PAD813 Quantitative Methods for Public Administration

About this course

Difficulty: Intermediate
Study hours: 156 hours
Maths: Intermediate
Content: Theoretical, practical, case study, problem solving
Practical work: Yes

How it is assessed

Assignments
Tutor marked assessments
Final examination

What you'll read

The real module and unit structure of PAD813, taken from the course material NOUN publishes.

Module 1

Module 2

Module 3

Module 4

Module 5

Module 6

UNIT 1: CRITICAL PATH OF A PROJECT (CPA) AND PROGRAM EVALUATION REVIEW TECHNIQUE (PERT)Page 229

One paragraph, so you can see how it reads

PAD813 · UNIT 1: CONCEPT OF QUANTITATIVE METHODS/ TECHNIQUES

Quantitative methods facilitate the decision-making process by identifying and quantifying the factors that influence decisions. It gets easier to resolve the decision- intricacy. Making‘s some quantitative methods, such as decision theory and simulation, are more effective for difficult problems.

Start reading Get the original PDF, if you want it

What you should be able to do

Develop research questions and testable hypotheses.
Choose appropriate statistics to test hypotheses.
Develop research design and literature review related to dataset.
Perform descriptive and inferential statistical analysis using IBM SPSS software.
Interpret results from statistical analysis.
Compare statistical test results to scholarly studies.

What it prepares you for

Careers

Data Analyst
Statistician
Public Policy Analyst
Research Officer
Management Consultant

Where it is applied

Government Agencies
Non-Profit Organizations
Research Institutions
Consulting Firms
Healthcare Administration

Tools

IBM SPSS
Microsoft Excel

Where it gets hard

The units students slow down on, and what makes each one heavy.

Module 3: Regression and Correlation
Unit 4: Multiple Linear Regressions
Multiple linear regression requires a strong understanding of statistical modeling and interpretation of complex outputs, which can be challenging for students without prior experience.
Module 4:
Unit 4: Statistical Tools IV
The complexity of applying probability laws in making decisions involving uncertainties requires critical thinking and analytical skills.

A suggested way through it

Suggested

13 weeks, about 30 hours in total. Yours will differ.

Week 1Module 1: Introduction
- Unit 1: Concept of Quantitative Methods/ Techniques · 2 hours
  Define quantitative methods/techniques. Identify the relevance of quantitative methods. Understand the tools used in quantitative analysis.
Week 2Module 1: Introduction
- Unit 2: Data and Data Analysis · 2 hours
  Define data and raw data. Explain types of data (quantitative, qualitative). Outline data classification methods.
Week 3Module 1: Introduction
- Unit 3: Graphical Technique of Quantitative Methods · 2 hours
  Draw and analyze frequency tables and graphs. Draw and analyze histograms. Explain frequency polygons.
Week 4Module 1: Introduction
- Unit 4: Descriptive Statistics · 2 hours
  Define descriptive statistics. Explain cumulative frequency distribution and ogives. Draw and explain pie charts, bar charts, and line charts.
Week 5Module 1: Introduction
- Unit 5: Measure of Central Tendency · 2 hours
  Discuss measures of central tendency. State types of measures (mean, median, mode). Analyze mean for grouped data. Calculate mode for grouped data.
Week 6Module 2: Statistical Tools
- Unit 1: Statistical Tools I · 2 hours
  Calculate range, mean deviation, variance, and standard deviation. Compute measures of skewness.
Week 7Module 2: Statistical Tools
- Unit 2: Statistical Tools II · 2 hours
  Calculate variance and standard deviation for grouped data. Calculate coefficient of variation. Calculate Pearson's coefficients of skewness.
Week 8Module 2: Statistical Tools
- Unit 3: Statistical Tools III · 2 hours
  Define sets and subsets. Explain set theory and its use in probability analysis. Explain set enumerations and their application in solving business problems.
Week 9Module 2: Statistical Tools
- Unit 4: Statistical Tools IV · 2 hours
  Define probability. State and apply the laws of probability. Calculate probabilities. Apply probabilities in making decisions involving uncertainties.
Week 10Module 2: Statistical Tools
- Unit 5: Basic Advance Mathematics · 2 hours
  Define basic algebra and its rules. Calculate linear equations. Calculate quadratic formulas (factorization and formula method). Apply quadratic formulas to decision making.
Week 11Module 3: Regression and Correlation
- Unit 1: Population vs. Sample · 2 hours
  Explain population vs. sample. Describe data collection from population and sample. Reasons for sampling.
- Unit 2: Correlation Analysis · 2 hours
  Describe computation of linear correlation coefficients. Explain computation of rank correlation coefficients. Apply the concept of correlations in business decisions.
Week 12Module 3: Regression and Correlation
- Unit 3: Simple Linear Regression · 2 hours
  Define and calculate linear regression. Calculate simple linear regression. Find the line of best fit. Calculate the coefficient of determination.
- Unit 4: Multiple Linear Regressions · 2 hours
  State the multiple linear regression model. Interpret model output. State assumptions of multiple linear regressions.
Week 13Module 3: Regression and Correlation
- Unit 5: Spearman's Rank Correlation · 2 hours
  State the meaning of Spearman's rank correlation coefficient. Explain Spearman's rank correlation scenarios. Interpret statistical software for correlation coefficients.

Preparing for the exam

What to do

Review all units, focusing on key concepts and formulas.
Practice data analysis using IBM SPSS with provided datasets.
Create concept maps linking statistical techniques to research questions.
Solve practice problems from each unit to reinforce understanding.
Allocate time for thorough review of assignments and tutor-marked assessments.
Focus on understanding the assumptions and limitations of each statistical method.

Questions students ask about this course

What is PAD813 about?

This course, Quantitative Methods for Public Administration, introduces graduate students to social science research design and statistical techniques for modifying social science data. It covers quantitative approaches, statistical analysis, sampling, forecasting, and time-series analysis. Students will learn research methodologies, hypothesis testing, and data analysis using IBM SPSS software. The course aims to equip students with the skills to apply quantitative techniques in public sector decision-making and research.

How many units does PAD813 have?

PAD813, Quantitative Methods for Public Administration, has 26 units across 6 modules, over 240 pages of course material. You can read it one unit at a time.

How many credit units is PAD813?

PAD813 carries 3 credit units, at 800 level in Management Sciences.

Is PAD813 hard?

PAD813 is rated intermediate level, with intermediate mathematical content. It is mostly theoretical, practical, case study and problem solving work, and it has a practical component.

How long does PAD813 take to study?

About 156 hours of study, spread across its 26 units.

How is PAD813 assessed?

PAD813 is assessed by assignments, tutor marked assessments and final examination.

What can I do with PAD813?

Data Analyst, Statistician, Public Policy Analyst, Research Officer and Management Consultant.