Weekly Topics for PA 803

Note: This is an intensive writing class which presumes you start with a conception of your dissertation question. You may use sources on the class links page or using the NCSU Libraries Database Finder for journal literature.

Class sessions are organized as follows:

**PA 803: Advanced Research Design, Public Administration**
Week	Topic	Assignments
Aug. 25	Opening Day Introduction	Outline Week 1 Conference Proposals, by Jim Stimson PA-Related Conferences Re-read doctoral orals/thesis requirements (Section 4)
Sept. 1	Labor Day Holiday	No class.
Blue weeks: Write draft of problem statement and introduction.
Sept. 8	Getting Started	Outline Week 2 Political Science Writing, by Jim Stimson Doctoral Grant Resources
Sept. 15	Identifying Data	Outline Week 3 How to Read a Journal Article, by Christian H. Jordan and Mark P. Zanna
Sept. 22	Literature Review	Outline Week 4 Writing a Literature Review, from the University of Washington Example of a literature review table Begin your literature review
Green weeks: Write draft of literature review.
Sept. 29	Theory Construction	Outline Week 5 Identify testable theories for your prospectus Visit the Public Administration Theory website
Oct. 6	Qualitative Research Designs	Outline Week 6 Consider adding a qualitative chapter for triangulation. Choosing Qualitative Research, by Marie Hoepfl Reliability, Validity and Triangulation, by Peter Berger
Oct. 13	Hypothesis Formation	Outline Week 7 Develop hypotheses for your theories.
Yellow weeks: Write draft of methods chapter.
Oct. 20	Quantitative Research Designs	Outline Week 8
Oct. 27	Univariate, Bivariate, Multivariate Analyses	Outline Week 9
Nov. 3	Example of Quantitative Prospectus	Outline Week 10
Beige weeks: Re-write your prospectus drafts.
Nov. 10	Progress Roundtable 1	Outline Week 11
Nov. 17	Progress Roundtable 2	Outline Week 12
Nov. 24	No class meeting: Finish your prospectus. Show it to your primary dissertation advisor for comment!!!	Outline Week 13.
Dec. 1	Student final presentations.	Outline Week 14 Prepare a Powerpoint presentation of just 7 slides, to last 5 minutes only.
Dec. 8	No final exam	Your prospectus is due as a file attachment sent to david_garson@ncsu.edu, consisting of the draft first three chapters of your dissertation. Make sure your primary dissertation advisor has seen it and given you feedback!!!