Research Methods
Lecture - M 9:15 to 12:15pm, RAB209B
Lab - Th 9:50 to 11:10am, Loree 013
Instructor:
Fall 2014
Professor William M. Rodgers III
wrodgers@ejb.rutgers.edu
Office Hours:
Instructor:
M, 1:00pm to 2:00pm
Th, 1:00pm to 2:30pm
By Appointment
Overview
The purpose of the course is to build your understanding of the research process used in
planning, public policy and health. The course’s capstone experience will be the completion of a
“peer review” style research paper on a question of interest to the student.
After completing the course, students should be able to do the following:
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Write a rigorous research paper:
o Conceptualize a research question.
o Design appropriate data collection instruments/tools/protocols.
o Inputting and analysis of data.
o Create a thorough, clear and well-organized manuscript.
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Possess a basic understanding of how to use commonly available statistical software
packages. The focus will be on the acquisition of computing proficiency within the
broader framework of computer concepts and an understanding of how these skills can be
applied to a wide range of policy questions.

Work independently and in a group setting related to computer use, such that students
will be able to keep pace with rapidly changing computer technology and software in
your future educational and career environments.
Textbook and Resources
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Chambliss, Daniel F. and Russell K. Schutt. 2012. Making Sense of the Social World, 4th
Edition. Thousand Oaks, CA: Pine Forge Press. (C&S).
Additional readings, available on course Sakai site.
Podcasts and URLs for assigned online tutorials and resources, available on Sakai site.
USB stick (AKA flash drive)
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Grading, Communication and Academic Integrity Policies
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Problem Sets (30%)
Two Midterm Exams (30%)
Empirical Paper (30%)
Class and lab participation (10%)
Key Research Paper Due Dates (Subject to Change):
9/11
1-Page Proposal Due
(Provide motivation, 2-3 questions/hypotheses)
9/15-9/25
Group meetings to discuss proposal
(Refine question(s), identify data, and method of analysis)
9/29
Problem Set #1 Due
**Deadline for making original data sets for research paper**
10/6
In class midterm #1
10/20
Literature Review Due
11/20
Problem Set #2 Due
11/27
Thanksgiving Break – No Class
12/1
In class midterm #2
12/19
Empirical Paper Due
Communication:
All readings, course updates and other announcements will be posted on the course website. You
should have received an e-mail with a password and instructions on how to login to the course
website. If you've not, this is most likely due to the fact that you are either not using your
Rutgers assigned e-mail or registered for the course.
Integrity Policies:
Academic and intellectual integrity is not only at the center of the policymaking process, but are
also values of the Bloustein and Rutgers communities. Because of this, we will hold all students
to the following standards:
o Prompt arrival at all course sessions and meetings (random attendance will be taken)
o Attendance, participation, and respectful behavior in all sessions
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o No use of cell phones and instant messaging during lectures, discussion groups, quizzes
and exams
Statement on Academic Honesty:
All members of our community must be confident that each person’s work has been responsibly
and honorably acquired, developed, and presented. Any effort to gain an advantage not given to
all students is dishonest whether or not the effort is successful. We view a violation of academic
honesty as a breech of trust, and will result in a “Fail” in this class, as well as possible
suspension or expulsion from the institution. When in doubt about plagiarism, paraphrasing,
quoting, or collaboration, consult the course instructors.
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Research Methods
Fall 2014
W. Rodgers
Developing Your Research Prospectus
What is our goal for this research paper assignment?
1. Develop an original piece of research that utilizes existing data (e.g., CPS) or creates
a data set and does one of the following:
a. Provides the empirical analysis to help inform a policy discussion
Trends and causes in recent wage inequality growth
Impact of recession on different demographic groups
b. Estimates the impact of a law or program
Impact of $787 billion ARRA funds on employment
Effect of minimum wage increase on hunger
How do you find a topic?
1. Class lectures and syllabi
a.
Professor alludes to unresolved issue
b.
Outdated study- need to update
2. Newspaper articles
a.
Chapter of my dissertation came from seeing an article in the Boston
Globe
3. Journal articles
a.
Update past study on syllabus
b.
Read Literature Reviews (JEL and Journal of Economic Perspectives)
Building literature review (finding related studies):
1.
2.
3.
4.
JSTOR and EconLit (Internet)
Google Scholar
References in papers on syllabus
References in studies that you read
What should your 250 word proposal contain?
The prospectus should contain a question (actually narrower the better), a motivation for the
question, brief summary of literature to date (what we know and don’t know about the question),
potential methods, and data to be used.
**I am happy for students to link their projects in other courses to this course. However, there
needs to be a feature that distinguishes the projects from one another.**
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