ROGER WILLIAMS UNIVERSITY COURSE SYLLABUS

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1 ROGER WILLIAMS UNIVERSITY COURSE SYLLABUS Master s Program in Public Administration Master of Science in Leadership PA/LEAD 503 Information and Data Analysis (3 credits) Course Instructors: Dr. Michael Hall (mhall@rwu.edu) and Dr. Philip Dodd-Nufrio (pmnufrio@yahoo.com) Contact Information and Office Hours Michael Hall, PhD Providence Campus 150 Washington Street Providence Rhode, Island mhall@rwu.edu Monday Wednesday from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Dr. Nufrio will meet with students by arrangement. Dr. Nufrio can be reached at pnufrio@rwu.edu. Course Description The purpose of organizational research is to equip students to conduct and complete the type of research and information-gathering projects that become a significant part of organizational life for most managers. This course will also greatly assist you in developing a research design for the MPA/MSL capstones. With the use of pertinent readings and practice exercises, students are led through major steps of the research process: framing the research problem or question; using the literature (academic articles and reports) to further define the research problem; organize a research approach which includes a research methodology and design that proposes how and what data would be collected; and, how such data will be analyzed to yield desired results. The course will also consider quasi-experimental design models appropriate in evaluation and field experiments. It will include computer applications appropriate to data analysis and processing. The course will review important statistical concepts, such as measures of central tendency and variance, before moving to higher order statistical techniques. In covering primary and secondary sources of information, the course will consider questionnaires, interviews, and manual and electronic library and index searches. Commonly used statistical tools and techniques will be presented at a very superficial level. Knowledge in such an area will give students an understanding on how to propose solutions based on research results. Accordingly the objectives of the course are to:

2 1. Understand the research cycle. 2. Apply each of the four types of scales used in measurement. 3. Identify and describe a research problem. 4. Conduct a review of related literature. 5. Plan a research project. 6. Be able to design an experiment and other research designs 7. Differentiate between descriptive and inferential statistics. 8. Make inferences about a population based on information from a sample. 9. Use the sampling distribution of a statistic to assess the reliability of an estimate through a confidence interval. 10. Select the sample size necessary to estimate a population parameter with a specified margin of error. 11. Estimate and test hypotheses about a single population mean and compare two population means. His may include ANOVA (Analysis of Variance) Course Structure The course is designed around four primary activities (1) Defining research and the research problem; (2) the research proposal and its critical steps; (3) defining the research questions, hypotheses and variables; (4) Defining the research methodology including methods (quantitative and qualitative)of data collection; and (5) Using primary and secondary data to propose solutions based on research results. The knowledge and skills developed around these activities will be attained through two (2) major writing assignments, the course guide, relevant power point lectures and five (5) Forums on RWU Bridges conducted by Dr. Nufrio. Dr. Nufrio will also have three (3) live classes as described in course schedule (below). Dr. Hall will meet with students on selected Wednesdays (2/2, 2/23, 3/9 and 3/23). Ideally, by the end of the course, students will have successfully prepared a Research Design which provides a solid foundation for further application in a graduate program in political science and/or public policy administration. This course structure parallels the process of conducting an organizational research project. For students totally unfamiliar with this process, it will allow for step-by-step development. For those having experience, it may provide a more rational, sequential approach than one they are familiar with. Regardless of previous experience, however, many of the techniques and applications will be new, demanding that all students be open and responsive to different methods.

3 Commentary This course consists of specific content (knowledge) to enable development of competencies (abilities) via a graduate studies experience that revitalizes and reinforces learning tactics and strategies, all within a research-specific context. This context provides students the opportunity to actually "practice" the investigation of some personal or managerial dilemma (problem or opportunity) through the design of an actual research study. Students are required to apply course (and text) material and techniques immediately after their introduction via an exchange of information in online discussions. Efforts and progress are confirmed by submission of papers addressing specific stages of the research process. Hence, it is important that students "move" through the material and assignments. Course Competencies (what students should be able to do) can be grouped as: Critical thinking/writing Conceptual (defining the research problem, questions, variables and methodology (ies) Analytical Graduate Experience (reinforcing how to learn) consists of: Literature/Library Research Problem definition Defining the research question/hypotheses and variables Research Methodology Research Design Quantitative/Qualitative methods Group Participation Technology Internet searching Textbook Leedy, Paul D., and Jeanne E. Ormrod (2007) Practical Research. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice-Hall, Inc., 8 th Edition

4 Software The instructor will provide Excel statistical software developed by Macfie and Nufrio in their 2006 textbook, Applied Statistics for Public Policy. SPSS will also be used. SPSS is the statistical program supported by the University. It is strongly suggested that students visit citationmachine.net, if they need assistance to prepare writing assignment references in the APA style. Follow this path: 1. Go to citationmachine.net. You must access this in internet explorer (Mozilla does not access full menu of citation machine) 2. Follow the path for APA 3. For individual authors you can click on those icons. 4. For a citation with multiple authors you need to click on "more" and the icon for multiple authors Online Discussion Board/Forums Regarding the Discussion Forums on RWU Bridges all students must post their comments and counter comments on the forums in a timely manner. These generally discussions relating to the aspects of actually conducting research. They provide an opportunity to think critically about the work done by others (e.g. the problem and research methodologies they propose etc., ). Students should prepare their responses in a standard Word document and then "copy-and-paste" into their reply, being careful of any length limitations specified by the course instructor. Simply submitting a reply with a file attached is not permitted. Students unable to access the website and post their input in a timely manner should make prior arrangements with the course instructor for submission and posting of their responses. STUDENTS LOSE A LETTER GRADE OR POSSIBLY RECEIVE AN F IF THEY FAIL TO POST AND INTERACT WITH THEIR PEERS ON DISCUSSION BOARD!

