PPOL-G 630 - Research Methods I for Policy

3 Credit(s)

Description:
This required course offers an introduction to research methods and design from a social science perspective. The primary objective is to improve students’ ability to become better producers and consumers of public policy research by providing an introduction to an array of methodological issues and approaches to policy research. In this course, students will compare and contrast different approaches to scientific inquiry and highlight their implications for selecting topics of research, framing research questions, choosing tools, and collecting and analyzing data. The course examines the main components of adequate research designs and will discuss and critique the research design and methodological approach of numerous pieces of published research. Finally, the course addresses an often neglected aspect of the research enterprise: how to write effective proposals for various purposes and audiences.

Enrollment Requirements:
Graduate degree student in Public Policy or graduate student with permission of instructor

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