Applied Statistics for Evaluators

Description: A set of statistical tools often used in program evaluations will be presented with emphasis on appropriate application of techniques and interpretation of results. The intent is to "demystify" statistics and provide a basis for understanding how and when to use particular techniques. While the principal concern focuses on practical applications rather than the mathematical support underlying the procedures, a number of formulae and computations are covered to help students understand how the statistics work. Topics include introduction to data analysis; simple descriptive statistics; examination of statistical relationships; basics of statistical inference from sample data; two-sample t tests, chi square and associated measures; analysis of variance; and introduction to regression analysis. A variety of tabular and graphical output for presenting results of analyses will be explored. The class is in a computer lab where each person has a computer for illustrating techniques and applying them to real-world data, using SPSS software. However, no prior knowledge of statistics or SPSS is required. While introductory, this course can also serve as a refresher for those with some training in statistics, and those working with them now but not comfortable with when and how they should be used. (This course is expanded to 4 days-from 3 in 2002-to increase its usefulness, by covering content in greater depth and allowing more time for student application of the logic and mechanics of presented techniques.)

Instructor: Dr. Theodore H. Poister is Professor of Public Administration in the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies at Georgia State University where he specializes in public management and applied research methods. He has previously served on the faculties of Southern University and Penn State University and for a year was a visiting professor at George Washington University. He has a long-standing interest in the use of applied research methods and statistics to evaluate the performance of public programs, and he teaches a highly regarded two course sequence in this area at Georgia State in which he strives to make applied statistics understandable and useable for masters students in public administration.

Poister is the author of early books in the field including Public Program Analysis: Applied Research Methods (University Park Press, 1978), Applied Program Evaluation in Local Government (Lexington Books, 1979), and Performance Monitoring (Lexington Books, 1983), and his new volume on Performance Measurement for Public and Nonprofit Organizations will be published in the summer of 2003 by Jossey-Bass. Much of his research is concerned with results oriented management strategies in the public sector and the use of such tools as strategic planning and management, performance management, program evaluation, performance measurement, and quality improvement methods in government. He has published widely in these areas in such journals as Public Administration Review, Public Productivity & Management Review, Public Administration Quarterly, Evaluation Review, American Review of Public Administration, The Journal of Urban Affairs, and Public Works Management & Policy Review.

Dr. Poister has a substantive interest in transportation policy and management, but he has also worked in a variety of other program areas including housing, criminal justice, mental disabilities, child support enforcement, and public and community health. Beyond classroom teaching and academic research, he enjoys working in the field with practicing public and nonprofit managers, and over the years has conducted applied research projects, program evaluations, statistical analyses, strategic planning efforts, and performance measurement system development projects - as well as professional training and development programs - for a wide variety of state, federal, local, and nonprofit agencies. Organizations he has worked with in the past few years include the Georgia Department of Administrative Services, the Georgia Office of Child Support Enforcement, the Georgia Department of Community Health, the North Dakota State Auditor's Office, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, as well as the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, the Williamsport Bureau of Transportation, the Transportation Research Board, and the U.S. Maritime Administration.

Certificates: CEP IB.a or CAEP IIB.a; and CQEM III.c

Fee: $1495