Prospectus (Draft)

PUAD 630: Analytical Techniques
Spring 2008, 3 credits

Prerequisites:

Statistical Applications in Public Administration (PUAD 628)
and,
Basic computer competency. Students should be familiar with their PC operating system, spreadsheets, and e-mail.

Learning Objectives:

The primary objective of this course is to provide students with knowledge and skills regarding analytical techniques that are directly and immediately applicable in the public sector workplace. To that end, three threads run through the course:

• Analytical Thinking and Modeling to Aid in Decision Making.
• Workplace Skills. Using computer spreadsheets to build a variety of models that increase understanding and improve prediction.
• Presentation Skills. Clearly presenting your analytical conclusions to others, both in written and verbal form.

Course Outline (Tentative)

The 95% of your grade attributable to written assignments (including tutorial and projects) will be based on a total of 23 points -- 

• the 2 points received on the Handout Examples; plus   
• the highest-graded 21 points (out of 24 possible) you receive on the problem sets, memos, and presentations. 

When calculating the final grade, the instructors reserves the right to include (not drop) or exclude (drop) the grade from any assignment(s) that violate the University’s Academic Integrity Policy.

Required Texts and Readings:

Albright, S.C., Winston, W.L., & Zappe, C. (2006), Data Analysis and Decision Making (with Microsoft Excel), 3e Ed., Mason, Oh.: Thompson/Southwestern [Student ISBN (with cd's): 0-324-40082-9]

A few additional reserve readings will be required.

Office Hours:

I will be available in my Dean's Suite office (AC200) between 4:00 pm and 5:00 pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays or by appointment. E-mail is the best way to contact me. My office phone number is (410) 837-6122, it will "roll over" to “voice mail” after about 4 rings. I check my messages regularly, and will get back to you promptly. I often can be reached at the office in the early evening. [If you "just show up," and can't find me, please check with the receptionist at the front desk in the Dean's Office. She usually knows where I am hiding.]

In general, I do not believe fixed office hours best serve the interests of advanced and non-traditional students. I am always willing to meet with students individually, or in small groups, at mutually convenient times. (In fact, I usually prefer times other than office hours.) Feel free to call or e-mail.

Dr. Laura Hussey will be grading the assignments for this class. [She also is teaching the on-line version of the course this semester.] If you wish to discuss a grade you received on an assignment or what you did right/wrong on an assignment, you should first check in with her. Questions about grading on specific assignments should be referred to her. Laura's office hours this semester are Wednesdays 3:15-5:15. In general, she also will be in her office before the class on Thursdays, and will see students -- BY APPOINTMENT -- before class.

Course Format and Student Evaluation Criteria:

In order to master the analytical techniques covered in this course, students will need to spend a substantial amount of time in front of the computer, working through the exercises included in the text chapters. As we discussed the first night of class, effective learning will require a different approach to studying than most other courses you have taken.

Graduate students are responsible for learning all of the assigned material, whether or not the material is subsequently covered in class. Graduate courses presume students have completed the assigned readings prior to coming to class. 

I estimate the readings and assignments will take at least 10 hours per week outside of class. Needless to say, this cannot be accomplished by setting aside a couple of hours on Sunday night!

Grades for the course are calculated as follows:

Grading of the assignments will be based on both content and style (i.e., neatness counts).

Late assignments: Late "Chapter 2 Examples" will not be accepted at all. Chapter problem sets and memos will not be accepted more than two weeks late. Late assignments will be penalized by 7 points if turned in within one week of the due date, and by 14 points if turned in within two weeks of the due date. The last assignment (Forecasting Problem Set) will not be accepted late.

Academic Integrity:

The norms and rules of academic integrity will be vigorously and strictly enforced.

Plagiarism and Cheating. As a policy for this course, plagiarism or cheating will result in a failing grade for the assignment, and, for any violation that is more than de minimis, will result in a failing grade in the course, and may result in other actions (including suspension or expulsion) pursuant to UB’s Academic Integrity Policies and Procedures.

Due to the nature of this course, we expect (and hope) students will interact — discuss course content, ideas, and readings — outside of the scheduled classes. However, unless otherwise explicitly stated, all assignments are expected to reflect individual effort. For such assignments you should neither give nor receive assistance from anyone. Unless otherwise stated, treat all assignments as if they were in-class tests.

For this course, the following are examples of evidence of plagiarism or cheating:

•  material reproduced from another source without any or adequate citation;
•  identical answers being turned in by two or more students;
•  a pattern of unusually similar answers turned in by two or more students;
•  written answers or solutions that a student can not logically explain verbally; or,
•  other evidence of collaboration between students on an assignment that was intended to reflect individual effort.

This is an important matter; if you have questions about this policy, you should ask the instructor for clarification. As a general rule, if the idea is not your own, cite the source (even if it is a classmate). If you suddenly realize you have received more help on an assignment than appropriate (from someone other than the instructor), use a footnote or a cite to clarify the nature of the help received and the portion of the work that reflects your individual effort. If you over-cite, I will let you know; err on the side of caution.

More of Tom's views on Academic Honesty.