ESF:MKV_MZVS Research methods in the PS - Course Information

MKV_MZVS Research methods in the public sector

Extent and Intensity

0/0/0. 6 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).

Teacher(s)

prof. Mgr. Jiří Špalek, Ph.D. (lecturer)
doc. Ing. Robert Jahoda, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Ing. Barbora Baisa (seminar tutor)
Ing. Jana Godarová, Ph.D. (seminar tutor)
Ing. Jana Rozmarinová, Ph.D. (assistant)

Guaranteed by

prof. Mgr. Jiří Špalek, Ph.D.
Department of Public Economics – Faculty of Economics and Administration
Contact Person: Jana Biskupová
Supplier department: Department of Public Economics – Faculty of Economics and Administration

Timetable

Sat 21. 10. 12:50–16:15 VT204, Sat 4. 11. 8:30–11:50 VT204, Fri 24. 11. 16:20–19:35 VT204, Sat 2. 12. 12:50–16:15 VT204

Prerequisites (in Czech)

! MKV_KMZV Quantitative Research Methods in the Public Sector

Course Enrolment Limitations

The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.

fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with

• Public Economics and Administration (programme ESF, N-HPS)

Course objectives

The aim of the subject Research methods in the public sector is to develop students' knowledge in the field of analysis of statistical data produced by the public sector. The student is acquainted with the theoretical background of data collection and processing, the core of the subject lies in their evaluation and explication.

Learning outcomes

The main learning outcomes of the subject include:
- understanding of the basic principles of preparation of own sample survey, its subsequent evaluation and development of ability to use these skills in the preparation of the survey,
- Understanding the structure, content and data sources of the public sector,
- the ability to identify specific information sources and databases and to apply simple and more advanced statistical methods to these data,
- to design and apply simple simulation and microsimulation models for evaluating the impact of public policies on particular groups of people (households, individuals, organizations),
- not only learning how to acquire and analyze the data, but also to strengthen the presentation ability of analyzis results.

Syllabus

• Supposed topics are as follows:
• Introductory information, role of research in the public sector
• Public policies and quantitative and qualitative research methods
• Sociological research methods and measurement of satisfaction with public policies – approaches and methodological problems. Datamining – examples of the Czech Statistical Office and Eurostat Qualitative and quantitative research in selected policy areas
• examples from the employment policy
• households surveys in the CR and EU – using basic qualitative methods
• Income differentiation and research methods. The role of (pseudo)Lorenz's Curves and Gini coefficient
• Income differentiation and distributional aspects of the tax policy. Measuring labour supply incentives using effective (implicit) tax rates concept
• Pension policy and its parametrical setup – distributional and incentive’s outcomes
• SILC survey in the CR and the EU, basic micro-simulation techniques, t-tests
• Lecture given by an external expert

Literature

required literature
• NEUMAN, W.L. Basics of Social Research. Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches. Boston: Pearson Education, 2006. ISBN 978-0-205-48437-9. info
• JÍLEK, Jaroslav. Nástin sociálněhospodářské statistiky. Vyd. 1. Praha: Vysoká škola ekonomická v Praze, 2001, 245 s. ISBN 8024502143. info
• HENDL, Jan. Úvod do kvalitativního výzkumu. 1. vyd. Praha: Karolinum, 1997, 243 s. ISBN 8071845493. info
• BOARDMAN, Anthony E. Cost-benefit analysis : concepts and practice. 3rd ed. Upper Saddle River: Pearson Prentice Hall, 2006, xv, 560. ISBN 0131435833. info
• STRAUSS, Anselm L. and Juliet M. CORBIN. Basics of qualitative research : techniques and procedures for developing grounded theory. 2nd ed. Thousand Oaks: SAGE Publications, 1998, xiii, 312. ISBN 0803959400. info
• Relevantní legislativa.
• Studijní podklady připravené vyučujícím

recommended literature
• ŠPALEK, Jiří. Aplikovaná statistika I (Applied Statistics I). 1. vydání. Brno: Masarykova univerzita, 2004, 126 pp. ISBN 80-210-3412-2. info
• ŠPALEK, Jiří. Aplikovaná statistika II (Applied Statistics II). 1. vydání. Brno: Masarykova univerzita, 2004, 132 pp. ISBN 80-210-3413-0. info
• HINDLS, Richard. Statistika pro ekonomy (Statistics for economists). První vydání. Praha: Professional Publishing, 2002, 415 pp. ISBN 80 86419 26 6. info
• BRYMAN, Alan and Duncan CRAMER. Quantitative data analysis with SPSS release 8 for Windows : a guide for social scientists. 1st ed. London: Routledge, 1999, xiv, 303. ISBN 0415206960. info
• MORAWSKI, Witold. Ekonomická sociologie. Translated by Jiří Ogrocký. Vydání první. Praha: Sociologické nakladatelství, 2005, 338 stran. ISBN 8086429431. info
• • GRIFFITH, A. SPSS for Dummies., Hoboken: Wiley Publishing, 2007, 342 p., ISBN 0470113448
• OCHRANA, František. Hodnocení veřejných projektů a zakázek. 3., přeprac. vyd. Praha: ASPI, 2004, 195 s. ISBN 8073570335. info
• Aktuální informace na relevantních webových stránkách.

Teaching methods

The course takes place in four tutorials, which are divided to lectures and seminars. In the lectures, students are acquainted with the problems of statistical data analysis. During the seminars students explore standard statistical databases. This leads students to construct various models covering the micro-simulation models of public policy change. With the help of the teacher, students are supposed to elaborate given task, which is presented and discussed during the very beginning of the next lecture.

Assessment methods

In order to pass the subject, students are required to:
1. be active during the tutorials. Students may present the use of concrete methods and gain extra points for it
2. to elaborate seminar work on data analysis
3. to pass a final test based on the work during whole semestr.

Requirements (including the literature) are specified further in the interactive syllabus and the downloadable study plan before the semester starts.

If students commit a prohibited act, such as using various forbidden tools, cribbing, taking out any part of the exam or any other cheating, the teacher is allowed to interrupt an exam and to grade a student with F, FF or FFF according to the seriousness of the offence. The mentioned procedure relates to all the activities that are included in the final evaluation of the course (seminar work, essays, tests etc.).

Language of instruction

Czech

Further comments (probably available only in Czech)

Study Materials
The course is taught annually.
General note: Předmět si nezapisují studenti, kteří již absolvovali předmět MKV_KMZV.
Credit evaluation note: k=1,0.

• Enrolment Statistics (Autumn 2017, recent)
  
• Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/econ/autumn2017/MKV_MZVS