PROFESSOR: TEACHING ASSISTANT:

Stuart E. Ward Hamid Rashid

[email protected] [email protected]

212.854.5941 (o)

201.767.6585 (h)

LECTURE: LAB:

Saturday 3 PM - 5 PM Saturday 5 PM - 6 PM

Room 407 & Picker Center 5^th Floor Lab

COURSE OVERVIEW:

The objective of this course is to provide professionals with the statistical resources necessary to make reasonable decisions about policy problems, based on quantitative research. In order to accomplish this goal, a fundamental understanding of graduate-level statistics and its applications will be taught. During the first semester, students will learn the basics of probability and statistics. By the end of the second semester, students will be able to apply basic analytical techniques and, ultimately, will be qualified to make management decisions based on research conducted by professional analysts.

The prerequisites for this course are basic mathematics and high school algebra. No prior knowledge of statistics or calculus is necessary. However, performing well in the course will require you to attend all classes, complete all assignments, and stay current with the required readings. If you follow these guidelines, I can promise that you will be successful in this class.

COURSE OVERVIEW, (continued):

Note that the syllabus contains both required readings and additional recommended readings. The required readings must be completed before the corresponding lecture. The recommended readings are designed only for those students who need or want a more in depth treatment of the subject matter. (Note that the grading for this course will be based on the Kachigan and Welsh required readings. The recommended readings from the Rice book are not necessary.)

The structure of the course is as follows. During the first semester, we will begin with the fundamental concepts of data collection and organization. We will progress to summarization and description of the data. After an introduction to probability, we will begin to focus on statistical methods, which will be applied to test hypotheses about the data. During the second semester, we will study and apply more advanced techniques, which will refine your analytical methods and improve the accuracy of your decisions. At every step, we will be focusing on the application of statistics to policy problems.

Finally, because today-s statistical analysis is performed with computers, during this course you will become familiar with a popular statistical software package: SPSS. This software package is a key element to saving time while doing research. Doing the analysis by hand is very cumbersome, so I strongly advise you to follow the labs closely to avoid wasting this time.

In summary, we will begin with the basics of data collection and move quickly into probability and, finally, focus deeply on more and more advanced statistical methods. To help expedite your research, your readings, lectures and assignments will be complemented by significant exposure to SPSS. Throughout this time, your analytical skills will improve and, most importantly, your ability to make policy decisions will increase.

SPRING 2001 SYLLABUS:

Required

Kachigan- Chapter 12

Welch- Chapter 9

Recommended

Rice- Chapter 12

Required

Kachigan- Chapter 12

Welch- Chapter 9

Recommended

Rice- Chapter 12

Required

Kachigan- Chapters 10 & 11

Welch- Chapter 8

Recommended

Rice- Chapter 14

Required

Kachigan- Chapters 10 & 11

Welch- 9

Recommended

Rice- Chapter 14

SPRING 2001 SYLLABUS, (continued):

Required

Kachigan- Chapters 10 & 11

Welch- 9

Recommended

Rice- none

Required

Kachigan- Chapters 10 & 11

Welch- 9

Recommended

Rice- none

Required

Kachigan- Chapters 10 & 11

Welch- 9

Recommended

Rice- none

Mar. 09: MID-TERM EXAM

Mar. 16: No class

Mar. 23: Time Series Analysis -

Required

Kachigan- 18

Welch- Chapter 10

Recommended

Rice- none

SPRING 2001 SYLLABUS, (continued):

Required

Kachigan- Chapter 21

Welch- 10

Recommended

Rice- none

Required

Kachigan- Chapter 21

Welch- 10

Recommended

Rice- none

Apr. 13: No class

Apr. 20: Factor Analysis -

Required

Kachigan- Chapter 15

Welch- none

Recommended

Rice- none

(SUMMER BREAK)

REQUIRED TEXTS: (Same as Fall Semester)

1. Sam Kash Kachigan, Statistical Analysis: An Interdisciplinary Introduction

to Univariate and Multivariate Methods; New York, Radius Press

2. Susan Welch and John Comer, Quantitative Methods for Public

Administration: Techniques and Application; Ill.: Dorsey Press

RECOMMENDED TEXT: (Same as Fall Semester)

1. John A. Rice, Mathematical Statistics and Data Analysis; California,

Duxbury Press

SPRING 2002 GRADING SUMMARY: