Advanced Research Techniques in Public Affairs

Prof: Scott Robinson PA 7330.501

GR 3.232 (x4043) GR 3.402
scottr@utdallas.edu
Office Hours: R 3-4, T 6-7

Course Objectives:

The distinguishing characteristic of a doctoral program is the orientation towards training

students to produce, rather than simply consume, knowledge. This course will introduce
you to a series of proven techniques for producing new knowledge in public affairs. The
course will discuss research techniques as varied as interviews and participant
observation to advanced regression analysis. The focus will be on weighing the relative
strengths and weaknesses of each approach and providing basic insight into how one can
carry out research using each tool.

A significant part of the course will involve a project wherein a group of students will
plan a research project to tackle a public affairs research question of their choice. This
project will allow students practical experience in integrating the material discussed
about each research tool and give you a glimpse in to what is required for a dissertation
proposal.

Textbooks:

Flyvbjerg, Bent. 2001. Making Social Science Matter: Why Social Inquiry Fails and
Why It Can Succeed Again. Cambridge University Press. ISBN: 052177568X

McNabb, David E. 2002. Research Methods in Public Administration and Non-Profit

Management: Quantitative and Qualitative Approaches. M.E. Sharpe. ISBN:
0765609576

Torangeau, Roger et al. 2000. The Psychology of Survey Response. Cambridge

University Press. ISBN: 0521576296

Yin, Robert K. 2002. Case Study Research: Design and Methods. Third Edition. Sage
Publications. ISBN: 0761925538

Weiss, Robert S. 1995. Learning from Strangers: The Art and Method of Qualitative
Interview Studies. Free Press. ISBN: 0684823128

Examination Schedule:

While there are no formal exams in this course, there are a number of important
assessments that will take place through the semester. Described below – there are a
series of practical assignments keyed to the content of the seminars. These are short
assignments (1-2 pages) and descriptions of each will be given out as we go along in the
semester.

In addition to these individual assignments, there is a larger group project. This group
project will be described in a separate handout.

Attendance:

Attendance will not be taken for this class. However, the success of the class depends
critically on your active participation. Much of the work will depend on group efforts –
so missing class may hurt other members of your group as well as yourself. Please make
every effort to attend.

Grading:

Practical Assignment: 50% (6 practical assignments – weighted equally)

Group Project: 50% (split in to two parts – 25% each)

Academic Dishonesty:

Academic dishonesty will not be tolerated in this course. The university policies
regarding academic dishonesty are in force for all examinations and term papers. I will
pursue the fullest possible punishment for any violations of the university policies
regarding academic dishonesty (plagiarism, cheating, etc.).

Schedule of Topics and Readings:

The following schedule lists the required and recommended reading for each week. The
recommended reading is intended mainly as a reference – not as a recommendation of
what you should read in a given week. It just provides some ideas for texts you can
consult if you want further information on a topic.

I reserve the right to revise the syllabus at any time (for example, by adding or removing
reading material, changing the daily topics, or moving back the tests [but never forward]).
I will announce any changes ahead of time in class.

1/10 Class Introduction

1/17 The Philosophy of Social Science

Required:
McNabb – Ch. 1
Flyvbjerg - Making Social Science Matter: Why Social Inquiry Fails and Why It Can
Succeed Again
Recommended:
Bernstein – The Restructuring of Social and Political Theory
Kuhn – The Structure of Scientific Revolutions
Lakatos, Ed.- Criticism and the Growth of Knowledge
Monroe, Ed. – Perestroika: The Raucous Rebellion in Political Science
Popper – The Logic of Scientific Discovery

1/24 Hypotheses and Evidence

Required:
McNabb – Chs. 2, 4-6
Recommended:
March and Lave – An Introduction to Models in the Social Sciences
King, Keohane, and Verba – Designing Social Inquiry
Brady and Collier, Eds. – Rethinking Social Inquiry

1/31 Qualitative Methods for Data Collection I – Case Studies

Required:
McNabb – Chs. 17-18
Yin – Case Study Research
Recommended:
Brady – “The Comparative Method” in Political Science: The State of the Discipline II
Gillham – Case Study Research Methods
Stake – The Art of Case Study Research
Tilly – Big Structures, Large Processes, and Huge Comparisons
Yin – Applications of Case Study Research

**HW: Hypothesis practical assignment due**

2/7 Qualitative Methods for Data Collection II – Interviews

Required:
McNabb – Chs. 19-21
Weiss - Learning from Strangers: The Art and Method of Qualitative Interview Studies.
Recommended:
Oishi – How to Conduct In-person Interviews for Surveys
Seidman – Interviewing as Qualitative Research

2/14 Qualitative Methods of Data Analysis

Required:
McNabb – Chs. 22-23
Recommended:
Wolcott – Writing Up Qualitative Research

**HW: Case selection practical assignment due**

2/21 Quantitative Methods for Data Collection - Surveys

Required:
McNabb – Chs. 7-9
Torangeau et al. - The Psychology of Survey Response.
Recommended:
Fink – The Survey Kit

2/28 Quantitative Methods for Data Analysis I – Descriptive Statistics

Required:
McNabb – Chs. 10-11
Golden – “Interest Groups in the Rule-Making Process”

**HW: Survey question practical assignment due**

3/6 SPRING BREAK

3/14 Quantitative Methods for Data Analysis II – Correlation

Required:
McNabb – Chs. 12-13
Mohr – “Determinants of Innovation in Organizations”
**Group Project Update due**
**HW: Descriptive statistics practical assignment due**

3/21 Quantitative Methods for Data Analysis III – Regression

Required:
McNabb – Chs. 14-15
Meier and O’Toole – “Public Management and Educational Performance”
Recommended:
Gujarati – Basic Econometrics
Kennedy – A Guide to Econometrics
Meier and Brudney – Applied Statistics for Public and Non-profit Administration

3/28 Quantitative Methods for Data Analysis IV – Advanced Regression Techniques

Required:
TBA

Recommended:
Greene – Econometric Analysis
King – Unifying Political Methodology

**HW: Regression practical assignment due**

4/4 Research Ethics, Research Administration, and Composition

Required:
McNabb – Chs. 3, 24-25
Recommended:
The Chicago Manual of Style

4/11 Group Presentations I

**HW: Research timetable practical assignment due**

4/18 Group Presentation II