Faculty Contact Information:
Ken J. Kovach, EdD kkovach@faculty.ed.umuc.edu
PSC 37, Box 3414 kjkovach@aol.com
APO AE 09459 Ph/ Fax +44 1353 860 671
31 Hempfield Road
Littleport, Cambs CB6 1NW
England
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Consultation:
Contact as above.
Term 5, 2004/05
DE - 13 June thru 9 Oct 2005
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Required Texts and Readings:
Text used exclusively in this course --
Anderson, D.R., Sweeney, D.J. & Williams, T.A. (2003).Modern business statistics with Microsoft Excel, (1st ed.). New York: South-Western College Publishing.
Texts used in multiple courses --
Weiss, C.( 1997). Evaluation, (2nd ed.). Upper Saddle River NJ: Prentice Hall. Chapters 6, 7, 12 only
American Psychological Association. (2001). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association, (5th ed.). Washington DC: Author.
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Supplementary Readings:
All graduate students should be prepared to utilize the UMUC online library at http://www.umuc.edu/library/. The library contains a large number of full text academic journals that are free of charge and immediately available. The library homepage also contains a number of links related to improving students' research and writing skills.
Students may need:
1. a handheld calculator with the capability to do exponentiation, roots and handle two variables, x & y (the TI-30X IIB currently available at AAFES for ca. $12.95 is adequate); and
2. access to a personal computer with MS-Excel installed (either your home computer, your work computer with permission from your supervisor, or use the hardware and software at a UMUC computer lab). The use of a computer is highly recommended for working with larger data files assigned as homework and supplied on CD-ROM with the text book.
Optional:
1. manuals for Texas Instruments calculators can be found at:
http://education.ti.com/us/global/guides.html
2. reference book on MS-Excel
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Recommended Journals:
A variety of full-text, online, free-of-charge and pay-per-view academic journals are listed on the PA Webboard (http://webboard.ed.umuc.edu/~pa). In addition, the following websites are very useful:
http://www.census.gov/
http://www.fedstats.gov/
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Course Description:
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Prerequisites: The equivalent of College Algebra or permission of the Program Director.Provides the knowledge necessary to interpret published research results and to permit elementary research in business and public administration. Content includes: descriptive statistics, probability, estimation, hypothesis testing, ANOVA, sampling, correlation, linear regression and multiple regression.
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Course Goals:
As one of two research methods courses in the MPA program, this course provides graduate students with the conceptual and practical tools to develop proposals for and conduct non-experimental research projects, policy analyses, and program evaluations, as well as to evaluate and incorporate the implications of published reports into their practice as professionals. Upon completion of the course, participants should have an understanding of:
- Research methods as used in management settings.
- Quantitative research approaches.
- The of previous research and related literature.
- The process of hypothesis formulation and testing.
- Descriptive and inferential statistics.
- Data requirements for statistical procedures.
- Ethical considerations and constraints.
- The role of information technology in quantitative research and statistical analysis.
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Course Objectives:
At the conclusion of this course the student will be able to:
- Determine when quantitative approaches are necessary and appropriate
- Interpret quantitative research
- Apply various inferential statistical tests
- Develop sampling and data collection techniques
- Utilize descriptive statistics to report findings
- Define ethical and legal constraints on research
- Present research findings in written and graphic or oral formats
- Analyze the application of information technology in research
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Grading Information:
Grades for this course will be assigned as follows:
A = 90 – 100 points
B = 80 – 89 points
C = 70 – 79 points
F = Below 70 points
Please note that Bowie State University does not use "D" for graduate students. The grade F(a) is used to designate academic failure. F(n) is used to designate failure for non-completion. Grades of Incomplete or Withdrawal are governed by UMUC-Europe policies. For further details, please refer to the UMUC-Europe Graduate Catalog. Hard copies of the catalog are available in your local Education Center.
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Course Requirements:
Graduate school at the masters' level focuses on helping students obtain the education needed for success as professionals in their chosen fields. Thus, UMUC-Europe Graduate Programs and Bowie State University share the common goals of promoting excellence in academic scholarship through thoughtful inquiry and the skillful application of knowledge and theory for the betterment of society. In order to maximize your graduate educational experience in general and this course in particular, the following are required:
Participation & Homework 25 points
Taskings 20 points
Midterm Exam 30 points
Final exam 25 points
Total 100 points
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Description of Course Requirements:
Successful graduate students in American universities dedicate approximately three hours of preparation/study time for every hour spent in the face-to-face classroom. Thus, the following course requirements were developed on the assumption that students would be prepared to spend approximately 150 hours of their time working on them. In an 8-week term, that is the equivalent of a half-time job. Most 14-week graduate distance education courses require at least 10 hours per week of dedicated time, plus time spent in the virtual classroom.
