1. Introduction
The Usefulness of Methods and Statistics to Public Administration and Policy / Policy Evaluation / The Plan of the Book
2. Planning Policy Research: Hypothesis and Research Design
Hypotheses and Variables / Unit of Analysis / Control Variables / Operationalizing the Hypotheses / Planning the Research: Research Design / Research in Practice 2A: An Experimental Design / Research in Practice 2B: A Time Series Design / Research in Practice 2C: Before and After Design / Research in Practice 2D
3. Measurement and Data Collection
Measurement / Constructing Indices and Scales / Research in Practice 3A: Using a Simple Scale / Data Collection / Reseaerch in Practice 3B: Useful Data Sources for Policy Analysts / Research in Practice 3C: Examples of Bad Survey Questions / Research in Practice 3D: Pitfalls for Officials Using Citizen Surveys / Research in Practice 3E: Objectives and Principle Effectiveness Measures for Solid Waste Collection / Research in Practice 3F: Summary of Principle Effectiveness Measures for Fire Protection Service
4. Using the Computer in Policy Research
Learning the Jargon / Planning for Computer Analysis / Data Storage / Analyzing Your Data / Research in Practice 4A: Widely Used Statistical Packages for the Personal Computer / Spreadsheet Analyses / Database Management Systems / Computing Costs / Some Final Thoughts
5. Analyzing Single Variables: Frequency Distributions and Summary Measures
Constructing and Presenting Frequency Distributions / Research in Practice 5A: Frequency and Percentage Distributions / Graphs and Charts / Measures of Central Tendency / Research in Practice 5B: Frequency Distribution and Simple Graphs / Measures of Dispersion
6. Analyzing the Relationship between Variables: Percentage Tables and Measures of Association
Contingency Table Analysis / Research in Practice 6A: Contingency Table Analysis / The Concept and Measurement of Association / Some Frequently Used Measures of Association / Research in Practice 6B: Chi-Square Measure of Association / Choosing a Measure of Association / Controlling for the Effect of One or More Variables / Research in Practice 6C: The Elaboration Model and the Use of Controls
7. Hypothesis Testing and Statistical Significance
The Concept of Statistical Significance / Sampling and Sampling Procedures / Research in Practice 7A: Using a Table of Random Numbers / Research in Practice 7B: Stratified Sampling / Research in Practice 7C: Sampling Using Random Digit Dialing
8. Analyzing the Relationship between Variables: Regression Analysis
The Logic of Regression / Deriving Values for a and b in Linear Regression / Linear Regression: An Example / Research in Practice 8A: Regression Analysis / Goodness of Fit / Research in Practice 8B: Correlation / Research in Practice 8C: Correlation and Its Use in Assessing Measurement Reliability / The Assumptions of Regression / Some Issues in the Use of Regression and Correlation
9. Analyzing the Relationship between More Than two Variables: Multiple Regression
Multiple Regression / Research in Practice 9A: Multiple Regression / Research in Practice 9B: Multiple Regression / The Limits of Multiple Regression / Research in Practice 9C: Using Dummy Variables / Analysis of Variance: A Related Technique
10. Other Multivariate Techniques
Causal Modeling / Time Series / Research in Practice 10A: An Interrupted Time Series / Research in Practice 10B: Pooled Time Series / Probit Analysis / Research in Practice 10C: Using Probit / Logistic Regression / Event History Analysis
11. Cost-Benefit Analysis
Cost-Benefit Analysis: An Overview / Advantages of Cost-Benefit Analysis / Some Limitations of Cost-Benefit Analysis / Pointers on Calculating Costs and Benefits / Benefits, Costs, and Risk / Cost and Benefit Figures—What Do You Do with Them? / Research in Practice 11A: Cost-Benefit Analysis / And Back to the Fire Department Planner / Research in Practice 11B: Cost-Benefit Estimates with Sensitivity Analyses / Summary / Research in Practice 11C: Costs and Benefits of Eradicating Measles
12. Policy Research and Public Organizations
Ethical Questions in Policy Research / Reporting Your Research / Using Policy Research in Policymaking
362 pages, $59.95 list
1-57766-493-0
978-1-57766-493-2
© 2001
paperback
Solutions Manual available
Quantitative Methods for Public Administration
Techniques and Applications
Third Edition
Intended for students as well as practitioners in public administration, public policy, and various social sciences, this concise volume offers thorough coverage of both research methods and statistics as they relate to problems that typically exist within public agencies. Exercises and relevant examples are included to help readers understand the concepts presented in each chapter, and Research in Practice sections feature summaries of actual research projects that illustrate how the techniques discussed have been applied by researchers.
While not meant to serve as a complete statistics text, the authors introduce a variety of methods and statistics managers will find useful. Those who complete the book will be able to compute statistics involving one or two variables, be able to interpret some of the more commonly used multivariate statistics, and have the ability to converse knowledgeably with researchers about problems encountered in the research process.
While not meant to serve as a complete statistics text, the authors introduce a variety of methods and statistics managers will find useful. Those who complete the book will be able to compute statistics involving one or two variables, be able to interpret some of the more commonly used multivariate statistics, and have the ability to converse knowledgeably with researchers about problems encountered in the research process.