QUALITATIVE RESEARCH METHODS FOR PUBLIC POLICY(August 2022)

Effective formulation and implementation of public policy is significantly dependent on the quality of information, yet the proper use of statistics along with words makes communicating information much easier, faster and accurate than when words are used alone. This requires that public policy scholars and practitioners acquaint themselves with quantitative methods of collecting, analyzing and using data. This course is designed to enhance students? understanding of the design, conduct, and data interpretation and reporting on research for public policy using statistics or numbers. It explores the philosophical foundations of quantitative research and their relevance for public policy; quantitative research approaches and designs that can be applied in policy studies; methods in survey research; data analysis and interpretation; critical reading of statistics; writing a research proposal; and reporting quantitative research findings for use in public policy formulation and implementation.