1. DEPARTMENT: Executive Master of Public Health
COURSE NUMBER: PRS 530D (Spring 2017)
COURSE TITLE: Quantitative Analysis Seminar
CREDIT HOURS: 2
INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION
Name: Rebecca T. Filipowicz, MPH, MS, MCHES
Email: rtfilip@emory.edu
Phone: 904-377-3804
Mailing Address: 1518 Clifton Road, NE, GCR 430
Atlanta, GA 30322
Office Hours: By appointment
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course will provide students with an introduction to measurement methods and basic
knowledge of quantitative applications using SPSS software. Content will stress specific skills
and knowledge of working with data sets using basic SPSS functions to analyze research
questions and hypotheses, perform appropriate data analysis procedures and interpret data
outputs.
COURSE COMPETENCIES
This course addresses the following Prevention Science Track competencies:
Assesses the effects of public health interventions and programs.
Incorporates the use of technology and public health informatics in professional
practice.
Makes community specific inferences from quantitative and/or qualitative data.
Contributes to the science base of public health.
This course addresses the following additional competencies:
Selects and defines variables relevant to defined public health problems.
Makes relevant inferences from quantitative and qualitative data.
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LEARNING OBJECTIVES
After completing this course, students will be able to:
1. Interpret and describe SPSS output from statistical procedures run in class
2. Import and export data in SPSS from different database or analysis programs
3. Recode and create variables in SPSS
4. Run statistical procedures in SPSS for:
Frequencies and cross tabulations
T-tests
Logistic Regression
Linear Regression
One and Two Way ANOVA
ANCOVA, MANOVA, MANCOVA
5. Select and manipulate variables for analysis
6. Use quantitative analysis output in order to answer hypotheses
7. Present data findings
8. Apply content learned to real-world data analysis scenarios.
EVALUATION
Students will be assessed for their skills in running and interpreting analysis procedures using
SPSS software (70%). Students will also be evaluated on their ability to develop a hypothesis,
determine the appropriate statistical procedures to test hypothesis, interpret analysis outputs
and answer logistical and research questions based on their analysis output (20%). Lastly,
students are assessed for their participation in the class via on-campus sessions, and discussion
board forums (10%).
STUDENT HONOR AND CONDUCT CODE
The RSPH requires that all material submitted by a student in fulfilling his or her academic
course of study must be the original work of the student. For more information about the
School's Student Honor and Conduct Code, go to:
http://www.sph.emory.edu/studentservice/conductcode.html. If you have any questions
about this specific course, contact the instructor.
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal anti-discrimination statute that provides
comprehensive civil rights protection for persons with disabilities. Among other things, this
legislation requires that all students with disabilities be guaranteed a learning environment that
provides for reasonable accommodation of their disabilities. If you believe you have a disability
requiring an accommodation, please contact the Access, Disabilities Services and Resources
office in 110 Administration (404-727-9877). That office can guide you in determining the
process for documenting, obtaining and using accommodations at Emory University.
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ON-CAMPUS MEETING TIMES
There are two on-campus class sessions for this class. Attendance is required for all on-campus
class sessions.
Opening On-campus Sessions
Friday January 6 12:30 – 3:30 pm
Saturday January 7 1:00 – 4:00 pm
Closing On-campus Sessions
Friday April 7 12:30 – 3:30 pm
Saturday April 8 1:00 – 4:00 pm
Text/Readings
Recommended (optional):
Cronk, B. (2016). How to Use SPSS: A step-by-step guide to analysis and interpretation (9th
ed.). Routledge. [ISBN-10: 1936523442 or ISBN-13: 978-1936523443]
e-version is available
All other readings will be accessible on the Internet.
Computer Requirements
Computer hardware, software, and peripherals compatible with Blackboard usage are required.
Please consult the Blackboard Help site and/or the CMPH Online Orientation course for general
information about operating systems, browsers, communication software, and printers. Some
courses may require the installation of plugins and/or software, which can be installed only by
those with administrative rights to their computers. Please note that an iPad or similar mobile
device does not provide the needed functionality for all of the Blackboard tools.
In addition to the general requirements referenced above, this course requires the use of the
following:
SPSS Software (Source information will be provided in the course.)
Data sets, codebooks, and surveys will be provided in the Course Information area of
the Blackboard course site.
COMMUNICATING WITH THE INSTRUCTOR
There are two primary modes of communication for this class--the "Course Q&A" section of the
discussion board and electronic mail. To ensure that your questions are answered as promptly
as possible, please follow the communications guidelines below:
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Course Q&A section of the discussion board: A special section of the discussion board
has been set up for questions/answers about the course. An assistant will monitor this
area daily and will notify me if there is an urgent need for me to respond off my regular
schedule. You are strongly encouraged to respond to yourpeers if you know the
answer or can provide guidance.
Personal email to the instructor: Email should be used only for messages that are
private in nature. Please allow up to 48 hours for response time.
EVALUATION DETAILS, GRADING POLICY, AND ASSIGNMENTS
Evaluation: This course requires individual assignments and group discussion participation. The
student will be evaluated on his/her performance as detailed below. Due dates will be
provided in the course schedule.
Point Summary and Grading Scale:
Item Individual/Group
Percent of
grade
Lab Exercises Individual 70%
Hypothesis assignment Group 20%
Participation/Professionalism Individual/Group 10%
Total 100%
Dates of deadlines for assignments may be subject to change. Students are responsible for all
course work involved when there is any change made in the course schedule.
