Time Schedule:
Alison Cullen
PB AF 527
Seattle Campus
Two-quarter sequence explores how to formulate research questions, gain experience with conducting research, and learn how to assess which statistical tools or research methods are appropriate to answer different types of policy or management questions. Covers probability, descriptive statistics, hypothesis testing, and confidence intervals. Prerequisite: graduate status in School of Public Affairs or permission of instructor.
Class description
This course is the first in a two-quarter sequence aimed at helping you to become an informed user and critical consumer of research and statistical analyses.
By the end of this course, you will:
· Gain an understanding of research and statistical analyses as ways to explore, describe, or explain management or policy concerns;
· Use descriptive statistics and statistical inference to address policy or management problems;
· Understand the meaning of analyses using confidence intervals, test statistics, and p-values;
· Recognize the implications of the quality and quantity of data;
· Demonstrate your ability to use software to manipulate data;
· Write about statistical results for a non-technical audience.
In summary, our goal is for you to understand enough theory and have enough experience to intelligently use data to make inferences and conclusions. Furthermore, you will able to digest and critically assess empirical evidence that you may encounter. Throughout the course, we will examine policy questions and related data in order to learn how to apply analytic techniques.
Student learning goals
General method of instruction
Recommended preparation
Class assignments and grading
