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Rossi,
et al. Chapters 4 |
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Wholey,
et al. Chapters 11 - 18 |
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Read this thoughtful essay about the importance of language for
managers and policy analysts from a recent issue of the PA Times
(Nov/Dec 2010). It matters how terms are operationalized and
measured. |
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We are
often obsessed with measuring stuff and live in an age of numbers.
Read this interesting
article in the New York Times (5/12) about our "Metric Mania".
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"Poverty" is an excellent example of problem definition
and the role that changing values play. See
this chart and an
article from the
Washington Post (9/10) on rising poverty rates. This chart
from the New York Times also illustrates a
variety of perspectives on
poverty and unemployment around the country (9/11). For an
alternative perspective, see this article from
National Review
online and a report prepared by the
Heritage Foundation (July 2011). |
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Sometimes baseline information about a problem is lacking. For
example, customers in restaurants have a classic information
asymmetry when it comes to making choices about nutrition when
dining. As a result, the Health Reform Act of 2009 (Obamacare)
requires restaurants with more than 20 outlets to place nutrition
information on menus. But basic information about what the
nutritional choices are is lacking. The
USA Today
(5/12) reported the results of a study
conducted by the Rand Corporation that contains some interesting
baseline information on just how limited your choices are if you did
want to eat healthy when dining out. |
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While numbers and data are important, it is also
important to know where these numbers come from and what they mean.
It also important to remember that the numbers can be "fudged" to
make conditions seem better or worse. See this
interesting article about the fudging of crime statistics (2/10) in
New York. Alternatively, even if the "fudging" may be justified on
scientific grounds, these adjustments could become the subject of
criticism. See this
interesting
article that examines some adjustments made to sea level rise
data (Fox News 6/11). Similarly, unemployment rates are
largely a function of the poorly understood labor force
participation rate. See this
interesting article (ZeroHedge 2/12) that demonstrates how
unemployment rates are trending down but at the same time their are
fewer "jobs". It is also important to realize if you are looking for
something you never looked for before, you may find more of it but that
doesn't mean there really is more of it. See this interesting
article from the USA
Today on Mercury in the water (8/04). |
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Sometimes it isn't the number per se that matters but the
distribution of the numbers that is significant. While having
a lot of something may seem good, what if the folks who need it most
don't get it? See this interesting article that looks at the
distribution of federal
Stimulus Spending (AP - 5/09) after the financial troubles back
in 2008. |
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While data and numbers are important, communicating these
results effectively using tools like PowerPoint is critically important.
See this interesting article from Government Executive about
how PowerPoint can be
the enemy of thought (9/1/04). |
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See
this
interesting article on the use of mystery shoppers by HHS that
had to be scrapped for political reasons (GovExec 6/11).
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Survey
research can be a very useful form of data collection when done
well. However, when done poorly or intentionally collects
misleading data, it is subject to manipulation. See this
interesting article from the
Raleigh News &
Observer (7/4/10) reporting on abuses from a pollster it once
hired. See this NY Post (11/18/13) article reporting on
a census worker who fabricated data used in unemployment reports.
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Read
this interesting
article from The Atlantic (12/11) on hidden biases and how they
can complicate the use of surveys |
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What
happens
when airline safety becomes too safe and there are no crashes to
obtain data to improve airline safety? See this interesting
Star News article (10/21/12) |
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Sometimes government programs cross the line in terms of the
collection of personal information. See this interesting article
from the Associated Press (9/2/12) where
Florida had to pay back
nearly $600,000 in welfare benefits denied because welfare
recipients failed or refused to take a drug test.
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