FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY
COLLEGE OF HEALTH AND URBAN AFFAIRS
SCHOOLS OF SOCIAL WORK, POLICY AND MANAGEMENT
URS 4153: Applied Research Methods for Policy and Management (3 units)
Spring 2006 Syllabus
Website: http://www.fiu.edu/~ganapati
Instructor
Office
Sukumar Ganapati
PCA 363B, University Park Campus
Telephone (305) 348-6275
Email ganapati@fiu.edu
Office hours Monday 3.00 pm to 4.30 pm [BBC];
Location
Tuesday 3.00 pm to 4.30 pm [UPC]
By appointment
Class hours Monday, 5.00 pm to 7.40 pm
TR 101
Catalog Description
Research design, sampling, critical evaluation, basic research ethics, experiments and quasi experiments, reliability and validity surveys, design implementation, qualitative and quantitative methods, secondary analysis evaluation and presentation.
Course Objective
The main objective of the course is to expose students to different methods of applied research in social science in general, and policy and management in particular. I will emphasize both qualitative and quantitative methods with specific applications in field research.
Educational Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the course, students should be able to:

Identify elements of research design and formulate/ implement a design

Identify and conduct at least one field research method

Use fundamental statistical concepts in analyzing and interpreting research data

Discern fundamental ethical issues in research
Course Design
Throughout the course, my aim will be to challenge students on a simple, yet insufficiently answered, question: How does one know what s/he knows? In attempting to answer this question, I will attempt to bridge the qualitative-quantitative research traditions.
I have structured the course in three sections. The sections and the topics within each section are arranged such that there is a natural linkage from one to the next. The first section will focus on the Research Agenda and Design . In this section, we will discuss the ways of setting up the research agenda and an appropriate research design to support the agenda. The second section will focus on Qualitative Research Analysis . Here, I will introduce some of the common qualitative research techniques and how they are carried out in the field. I will also highlight how such research results are analyzed and interpreted. The third section will focus on
Quantitative Research Analysis . Here, I will introduce how to apply basic statistical procedures of analysis to understand and interpret quantitative research data.

As the course will progressively evolve from one section to the next, the classes form a chain link. Missing a class could mean missing a crucial link in the evolution. Hence, I strongly advocate class attendance and participation.
To take full advantage of the course, I advise students to do the assigned readings before the class. I could ask reading related questions at random. Ability to answer such questions through class participation will form a part of the grade.
Course Requirements
There will be two tests and a field project to evaluate student performance in the course. The tests and the project presentations are scheduled at the conclusion of each section. Each test will have an in-class component and a homework component. The in-class component will consist of questions tha t will test students’ understanding of the materials covered in the corresponding section. The questions will be both descriptive and analytical in scope. The homework component will consist of an analytical write-up of a substantive issue that relates to the corresponding section. I will give separate handouts explaining the scope and expectations of each homework assignment. Students should be prepared to make an informal, impromptu presentation about each homework assignment in class. The field project will consist of an exercise that will involve a substantive field research, wherein students will need to spend a few extra class hours. Students will be required to make a formal presentation in the class based on their field-work.
I am very unlikely to entertain requests for make-up exams or assignments unless it is warranted due to compelling unforeseen circumstances. Further, there are no extra credits .
If a student is absent for 3 or more consecutive classes (for reasons other than medical), I will assume that s/he has dropped the class.
Test schedule and weightage
First Test
Second Test
Third Test
13 February, 2006
13 March, 2006
Class attendance & participation
30 points
30 points
24 April, 2006 30 points
(Finals day, as scheduled by FIU)
10 points
100 points Total
Grade Distribution
A: 92 or more B+: 84 to 87 C+: 72 to 75 D+: 60 to 63
A-: 88 to 91 B: 80 to 83 C: 68 to 71 D: 56 to 59
B-: 76 to 79 C-: 64 to 67 D-: 52 to 55
Text
The following textbook is required for the course:
Dooley, David. 2001. Social Research Methods . Published by Prentice Hall (4th edition).
However, please note that students will be required to do periodic readings from other sources assigned from time to time. Materials from the following websites will be used in the course:
William Trocim’s Research Methods Knowledge Base: http://www.socialresearchmethods.net/kb/

Schedule of Readings
Section 1: Research Agenda and Design
1/9/06
1/16/06
Introduction: Setting the Research Agenda
What is research?
How do we know what we know?
Paradigms of research
Readings : Dooley, Chapter 1
Introduction to Take Home component of Test 1
Martin Luther King Day
1/23/06
1/30/06
2/6/06
From Research Agenda to Research Design
Theoretical basis for research
Types of research questions
Formulating a Research Design
Readings : Dooley, Chapter 4.
Implementing Research Design-1
Types of Research Design
Internal and External Validity issues
Readings : Dooley, Chapter 9,10,11.
Implementing Research Design-2
Measuring variables
Measurement validity and reliability
Review of Part I
Readings : Dooley, Chapter 5
Also: http://www.socialresearchmethods.net/kb/measure.htm
2/13/06
Section 2: Qualitative Research Analysis
2/20/06
Test 1 (In-class)
Introduction to Project 1
Field Research 1 (Qualitative):
Interviewing; Field Observations
Limitations of qualitative methods
Readings : Dooley, Chapter 13
2/27/06
3/6/06
3/13/06
3/20/06
Field Research 2 (Qualitative)
Field Observation Techniques for exercise
Video presentation
Readings: NONE
Field Research 3 (Survey):
Formulating survey questionnaires
Survey methods
Limitations of survey methods
Readings : Dooley, Chapter 7
Project 1 Presentation + Paper
Spring Break

Section 3: Quantitative Research Analysis
3/27/06 Sampling techniques
Probability and Non-Probability sampling
Sampling Frames
Readings : Dooley, Chapter 7
Introduction to Homework Assignment
4/3/06
4/10/06
No class
Familiarize with Excel/ other spreadsheet
Quantitative Data Analysis-1
Univariate Analysis
Descriptive Statistics
Readings : Appendix 1
Also: http://www.socialresearchmethods.net/kb/statdesc.htm
4/17/06
4/24/06 Finals day (as per
FIU schedule)
Quantitative Data Analysis-2
Bivariate Analysis
Inferential statistics
Readings : Dooley, Chapter 8
Test 2
Homework Assignment due