Participation and homework: The student is expected to participate regularly in discussions and complete homework and class assignments on time. A participation score will be assessed based on a student’s active contribution to class discussions. A student must be prepared to discuss and work with readings during the session in which they are assigned; you must read ahead to be prepared for class.
Taskings: Various tasks may be assigned to individuals or groups as developed during the term. These will be submitted for review and assessment. An example may include an article analysis.
Every class meeting is important. The student is responsible for material covered and assignments missed during an absence. It is the student’s responsibility to coordinate make up work.
The case problems are based on larger data sets available to the student on the CD-ROM supplied with the textbook. MS-Excel computer software is required to access the data on the CD. In each assignment, the case problem requires problem solving with statistical calculations and some analysis. The analysis is often as simple as answering three questions associated with the case problem. Even so, it is expected that the successful student will respond in complete sentences, organizing their responses, citing sources where necessary, and using correct standard English. Data, calculations, and tabular results may be presented either as computer-generated output (preferred) or in neatly organized and accomplished hand writing. Pages 122-205 of the 5th edition of the APA manual are especially useful in this course. Section 3.7. of the manual (pages 174-175) is of critical importance for those wishing to avoid charges of plagiarism. Resubmission of course work from previous classes (whether or not taken at UMUC, UMUC-Europe or BSU), partially or in its entirety, is acceptable in this course but only if properly cited and referenced.
Exams: This course requires two exams designed to insure that students are acquiring the skills and knowledge necessary for a passing grade. It is the student’s responsibility to coordinate make up exams.
The instructor reserves the right to modify the class schedule based on needs of the students and class progress in consonance with course objectives. Computer software [Excel, etc.] may be used for homework assignments and case problems; but no computer aids will be allowed on exams. Handheld calculators are the basic tool for homework and exams.
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Course Schedule:
Course Schedule: This schedule presents 14 units or modules, with each unit corresponding to a regular three-hour weekday meeting, a half-day on weekends, or a full week of DE.
Initial meeting: 13-19 June 2005
For this and future weekly work, review all course materials and complete any Conferences established. Meet the required due dates as Conferences may be closed. Review Class Announcements and any Course content lecture material. Study groups will be assigned after the first week. Read Ch 1 and complete CH 1 problems 5, 7, 11, & 17. Due 19 June.
Second meeting: 20-26 June Complete Conferences and read Chapters 2& 3. Complete Ch 2 problems 5, 11, & 43 and Ch 3 problems 5, 11, 13, 25, 31, 47, and 57.
Third meeting: 27 June- 3 July. Complete Conferences and read Ch 4. Complete Ch 4 problems 3, 7, 19, 27, and 31.
Fourth meeting: 4 – 10 July. Complete Conferences and read chapters 5 & 6. Complete Ch 5 problems 9, 15, 21, 27. Complete Ch 6 problems 3, 11, 17, 23. For Ch 6, only review the binomial, uniform, and normal distribution.
Fifth meeting: 11 – 17 July. Complete Conferences and read chapter 7 & 18. Complete Ch 7 problems 5, 15, 21, and 27. Complete Ch 18 problem 21.
Sixth meeting: 18 -24 July. Complete Conferences and review chapters 1-7 and 18.
Seventh meeting: 25 – 31 July. Complete Midterm exam. Each student will have a private forum in the Study Group area. Your midterm will be placed there for an open book exam. When completed, place in your Assignment folder and be sure your name is on any attachment.
Eighth meeting: Midterm break is from 1 -21 Aug 2005. Class for the second half will start 22 Aug. This week's session goes from 22 – 28 Aug. Complete Conferences established and read chapter 9. Complete Conferences and work Ch 9 problems 3, 7, 19, 29, and 51.
Ninth meeting: 29 Aug – 4 Sept. Complete Conferences and read chapter 10. Complete Ch 10 problems 3, 7, 13, and 17.
