Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey

School of Public Affairs and Administration

Applied Statistics

Th. Section 10:00-12:40 Classroom: ENG311

Fr. Section 1:00-3:40 ENG309

Office: CPS-324 Instructor: Jongmin Shon

Office Hours: 10:00-12:00 (F) E-mail: jmshon@rutgers.edu

NOTE: This syllabus is a draft and is subject to change.

Course Description

This course provides students an opportunity to develop quantitative analysis skills that can be

applied to public management and policy problems, program evaluations, and critical research

questions. We will emphasize application of statistical techniques, interpretation of statistical

results, the use of statistics in management decision-making, and implementation of statistical

tools using computer software. We will make judicious use of mathematics and statistical theory.

In this course, you will learn how data helps us make decisions using math to describe data and

assess causal relationships. I will post essential course materials, and make announcements for

courses on Blackboard (http://blackboardinfo.newark.rutgers.edu/). You had better access to

Blackboard, and check your e-mail daily. I will not accept your excuse that I have not received e-

mails and/or seen announcements. It is your responsibility for Blackboard.

Textbook

Required: Meier, K.J., Brudney, J. and Bothe, J. 2014. Applied Statistics for Public and

Nonprofit Administration (9th ed). Cengage Learning.

Requirements

You must be able to access MS Excel and STATA at classroom and at home. But you are not

allowed to use any other electronic devices (i.e. cell phone and internet) in class. How to access

STATA at home is shown at the end of this syllabus.

Evaluation

Attendance (5%): I will check your attendance by homework and quizzes. Homework and

quizzes will be given to you every week, and homework and quizzes will confirm your

attendance. I will not give any extra chance except for your missing allowed by University

Policy. If you miss three or more, you will be likely to have lower than “C+.”

Class Participation (5%): I will randomly pick up a couple of students every week and you

should show your solutions.

Homework & Quizzes (20%): I will give homework and quizzes every week. This helps you to

prepare your exams. Homework and quizzes have various questions such as true/false, fill-in-the-

blank, short answer, calculation, and interpretation questions. You cannot use any materials for

quizzes except for calculator. You should arrive at class on time; otherwise, you will miss quiz

(traffic is not an excuse). Remember “NO MAKE-UP FOR HOMEWORK & QUIZ.”

Exams (30% for mid term and 40% final exam): You will have mid-term and final exams. Final

exam will cover all the chapters that we will have learned. You will be allowed to have one-page

of cheating papers (letter size on both sides) for exams, but you should make the papers by your

hand-writing.

I strongly encourage you to have a study group with your classmates. You can bring questions

during my office hours, but no questions are allowed because of your missing class.

Grading Summary

A : 90 or above

B+: 85 - <90

B : 80 - <85

C+: 75 - <80

C : 70 - <75

F : Below 70

Policies

In this class, I will follow “Rutgers University Academic Integrity Policy” retrieved at

http://academicintegrity.rutgers.edu/academic-integrity-at-rutgers.

Course Schedule (subject to change)

Wk Date Topic Reading

1 Jan 19/20 Introduction to Statistics & Pre-Exam Ch 1

2 Jan 26/27 Study Design, Sampling and Data Ch 2-3

3 Feb 2/3 Measurement of Center Ch 4-6

4 Feb 9/10 Probability Theory & Distribution I Ch 7-8

5 Feb 16/17 Probability Theory & Distribution I Ch 8-9

6 Feb 23/24 STATA Lab & Wrap-Up

7 Mar 2/3 Hypothesis Testing Ch 10-11

8 Mar 9/10 Mid-Term Exam

9 Mar 16/17 Spring Break

10 Mar 23/24 Measures of Association & Chi-Square Ch 14-16

11 Mar 30/31 T-Test & ANOVA Ch 13

12 Apr 6/7 Regression Analysis I Ch 17-21

13 Apr 13/14 Regression Analysis II Ch 17-21

14 Apr 20/21 Regression Analysis III Ch 17-21

15 Apr 27/28 STATA Lab & Wrap-Up

16 May 4/5 Final Exam

First make sure you have access to the server

Make sure you have apps.rutgers.edu checked and click activate

When it brings you to the log in type in your net id, press enter on the keyboard, then enter password ******note***** when you type your password it will not show up so type carefully Go to menu, education, and then stata