/23        8:00 am to 5:00 pm

 

Anybody can make the simple complicated... 

creativity is making the complicated simple...  (Charlie Mingus)


Seminar Description

Public Administration is a profession dedicated to solving Public Problems through the work of public agencies and private non-profit organizations.  Knowledge of public needs, and measuring the success of programs,  is a necessary component of a public administrators tool box. 

 

This seminar introduces students to the methods and madness of Social Science Research, as applied to Public Administration.  Emphasis is placed on the procedures for conceptualizing research projects, designing the research approach, and implementing the data acquisition and analysis.  Specific data collection methodologies reviewed will include experimental, survey, observation, content analysis, case study, and evaluation.  In addition, both qualitative and statistical methods of analysis will be reviewed.

 

Reading

 

O=Sullivan: Research Methods for Public Administration        (Longman Publishers)

Patton & Sawicki: Basic Methods of Policy Analysis and Planning   (Prentice Hall)

 

Course Evaluation & Requirements

Seminar Participation             50%                    Research Paper                        50%

Course  Outline

1/7 (a): Introduction to Course and Introduction Social Science for Public Administration

Reasons for doing research;

Conceptualizing the research project;

Ethics for Public Administrators;

O=Sullivan & Rassel: chs. 1, 8;

 

1/7 (b): Research Design

Design Various Approaches for Data Collection;

O=Sullivan & Rassel: chs. 2-3, 6-7;


1/8:      9:00 am   The Literature Review

Using the Library

10:00 am
            Library Exercise
            Team Research}

3:00 pm

Break for Reading

1/9:      10:00 am  Measuring Variables & Building Samples

Operationalizing and Measuring Variables;

Building Indexes;

O=Sullivan & Rassel: chs. 4-5, 10;

after lunch:

Sample Design

Survey Research Methodology and Question Building

Between 1/9 and 1/21:

Complete Literature Review

Build Sample Design

Develop and pretest Questionnaire (email to Cahn for approval)

1/21:     6:00 pm

Finalize Sample, and Prepare for Data Collection

Finalize Questionnaire & Photocopy

1/22:  9:00 am   Meet for Breakfast at Franky=s downtown/ implement surveys  
                        (Main & California)

Finalize sampling approach and begin implementing surveys

after lunch:

 loading data for analysis           
           

1/23:     10:00 am   Analyzing Data and Using Computers for Data Analysis

Using Computers for Data Analysis;

Analyze Survey Data;

Locating Existing Datasets;

O=Sullivan & Rassel: chs. 9, 11;

after lunch:  Policy Analysis and Planning

Evaluation Criteria;

Patton & Sawicki: chs. 1-5

Policy Alternatives;

Evaluating Implemented Policies;

Communicating Findings;

Patton & Sawicki: chs. 6-9;

O=Sullivan & Rassel: ch. 16;     

 

Research Report Due ASAP !

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Matthew Cahn
Department of Political Science
California State University Northridge
18111 Nordhoff Street
Northridge, CA  91330-8254
(818) 677-3488
matthew.cahn@csun.edu