5 Course Schedule (with Dr. Nufrio) Student Introduction Forum 2/12 Forum # 1 - Topic: Understanding Research, including defining the research problem; Postings reflecting on the lessons in Module 1 are to be included in this forum. 2/26 Forum #2 Topic: Doing a Review of the Literature 3/12 WA # 1 due Paper to include 3-5 page problem statement, Review of the Literature section. Assignment must be submitted on turnitin 3/19 Forum # 3: Variables, measures and hypotheses 3/26 Forum # 4 Quantitative and Qualitative Methods, Data collection methods including survey design 4/2 Live Class #1 : Running Descriptive Statistics including mean, standard deviation and histograms. Students will run dummy data against their proposed survey design. 4/2 WA # 2 due. Paper to include revisions to WA #1 plus Variables, measures and hypotheses. Paper to be submitted on Bridges (not turnitin) 4/9 Forum # 5: Research methods including sampling and research methods to be used. 4/16 Live Class #2. Introduction to inferential statistics including inferential hypothesis testing 5/7 Live Class #3 Topic: Learning Advanced statistical techniques: correlation, ANOVA. 5/21 WA # 3 due. This paper to include revisions to WA 2 plus research methodology and analysis of dummy data including descriptive statistics with the possibility of correlation and or ANOVA Other Fora will be enabled as the course lessons develop. Written Assignments The three (3) Writing Assignments must be prepared in a word processing software and saved as a Microsoft Word (.doc) file. The instructor will provide examples of the Writing Assignments. Written assignments must be submitted by the due dates specified in Discussion Board. LATE PENALITES WILL BE ENFORCED. There is a single standard format that all students must follow: one-inch margins all around, double-spaced, font size 12, font style Times New Roman, with the student's name in the header on each page. No other cover pages, title pages, etc., are required. References cited in the narrative must be listed using APA style guidelines. Students will use turitin.com to prevent plagiarism. Lengths of the different assignments will vary, and no minimum number of pages is suggested. The instructor will provide sample papers. Students must develop the ability to distinguish what is necessary and sufficient to justify their perspectives. Last, grammar counts. Using "spellchecker" is always necessary, but not sufficient to identify homonyms, wrong words spelled correctly (e.g., manger for manager), or poor sentence structure. Again, other-party proofreading can generally resolve these types of deficiencies.

6 Reading Assignments Reading assignments are organized and found in the lesson modules of Bridges. Students must read all pertinent sections of the course materials thoroughly. Re-reading is not uncommon. The nature of this course's content usually mandates this approach. Course Website The course website uses Bridges/Sakai, a software that facilitates organization, delivery, and interchange of documents, information, and data. Students must familiarize themselves with this software's features so they can participate fully in this course. Note that scheduling Chat Rooms for questions and answers, discussions, etc., is at the discretion of the course instructor, and not a requirement for successfully delivering the course. That being said, however, the instructor may choose to make himself available via this medium at times convenient for the majority of students. Student participation is optional, but strongly recommended if this opportunity is offered. Grading Scale Used to Calculate Final Grade Timely and full Participation on 5 BB/DB activities 20% Quizzes 20% Writing Assignment # 1 20% Writing Assignment # 2 20% Writing Assignment # 3 20% The point distribution for the course is: Points = Grade A A B B B C C Lowest ATTENDANCE: Each student is expected to maintain the highest standards of academic honesty. As a result, each student is expected to attend all formally scheduled course meetings and/or BRIDGES Course based activities. Those absences that are excused must meet the Roger Williams University policy on absences. The course is a graduate level course moving from the simple to the complex. As a result class attendance is extremely important when scheduled. Since the course is BRIDGES Based the student can expect to be working on the course online 5 to 7 days a week. Students should cover no less than 2 lessons a week and 2 textbook chapters a week. When classes meet on Selected Wednesdays and Saturdays, students are expected to attend unless of inclement weather, health, work, or personal problem presents itself. In such cases, the student should notify the instructors as soon as possible.

7 Right to Modify: The Roger Williams University policy allows an instructor to modify the course syllabus as circumstances may dictate. Class Participation: The course is a graduate level course. As such class participation is encouraged and anticipated. Students will be expected to approach the course as a graduate level course with enthusiasm, interest, attention, inquisitiveness, and responsibility. Selected Journals for Course Reference Academy of Management Review Administrative Science Review Advances in Data Analysis and Classification Computational Statistics and Data Analysis Harvard Business Review Health Care Management Science International Journal of Public Management Journal of Modern Applied Statistical Methods Journal Public Administration Research Journal of Public Health Management Journal of Public Management Journal of Public Affairs Journal of Statistics & Management Systems Organizational Behaviour and Human Decision Processes Review of Economics and Statistics Strategic Management Journal Professional Competence: The course is part of an overall professional preparation experience. Therefore, the course is intended to provide the student with knowledge and skills sufficient to lead to professional behavior. Students with the graduate level competence, if created, should be equipped to solve public policy problems and manage public programs at the conceptual level.