Research and Analysis II

The second course in a two-course sequence (the first course is PAF 9170) that provides an introduction to research and analytical methods as applied to public policy and management. Students will develop expertise as consumers of research findings and learn basic methods for designing and conducting research. Topics include the use of theory or models, identifying causes, experiments and quasi-experiments, the logic of control variables and the interpretation of multiple regression, measurement concepts and methods, qualitative methods, and complex sampling. The emphasis is on learning these ideas through practice with many different examples of real-world research and empirical evidence. Open to Austin W. Marxe School of Public and International Affairs students; others with Marxe School permission.