project research
ealhazmi
Syllabus_FA20172.docx
Course Description: This course is designed to introduce students to the various methods and
techniques utilized by public administrators to conduct and interpret public policy analysis
(PPA). This class will introduce students to the basic concepts underlying PPA including
the elements constituting public choice, how public choice models are constructed, why public
choice models are necessary and the tools decision makers may bring to bear in making public
choices.
Students will be taught how to choose from a variety of choice models and how to construct one
of their own while learning the construction of possibility frontiers and indifference curves.
Students will be introduced to the various types of tools used in PPA including difference
equations, queues, simulations, Markov models benefit-cost analysis, discounting, linear
programming, and decisional analysis.
Program Specific Objective: This class is an elective for the MPA Program and may become
Part of the core curriculum this academic year. Still the class is designed to instill in students
some fundamental skills required for decision makers in the public and non-governmental
agency sectors.
Course Specific Objectives:
Upon completion of this course students will have learned:
· How to increase proficiency in EXCEL and/or SPSS;
· Design a public choice model;
· Conduct a PPA;
· Gather, organize and analyze data using various social scientific techniques; and,
· Organize and present a professional research presentation.
Required Texts:
There are no texts for this class, however, all required reading has been and will continue to be posted on Blackboard. The aggregation of PowerPoint presentations will constitute the basic text for the class.
Instructor’s Expectations:
· Complete all assignments on due date. All late assignments will be assessed a letter grade penalty.
· Read all assignments.
· Participate in class orally. Class participation is an essential part of the final grade.
· Use St. Mary’s email accounts for all communications.
· Check Blackboard account on daily basis for assignments and class announcements.
· If you need to visit with me visit during office hours or schedule an appointment.
· Work Hard!!! Hard Work Leads to Good Grades and Later Success.
St. Mary’s University is committed to making reasonable accommodations to assist students with disabilities in reaching their academic potential. If you have a documented disability, which may affect your performance, attendance, or grades and require accommodations please register with Disability Support Services in the Student Psychological and Testing Office (formerly Counseling and Testing Services) located in the Center for Life Directions. Without registering the university cannot make accommodations.
In accordance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), as amended, Disability Support Services is the designated office responsible for coordinating all accommodations and services for students with disabilities. This office will notify the instructor as to the appropriate accommodations for each student.
St. Mary’s University Honor Code:
“As a member of the St. Mary’s University Community, I promise not to participate in academic dishonesty, including cheating, plagiarism, fabrication, or other academic misconduct which deliberately infringes upon University policy. I will not tolerate these activities from my fellow classmates.”
Academic Honesty:
Plagiarism is the copying or representing the work of someone else (in print or electronic form) and representing it as your own. This includes the work of your fellow students. It is unacceptable and prohibited by the University.
Any and all work you submit for credit in this or any other class must be your own.
Policy on Makeup Work:
No makeup work is allowed unless accompanied by a reasonable medical excuse from a doctor or a family death.
Attendance:
All students are required to attend all class sessions and punctually. Any excused absences are still counted as an absence and students are required to submit work on the due dates. Students will automatically be dropped from the class after the third absence.
Grading:
The following assignments will be due on the date specified in the syllabus or sooner and may be submitted electronically via email or through Blackboard. Below are the assignments together with their allocated weights.
1. Policy Choice (10%): This assignment is the shortest but may be more difficult than it appears. Each student will submit the name of the policy they wish to spend the semester
researching together with a paragraph as to why this topic is important to investigate. Students must specify if they are conducting a needs assessment, an analysis of how a policy is functioning, or an evaluation of problems affecting the success or failure of a policy.
2. Variables to be Measured (10%): Students will turn in a paragraph indicating which variables they will be gathering data on, how they intend to gather the data, and what units of measurement they will use in their PPA.
3. Method of Analysis (10%): This is a short report on the student’s final analytical model. The essay will describe the model (this may be presented graphically) and a rationale as to why they chose this particular model or why they constructed one of their own.
4. Oral Presentation of PPA (10%): Students will make a formal presentation of their PPA during the class period they have chosen. Obviously, those who present later in the semester will make a more thorough presentation than the early presenters.
5. Class Participation (20%): Besides the interaction with classmates during the presentation processes there will be class exercises where the class will have to solve PPA problems provided by the professor. Student teams will be required to solve these problems and discuss their solutions with the entire class.
6. Final Paper (40%): What can I say? This is the finished product. Length is not important; your grade is based on substance.
Each student’s final grade will represent an aggregation of the scores they made on all assignments together with their class participation.
Class Outline:
August 15, 2017 -- Class Introduction: Review syllabus, assignments, and policies. First lecture on PPA will occur during this session.
Readings: PwrPt “PPA Introduction”
First Assignment: Topic and Rationale Due, August 29, 2017.
August 22, 2017 – Policy Choices: This class is dedicated to how decision makers develop a plan of attack when making policy choices.
Readings: None
Second Assignment: Variables to be Measured Due, September 12, 2017.
August 29, 2017 – Generalized Discussion of Models: This class serves as an introduction to what types of models are available to decision makers.
Reading: PwrPt “On Models.”
September 5, 2017 -- Model of Choice: Students will be introduced to the method of choosing the “best” model.
Reading: PwrPt “Model of Choice.”
Third Assignment: Method of Analysis Due, September 26, 2017.
September 12, 2017 – Difference Equations: This class is dedicated to a discussion of Difference Equations.
Reading: PwrPt “Difference Equations.”
September 19, 2017 – Queues: Here students will be “introduced” to the basic concept and use of queues.
Reading: PwrPt “Queues.”
September 26, 2017 – Simulations: Simulations defined and explained will be the focus of this session.
Reading: PwrPt “Simulations
Student Presentation:
October 3, 2017 – Research Class: Here we will pause and take this class session to allow all students to bring their projects to class and share with other students and the professor. This will be a moment when all students will have the opportunity to seek advice and additional assistance from their classmates and faculty member on their projects.
October 10, 2017 – Markov Models: Introduction to Markov Models and Chains is the focus of this class.
Reading: PwrPt “Markov Models.”
Student Presentation:
October 17, 2017 – Multi-Attribute Problems: How decision makers deal with complex problems is discussed in this class session.
Reading: PwrPt “Multi-Attribute Problems.”
October 24, 2017 – Benefit Cost Analysis: Here the focus of the class is Benefit-Cost Analysis or BCA.
Reading: PwrPt “BCA” “BCA Exercises.”
Student Presentation:
October 31, 2017 -- Discounting: How does one value for the future?
Reading: PwrPt “Discounting.”
Student Presentation:
November 7, 2017 – Linear Programming – Students will become acquainted with Linear Programming techniques in this class.
Reading: PwrPt “Linear Programming.”
Student Presentation:
November 14, 2017 – Decisional Analysis: This class is a presentation of Mixed Research Methods or MRM. The virtues of combining both quantitative and qualitative work are discussed in this class.
Reading:
Student Presentation:
November 21, 2017 – Complexity of Public Choice: Here students will be exposed to the interesting world of public choice including discussions of Pareto Optimality and other conditions that make public decision making both difficult and interesting.
Reading: PwrPt “TBA”
Student Presentation:
November 28, 2017 –Research Project Presentations: NO, this is not where you present your final project. Rather, it is where you learn how presentations are made including written and oral presentations, network presentations, and uses of various media. Remember, understanding who your clientele are, is important to developing the correct presentation techniques.
Reading: None.
Final Paper Due in Class.
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