ESF:MPV_MZVS Research Methods in the PS - Course Information

MPV_MZVS Research Methods in the Public Sector

Extent and Intensity

1/2/0. 6 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).

Teacher(s)

prof. Mgr. Jiří Špalek, Ph.D. (lecturer)
doc. Ing. Robert Jahoda, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Laura Fónadová, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Bc. Ester Andrýsková (assistant)
Ing. Markéta Hanušová (assistant)
Bc. Anna Ondrušová (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 of Seminar Groups

MPV_MZVS/01: Wed 14:00–17:50 VT204, except Wed 20. 9., except Wed 8. 11., L. Fónadová, R. Jahoda, J. Špalek

Prerequisites (in Czech)

(( BPM_STA1 Statistics 1 ) && (! MPV_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.
The capacity limit for the course is 70 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 20/70, only registered: 0/70, only registered with preference (fields directly associated with the programme): 0/70

fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with

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

Course objectives

The aim of the course Research methods in the public sector is to develop students' knowledge in the application of quantitative and qualitative methods on public sector research. 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
• JÍLEK, Jaroslav. Nástin sociálněhospodářské statistiky. Vyd. 1. Praha: Vysoká škola ekonomická v Praze, 2001, 245 s. ISBN 8024502143. info
• GRIFFITH, A. SPSS for Dummies., Hoboken: Wiley Publishing, 2007, 342 p., ISBN 0470113448 Fulltext dostupný v EIZ MUNI.
• Relevantní legislativa.
• Aktuální informace na relevantních webových stránkách.
• 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
• MAREŠ, Petr, Ladislav RABUŠIC and Petr SOUKUP. Analýza sociálněvědních dat (nejen) v SPSS (Data analysis in social sciences (using SPSS)). 1. vyd. Brno: Masarykova univerzita, 2015, 508 pp. ISBN 978-80-210-6362-4. Projekty Nakladatelství Munipress info
• BRYMAN, Alan and Duncan CRAMER. Quantitative data analysis with SPSS Release 8 for windows : a guide for social scientists. 1st. pub. London: Routledge, 1999, xvi, 303. ISBN 0415206979. info
• HENDL, Jan. Úvod do kvalitativního výzkumu. 1. vyd. Praha: Karolinum, 1997, 243 s. ISBN 8071845493. info
• MORAWSKI, Witold. Ekonomická sociologie. Translated by Jiří Ogrocký. Vydání první. Praha: Sociologické nakladatelství, 2005, 338 stran. ISBN 8086429431. info

Teaching methods

The course takes form of a lectures and seminars. In the lectures, students are acquainted with the problems of methods, data and their analysis. During the seminars students explore selected available data sources (databases) and with the help of lecturers they 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 seminars (students may present the use of concrete methods and gain extra points for it - 10 points for each seminar);
2. to pass a final test based on the work during whole term. We expect at least 50 points out of 100.
3. Final grade is given by the sum of above mentioned points and can be derived from the Gaussian probability distribution with the mean within B and D.
Requirements (including the literature) are specified further in the interactive syllabus and the downloadable study plan before the semester starts.

Termination of the course during an ERASMUS/other study stay In case the student enrolls in the course at the time of his/her departure abroad, he/she must contact the course guarantor/teacher and agree with him/her on the conditions of graduation.

Language of instruction

Czech

Further comments (probably available only in Czech)

Study Materials
The course is taught annually.
General note: Předpokládá se absolvování BPM_STA1. Předmět si nezapisují studenti, kteří již absolvovali předmět MPV_KMZV.
Credit evaluation note: k=1,0.

• Enrolment Statistics (Autumn 2023, recent)
  
• Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/econ/autumn2023/MPV_MZVS