Tenth meeting: 5 – 11 Sept. Complete Conferences and read chapter 12. Complete Ch 12 problems 7, 13, and 15.
Eleventh meeting: 12 – 18 Sept. Complete Conferences established an dread chapter 13. Complete Ch 13 problems 3 and 7.
Twelfth meeting: 19 – 25 Sept. Complete Conferences established and read chapter 14. Complete Ch 14 problems 5 and 9.
Thirteenth meeting: 26 Sept – 2 Oct. Complete Conferences established and read chapter 17. Complete Ch 17 problems 3, 15, 21, 27, and 33.
Fourteenth meeting: 3 – 9 Oct. Final exam week on chapters since the midterm (Chs 9, 10, 12-14, and 17). Complete and place in your Assignment forum and be sure your name is on any attachment.
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Academic Policies:
The University has a license agreement with Turnitin.com, a service that helps prevent plagiarism from internet resources. I may be using this service in this class by either requiring students to submit their papers electronically to Turnitin.com or by submitting questionable text on behalf of a student. If you or I submit part or all of your paper, it will be stored by Turnitin.com in their database throughout the term of the University's contract with Turnitin.com. If you object to this temporary storage of your paper, you must let me know no later than two weeks after the start of this class. Please Note: If you object to the storage of your paper on Turnitin.com, I may utilize other services to check your work for plagiarism.
The official university policy on Plagiarism and Academic Dishonesty can be found at http://www.umuc.edu/policy/aa15025.shtml. Section I.C. states: Faculty may determine if the resubmission of course work from previous classes (whether or not taken at UMUC), partially or in its entirety, is acceptable when assigning a grade on that piece of course work. Faculty must provide this information in their written syllabi. If the resubmission of course work is deemed to be unacceptable, a charge may not be brought under this Policy and will be handled as indicated in the written syllabi.
Please refer to Description of Course Requirements for specific information on how resubmissions will be treated in this course and to the UMUC-Europe Graduate Catalog for information on the following:
Academic Integrity
Course Load
Exception to Policy
Grade Appeal Process
Make-up Examinations
Nondiscrimination
Students with Disabilities
Hard copies of the catalog are available at your local Education Center.
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Faculty Bio:
Biography for Kenneth J. Kovach
Dr. Ken J. Kovach has been teaching for various colleges and universities since 1981, and mainly instructs for the University of Maryland's graduate programs in Counseling, Public Administration, Management Information Systems, and in Business & Management for the undergraduate programs. His main subjects include statistics, business management, counseling, career development, education, and qualitative and quantitative research, among others. For Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Ken focused on corporate and business aviation and air cargo. Overall, he has taught over 480 various courses in different formats, to include distance education, independent study, conference classes, and in-residence.
Ken gained extensive managerial and business operations experience while spending 23 years in the U.S. Air Force performing duties in the European Airborne Command Post (EC-135), logistics, plans, transportation, administration, patient care, aerial delivery, air passenger & cargo movements, vehicle management and control, VIP transportation, and others. He served five years in the Air Force's hospital system as psychiatric specialist, then was commissioned through the Airmen's Education & Commissioning Program and appointed as Transportation officer. Ken negotiated civilian contracts, represented management in labor disputes, and accomplished various managerial duties in a variety of command levels. He earned over 30 Department of Defense and Air Force awards during his career, among them the Airman's medal, Air Medal, and Air Force's Outstanding Transportation Officer.
He has conducted major research efforts in personnel management, labor relations, teaching, and corporate aviation. His publications have included texts in Corporate and Business Aviation and Corporate Aviation Management; three distance education courses for Embry-Riddle; a National Business Aviation Association management certificate program in aircraft selection, outfitting & retrofitting; a research writing guide for the University of Maryland; a Major Applied Research Project; and other educational writings. His doctorate was from Nova University (EdD in higher education), master of arts (MA in guidance & counseling) from Wayne State University, and bachelor of business (BS) from the University of Tennessee. Ken is active in the American Counseling Association, the American Statistical Association, Phi Gamma Sigma, and the Institute of Transport Administration; chairs and advises in major graduate research projects; advises in corporate and business aviation; and facilitates career planning for those seeking guidance. He has a British wife and two highly educated daughters. His interests continue to be in sports, research activities, and helping others learn.
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