Grading Scale:
Grade Meaning Quality Points
A 94-100% 4.0
A- 90-93% 3.7
B+ 87-89% 3.3
B 84-86% 3.0
B- 80-83% 2.7
C 70-79% 2.0
F <70% 0.0
Assignment Details:
Lab exercises will be assigned on most weeks. There are 7 total labs to complete. Each lab
exercise will include 2 parts:
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1. The first part will be a Word document with your output. Cut and paste your analyses
into a Word document or EXPORT the tables to Word document as SPSS outputs do not
always transfer well. IF YOU DO NOT KNOW HOW TO DO THIS, please get instruction
from Ms. Filipowicz before the first assignment is due. Completeness of the output
will be graded. Everyone will start with a score of “10” and will lose points for parts of
the output that are missing. Make sure you label the outputs appropriately.
2. The second part is a quiz with questions related to the output and interpretation of the
output. You will lose points for questions which are not answered completely, or where
interpretation (as requested in the assignment) is lacking. The quizzes will be located in
“course documents” in the corresponding folder. The quizzes will not be timed and
include mostly fill in the blank or short answers.
Together, both parts together make up 10% of you total grade for each lab.
Hypothesis assignment. Using either the PARC, Birth, BRFSS datasets provided or an approved
dataset from your personal work, develop a hypothesis, requiring inferential statistics. Identify
the statistical test you will run to support your hypothesis and the program and procedures you
will use to perform the test. You will present your information via a PowerPoint presentation at
the closing on-campus session. You will also post your PowerPoint by the date indicated on the
course schedule to the appropriate main discussion board forum for other students to review.
You will need to choose 3 other student PowerPoint presentations to review prior to the on-
campus session and come with 2 questions each to ask the presenter. You will post this to the
corresponding forum on the main discussion board and present your information via a
PowerPoint presentation class at the closing on-campus session. In addition, you will send your
PowerPoint presentation to the instructor by the date indicated in the course schedule. The
presentation should include the following information:
Hypothesis (state as a null hypothesis)
Rationale for hypothesis
Statistical procedures you used to test the hypothesis
Data manipulation procedures, i.e. recoding variables, creating new variables,
computing variables
Results/output from your test (using table/graphs where appropriate)
Interpretation and discussion of the results/output
All assignments are due by 11:59 pm (EST) on the day indicated unless otherwise
specified on the course syllabus or schedule. The instructor must be notified prior
to the due date for exceptions. Failure to notify the instructor may affect the
student’s grade.
Participation and Professionalism. Students are expected to log into the class web site at least
three times per week. Additionally, students are expected to complete assignments before or
on the date they are due.
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See above under hypothesis assignment for additional participation related to reviewing other
student PowerPoint presentations and coming to the on campus session with prepared
questions.
Active participation in the class discussion boards is required. For each unit, the group you are
assigned to will have a discussion scenario. You will have until the end of the module time
period to finish your discussions. Your participation in the discussions will be graded according
to the following criteria:
1. Resources--did you find resources to share, did you provide a synopsis of what peers
could expect to find at a site you shared?
2. Contribution--did you contribute to the scholarly discussion tying facts to your
response and citing resources?
3. Responsiveness--did you respond to your peers in a timely fashion (3 to 4 days) to
help move the discussion forward?
4. Tying material together--Did you make connections between the content of the
message you responded to and other perspectives?
5. Depth of response--Did you take the discussion to a deeper level by asking questions
or making comments (not already presented), which caused others to think about
the content from a different perspective?
6. Degree and quality of participation during on-campus sessions.
Verbal and Written Communications
Communicating effectively in writing and verbally is critical to public health research and
practice. Graduates of the Career MPH are expected to demonstrate these skills in written
assignments and oral presentations. Requirements for acceptable performance in this course
include the following:
Proofread: Clarity and accuracy are expected in submission of assignments throughout this
course. Errors of grammar or spelling may result in a lower grade.
Note: Keep in mind that spell check and grammar check features of software programs
such as Microsoft Word are not sufficient. Please read over all submissions carefully for
content, spelling, punctuation, and grammar before turning them in.
Criteria for written assignments: The following criteria will be used in grading written
assignments: (Instructor edits as appropriate)
Relevance to the issues
Scope and thoroughness
Logic and organization of thought
Reference to the scientific literature in the areas related to the course
Proper citations format (please follow track or instructor guidelines for all quotes and
citations)
Integration of principles and theories described in class and in readings
Overall writing style
Correct grammar and spelling
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Criteria for oral presentations: The following criteria will be used in grading oral presentations:
(Instructor edits and provides details)
Organization of material
Relevance to the issues
Scope and thoroughness
Analysis and conclusions
Presentation skills
Adherence to time limits
OVERALL COURSE POLICIES
All work must be turned in according to the schedule. If an emergency arises which keeps the
group from posting work at the appropriate time, please discuss the problem with me via e-
mail.
All lecture notes and other information presented within this course are the property of the
instructor, and are protected by copyright.
While this class does not cover content that is emotionally charged, it is important to
remember that you are in a learning community composed of a wide range of beliefs and
experiences, and every person has a right to express those beliefs/experiences within the
discussion boundaries. No denigration or silencing of others will be allowed
RECOMMENDATION
I recommend that you compose your discussion responses in Word or Notepad, save them
before copying and pasting them into the appropriate forum area. Always keep a copy on disk
of all assignments, discussions, or e-mails you post to the course site. Always check the
discussion areas after you have posted a response to make sure it appears. Remember that
sometimes a brief delay may occur after before the discussion posting is visible. It is usually not
necessary to repost.
