GS/PPAL 6200 3.00 Research Methods and Information Systems January 10, 2017 Professor Brenda Spotton Visano Office: 130 McLaughlin Voice Mail: (416) 736-2100 ext. 20470 E-mail: spotton@yorku.ca

Agenda Introduction to the course Introduction to each other Prerequisites, Objectives, Delivery, Requirements, Evaluation Introduction to each other Introduction to Research Methods Language Of Research Types of Questions, Time in Research, Types of Relationships, Variables, Hypotheses, Types of Data, Unit of Analysis, Two Research Fallacies (to be read on own) What do we know? Evidence, Data, Perspective: Video clips, Fallacies

Introduction to the course Specific Requirements Numeracy skills, familiarity with spreadsheet software Primary Learning Objective to increase basic skills in the collection, analysis, interpretation and presentation of information that can inform public sector decisions. Principal Modes of Delivery Lecture, small group work, individual group work Evaluation Three assignments with an optional 4th assignment

Introduction to each other Our public sector interests Our wish list for a “successful” course Questionnaire Public sector research problems and research methods we (hope to) engage in

Learning Outcomes Understand the role and process of research in contemporary public policy development Understand key concepts in research Apply critical analytical skills to published research Understand the application, value and limits of quantitative and qualitative research methodologies and techniques / tools Develop skills in devising and designing research methods suitable for different policy contexts and for rigorous analysis Provide a grounding in ethical issues related to: academic research the role of the public servant as a custodian of data and information balancing the public’s right to know against the personal data and information which an individual citizen has a right to be kept confidential

Achieving Learning Outcomes Basic user familiarity requires familiarity with research ethics existing data sets the collection of qualitative and quantitative data data measurement sampling advantages and disadvantages of different research methods descriptive and inferential statistics

Introductions to Basics http://www. socialresearchmethods Read Trochim’s “Foundations” (above) to review the vocabulary and basic concepts of research… Research Questions: Descriptive, Relations, Causal Relationships: Correlational or Causal? None, Positive, or Negative? Data: Types, Units of analyses Research Philosophies Structure, Components of Research Studies

Evidence, Data, and Perspective http://www.ted.com/talks/hans_and_ola_rosling_how_not_to_be_ignorant_about_the_world http://nupge.ca/content/2467/ccpa-video-highlights-growing-gap-incomes

Reasoning (1) All men are mortal. (2) Socrates is a man. Therefore:(3) Socrates is mortal. (1) Every day to date the law of gravity has held. Therefore: (2) The law of gravity will hold tomorrow. Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence

Quotes for Class Discussion “All quantitative data [are] based on qualitative judgments; and all qualitative data can be described and manipulated numerically.” Fallacies...

Fallacies from http://www. theskepticsguide if I am skeptical about the existence of alien visitors, I must also be skeptical of the existence of the Great Wall of China, since I have not personally seen either I was sick, I took a treatment, and now I am better, therefore the treatment made me better. If I claim that all Scotsman are brave, and you provide a counter example of a Scotsman who is clearly a coward, I might respond, “Well, then, he’s no true Scotsman.”

Fallacies (cont’d) 1990’s both religious attendance and illegal drug use have been on the rise Men on average have more years of formal education than women. I am a woman, therefore I have less education than the average man. I cannot speak a second language. I am a woman. Therefore all women cannot speak more than one language.

Parting Questions What do we know? How do we know what we know? How do we discover what we don’t know? Does interpretation play a role in research? Is the researcher independent of the research subject or does the background (education, beliefs, values) of the researcher influence what is observed?