PLCY 815 Advanced Quantitative Method I

The field of Public Policy at the level of Ph.D. involves not only working familiarity with substantive issues but also mastery of the tools necessary for monitoring the status, progression, and potentialities for action to best guide decision-making by the testing of operative theories. As a core component to doctoral studies, students are required to demonstrate competency in the measurement of the scope and severity of policy problems, to assess risk, to systematically compare alternatives, and to test the validity of explanations offered as a basis for future action. Quantitative Methods I, PLCY 810 serves as a thorough introduction to statistical procedures that undergird decision-making. This course has been specifically designed for the student to gain proficiency in the use of quantitative methods, demonstrating the ability to develop testable hypotheses and carry out basic appropriate statistical procedures on those hypotheses, tools that support both the practical and theoretical advancement of the field.

Textbook readings and lecture presentations/notes

No details available.

Course Requirements Checklist

After reading the Course Syllabus and Student Expectations, the student will complete the related checklist found in the Course Overview.

Discussions (3)

Discussions are collaborative learning experiences. Therefore, the student is required to provide a thread in response to the provided prompt. Each thread must be 800 words in current APA format and demonstrate course-related knowledge. In addition to the thread, the student is required to reply to 1 other classmates’ threads. Each reply must be 500 words in current APA format. The student will support their thread with 2 scholarly sources in current APA format and each reply with 1 scholarly source in current APA format.

Computational Lab Assignments (4)

These exercises are designed to cover the use of “R” Programming in the performance of the various Quantitative Analysis I statistical procedures. Using data sets provided, the student will perform designated statistical operations and then check work against the solutions provided. Then, once that initial work is successfully achieved, the student will find data pertaining to the policy area of specialization and perform the same operations on the data retrieved. Then, the student will write a brief statement of findings in current APA format.

Comprehensive Final Assignment

The student will complete an evaluation report in current APA formatting and complete a write-up consisting of the findings of their study.

Quantitative Research Project Assignment

The student will provide a policy paper in current APA format that discusses: the background of the selected public policy problem, its scope and severity, a well-specified statement of the problem, policy alternatives, criteria by which the policy alternatives should be judged, and recommended action(s).