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pa550online1.whatisresearch11.pptxPA 550: Research Methods Week 1 - 1/3
Andrew (Andy) Pattison
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What is Research? Why Take a Class in Research Methods?
Evidence-based Argumentation
Induction: learning from the world by observation
The Scientific Method
Mendel & pea pods
Modern medicine, Biochemistry, Physics
Social Science Research
Behavior of people: economics, sociology, anthropology
Public Administration & Public Policy
Do people use more public transit when unemployment rates go up?
Make predictions based on evidence, as opposed to assumptions
Ask questions
Surveys, interviews?
How many people?
Which people?
The challenge to the public manager
School principal, fire chief, emergency manager
Types of Research
Descriptive Research: Who? What? When? How many?
Example:
How much homelessness exists in Ventura County?
Explanatory Research: Why? How?
Example:
Why is there so much homelessness in Ventura County?
Causation & Correlation
Causal Inference: X causes Y
Example:
Will a proposed policy (X) actually reduce homelessness in Ventura County (Y)?
Conditions of Causality:
Temporal Order: X comes before Y
Correlation: There is a pattern
Theory: There is an argument as to why X COULD cause Y
No spuriousness: No other factors (Z) are the actual cause
Direct “Positive” Correlation
As X increases, Y increases
Inverse “Negative” Correlation
As X increases, Y decreases
Car Correlation Examples
