Class 13

Put your memo and report on the front table.

Class Agenda

Speech presenting the Policy in the MemoFinal Paper Review

Christine Omolino

Pay Attention!

We are going to go over the Final Paper after these presentations is listen.

One Minute Speeches

Name of Agency:

Problem:

Policy Proposal:

Preparing for the speech

One Minute45 seconds describing the formulation and implementation of the policy presented in your memo 15 seconds how the policy would benefit client PRACTICE FIRST!

Practice Speech

Students pair up

First member gives 1 minute speech

Second member gives 1 minute speech

Only provide encouragement

Final Take Home Paper

PART IExecutive SummaryPolicy FormulationPolicy ImplementationPolicy Evaluation

PART IIConfounding VariablesClaims by Your Agency

Review for Final PaperFINAL PAPER STRUCTURE REVIEW

Executive SummaryA quick overview of the next three parts

Policy Formulation- problem, goal, causes, policy proposal Define the problemGive evidence of its existenceDiscuss causesState preferred policy

Policy Implementation- administration and political feasibilityDescribe steps to enact the policyInclude a description of how it would be administeredEstimate the likelihood of its implementation

Policy Evaluation- how you would study both the effectiveness and the efficiency of your policy

Present a plan to assess its benefits and costsSuggest the criteria that would be used to determine whether or not the policy should be continuedDiscuss why you would not use an experimental designed as discuss in “Is that a Fact?”

Four ToolsYou must include ALL FOUR TOOLS anywhere in Part I of your paper (it is up to you where you include them)

1. DATA COLLECTION DESIGN – maximize accuracy and representativeness

2. ONE TREND LINE – Interpret clearly with 5 data points

3. DESCRIBE A BENCHMARK AND USE A PERCENT CHANGE–how to measure and expressed in percent change

4. USE A TABLE WITH ROW AND COLUMN PERCENTAGES-use a table with row & column percentages analyzing 2 variables

Tool 1- Data Collection Design

How would you collect data through a survey or other means to increase representativeness and accuracy. Identify the main threat to each.

Tool 2- Trend LinesUse one trend line (must have at least five points, real or hypothetical, ending in current full calendar year) Display information over a period of time (days, weeks, years etc.)For the Final Paper you may NOT use future dates.

Number of Deaths in Center City, 2000-2004

163151

125 123146

0

40

80

120

160

200

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004

Year

Dea

ths

Source: Data collected for Center City Police Department by Polly Policy-Studies, Community Link Project, Syracuse University, November 2007.

Tool 3- Benchmarks and Use Percent Change

“Describe a benchmark that will measure the success of the policy proposal in three years”A measurable objective or goal for a societal condition.Indicators measure that condition. Benchmarks are a structured method of evaluation.Percent Change MUST be used.

Example: The number of dropouts at Central High School will decrease by 10% within two years of the new mentoring program’s implementation.

Tool 4- Table with Row & Column Percentages

Use a table with row & column percentages to analyze 2 variables Used to present bivariate distributionsGuidelines:

Use PercentagesIndependent Variables should total 100%Provide “n or N=” for each independent variableInclude a Title

Current Status

Working In School Unemployed Total

Type ofJob Training Program

Vocational (n=64) 30% 30% 40% 100%

On the Job (n=273) 40% 30% 30% 100%

Work Skills (n=249) 66% 12% 22% 100%

Total (N=586) 50% 22% 28% 100%

Outcomes of Job Training Programs

Final Paper Part II

Designed to test your ability to apply the ideas in Chapters 8-12 in “Is That a Fact.” Two questions

Confounding Variables

Claims by you agency

CONFOUNDING VARIABLES

CONFOUNDING VARIABLES: From Part I, describe the primary independent variable and the primary dependent variable you used. List up to three possible confounding variables and explain why they are confounding. How would you design a research project to control for them? The project would not have to politically feasible but must discuss why it is not politically feasible.

4 points

Confounding Variables –No Research Constraints

This means that best way to control for confounding variables through a ideal research design that can be imagined.

CLAIMS BY YOUR AGENCY

CLAIMS BY YOUR AGENCY: From any source of information provided by your agency, discuss one example of a statement that implies causation. Attach the relevant passages and circle the section that provides the example (no references needed) in your discussion. Think like Coplin who thinks he thinks like Is that a Fact?.                                                                                                                                              

Example for Graduation Rates  

Independent Variable---------Dependent Variable ||

Confounding Variables

For SU Independent Variable Dependent Variable????? Graduation Rate

|3 Confounding Variables: ???? ???? ????

Claims

One example of your agency’s claim implies causation. Attach the relevant passages and circle the section that provides the example (no references needed) in your discussion. Use relevant discussions from Is that a Fact? to create a design to test the claim that can actually be conducted.

SU EXAMPLE of CLAIMSFrom the SU website

Syracuse University's faculty of distinguished scholar-teachers attracts outstanding students from every part of the United States and the world.Which design would test this?AnecdotesCase-controlled study Cohort Studies Correlation Experimental StudyRates or percentages

Kinds of Words Used for Claim

Client Evaluations

Debriefing Paper Grades

Take Home Exam

Due 5/1 in Max 102 (PAF 315 Inbox) by 3pm

No Late Papers accepted

No help can be provided by Lauren, Amanda, Ashley or Coplin.