Probability – Master of Public Administration (MPA), Central Department of Public Administration (CDPA), Tribhuvan University (TU)

The objective of this course is to familiarize the students with basic tools and techniques of statistics required to conduct social and behavioral research in public administration.

Course Contents

Unit 1: Introduction to Statistics (LH 4)

Concept, nature, significance and scope of statistics
General field of statistics: descriptive and inferential statistics
Measure of central tendency: mean, weighted mean, median and mode
Measures of dispersion: variance, standard deviation and coefficient of variation

Unit 2: Determining the Bi-variate Relationship (LH 4)

Correlation analysis: Karl Pearson and Spearman’s Rank correlation methods
Regression analysis: simple linear regression

Unit 3: Probability Theory (LH 10)

Basic terminologies: combination, event and its type; sample space
Approach to probability: classical, relative frequency and subjective approaches
Laws of probability: additional rule, multiplication rule, conditional probability
Theoretical probability distribution: binomial, and normal distribution.

Unit 4: Estimation (LH 5)

Concept of estimation, sampling distribution, and standard error
Criteria of a good estimator
Type of estimates: Point and interval estimate (population mean and population proportion)
Determining sample size

Unit 5: Test of Hypothesis (LH 25)

Introduction to test of hypothesis: concept and significance
Basic terminologies: null and alternative hypothesis, one tailed and two tailed test, type-I and type-II errors
Steps in test of hypothesis
Test of significance of large sample: mean (single and double sample), population proportion (single and double sample)
Test of significance of small Sample: mean (independent and dependent), sample correlation coefficient, test of significance of two sample variances,
Parametric and non-parametric test, chi-square test (goodness of fits and test of independence attribute)
Kruskal Wallis Test: test of significance of more than two sample means

References

Chandan, J. S. (2009). Statistics for Business and Economics. New Delhi: Vikash Publishing House.
Gupta, S. C. (1999). Fundamentals of Statistics. New Delhi: Himalaya Publishing House Pvt. Ltd.
Gupta, S. P. (1998). Fundamentals of Statistics. New Delhi: Himalayan Publishing House Pvt. Ltd.
Kerlinger, F. N. (1986). Fundamental of Behavioral Research. New Delhi: Surjeet Publishers
Kothari, C. K. (2008). Research Methodology: Methods and Techniques. New Delhi: New Age International.
Macfie, B. P. & Nufrio P. M. (2017). Applied Statistics for Public Policy. New Delhi: Prentice Hall of India Pvt. Ltd.
Shahi, H. B. (2017). Statistics for Public Management. Kathmandu: Radhika Shahi.
Sharma, P. K. & Chaudhary, A. K. (2071). Statistical Methods. Kathmandu: Khanal Publication Pvt. Ltd.

The aim of this course is to provide students with detail knowledge on research methods in public administration so as to make the students able to write a thesis by choosing appropriate research designs, methods, techniques, tools and procedures for both the qualitative and quantitative studies.

Course Contents

Unit 1: Basic Concepts (LH 12)

Nature of social and behavioral sciences
Concept, types and process of social research
Research problem and hypothesis
Sources of data (primary and secondary)
Variables and their relationships
Measurement and scaling; reliability and validity of measuring instruments
Ethics and value judgment in social research

Unit 2: Literature Review (LH 8)

Concept, process and purpose of literature review
Citation systems: APA and others

Unit 3: Sampling and Research Designs (LH 10)

Sampling: basic concept
Probability and non-probability sampling methods and their techniques
Research designs: concept, purpose and quality of research designs
Types of research designs: quantitative, qualitative, mixed methods and experimental designs

Unit 4: Data Collection Methods (LH 10)

Survey method: questionnaire construction and structured interview
Unstructured interviews, observation, content analysis, and document study
Participatory approaches: RRA and PRA

Unit 5: Data Analysis and Report Writing (LH 8)

Data processing: editing, coding and tabulation
Use of computer software for data analysis
Data presentation, interpretation and generalization
Structure and process of writing a thesis
Qualities of a good research proposal and report

References

Adhikari, G. P. (2003). Social Research for Thesis Writing. Kathmandu: Investigation Nepal.
Baskota, S. (2061). Research Methodology. Kathmandu: New Hira Books Enterprise.
Bhanadari, D. R. (2012). Research Methodology. Kathmandu: Dhaulagiri Books and Stationery.
Creswell, H. W. (2009). Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative and Mixed Methods Approaches. New Delhi: Sage Publications Pvt. Ltd.
Joshi, P. R. (2003). Research Methodology. Kathmandu: Buddha Academic Publishers and Distributers Pvt. Ltd.
Kerlinger, F. N. (2000). Foundations of Behavioural Research. New Delhi: Surjeet Publications.
Khati, R. D. (2006). Introduction to Research Methods. Kathmandu: Thirdeye Publishers
Kothari, C. R. (2010). Research Methodology: Methods and Techniques. New Delhi: New Age International Pvt. Ltd.
Kuhn, T. S. (1962). The Structure of Scientific Revolutions. USA: The University of Chicago Press.
Pant, P. R. (2016). Social Science Research and Thesis Writing. Kathmandu: Buddha Academic Publishers and Distributors.
Sharma, P. R. (2064). Research Methodology with SPSS: Useful Thesis, Project Work and Report Writing.
Sharma, B. A. V., Prashad, R., & Shatyanaryan P. (1989). Research Methodology. New Delhi: Sterling Publishers Pvt. Ltd.
Young, P. V. (1982). Scientific Social Survey and Research. New Delhi: Prentice-Hall of India Pvt. Ltd.