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Discussion 1 1 • • Prompt: Briefly discuss your understanding of the research process and explain why research is needed in the public administration profession

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Discussion 1 1 • • Prompt: Briefly discuss your understanding of the research process and explain why research is needed in the public administration profession. Provide relevant examples from your experiences and incorporate appropriate biblical Scripture in your response. Requirements: 250-300 words Research is a process of diving into a particular subject to gain a deeper insight of what that subject or idea entails. According to Merriam-Webster.com, research is defined as a careful, diligent search or studious inquiry or examination, or the collecting of information about a particular subject. Research is important in any field, especially in the world of public administration. To properly perform as a public administrator, one must possess knowledge of public policies, programs, and different styles of management. To advance the knowledge within these areas, there must be some research done on the sciences that the public relies on for public officials are supposed to be the representation of the citizens for which they serve. It is important to understand that there is always the factor of human error that we must consider when continue the development of the law and how we run society. For instance, on my job I must have an in depth understanding of the inventory in my agency’s warehouses so that I am able to make educated decisions on adjustments and purchases. Audits of inventory are done in a particular way that’s helps us get an understanding of how we should continue the development or make changes to standard operating procedures. Without a full understanding of what has already been done, I may not have the best plan of action when it is time to make decisions or know when there is a need for change in any particular area. As Maya Angelou once said, “If you don't know where you've come from, you don't know where you're going.” Without knowledge of the past, we will have a more difficult time sculpting out the future. Discussion 2 • • Prompt: On a scale of 1-to-10 with 10 being the best, rank your experience with spreadsheets and data analysis. Provide a rationale for your ranking and discuss your strengths and weaknesses related to Excel spreadsheets. Requirements: 250-300 words By obtaining a degree in business in undergrad, pursuing an accounting certification, working in management at a restaurant, continuing to work in various business settings such as human resources or accounts payable, and now being a fiscal officer, I have had to utilize spreadsheets in a multitude of ways. I have created reports and charts that were for my own use, the use of internal management, and for the use by external stakeholders of the different entities I have provided my services to. However, there is always more to learn, especially since technology is continuously evolving, and software engineers are always finding ways of making systems or programs easier to use for the consumer. To rate my own skills, I would have to give myself a 7 on a scale from 1 to 10. I am confident that no matter what kind of data that it may be that needs to be analyzed, I can put together a report in a spreadsheet that can be as detailed or as simplified as I need it to be, as I have always done this at any position that I have held. Strengths of mine when speaking of spreadsheets in Excel (or the Numbers app for IOS) include my ability to find the most reliable functions that suit whatever data I am mining at that moment. I also have a knack for creating charts that illustrate the data properly and in a way that almost anyone can understand it better. As for my weaknesses in spreadsheets, however, I would say that I could have a better understanding of how to integrate spreadsheets together, even when they are in separate files. I have seen this done many times, but I have never really done it myself. However, I haven’t needed to do this many times either. So I am pretty sure that If I put my mind to it, I could master that weakness and turn It into a strength. Class books • O'Sullivan,E., Rassel,G.R., Taliferro,J., & Berner,M. (2017).Research methods for public administrators(6thed.). Routledge.ISBN: 978-0205856251 • Salkind,N.J. (2018).Exploring research(9thed.). Pearson.ISBN: 978-0134238418 • The Holy Bible APPENDIX D EXCEL PRACTICE EXERCISE When students begin MPA620, they typically have a detailed understanding of how to write reports using online research. However, many students will not have that same familiarity with data and will be challenged by the data collection and analysis components of the final project. Students feeling uncertain and anxious about the challenges of working with data can relax. This exercise and accompanying project on tithing will help overcome those challenges. While the content of this exercise may seem elementary using an individual bag of plain M&Ms, it introduces students to many of the concepts necessary to collect and analyze data for the final capstone project. For example, in the capstone project, students will collect their own data using surveys, interviews, or observations. In this exercise, your data collection begins with purchasing your individual bag of M&Ms. Once you open your bag and count your candies by color, you have collected your data and are ready to conduct a series of steps that will analyze your data in the same way you will analyze the data for your final project. However, unlike your capstone project, you can eat the data after it has been collected and counted! __________________________________________________________________ Directions: Students are required to complete the following steps to become familiar with basic spreadsheet navigation, formula development, and basic statistical analysis. Step 1: Student must obtain an individual (1.69oz) bag of plain Milk Chocolate M&M’s candy for this exercise. This is the smallest individual brown bag that can be found in store check-out aisles. Be sure to purchase the plain 1.69oz bag! Step 2: Open the bag and count the number of pieces for each color. Partial or broken pieces can be discarded. Complete the following table based on the number of pieces in the bag. You may write the numbers on the table below: Candy Color Blue Brown Green Orange Red Yellow Step 3: Number of Pieces In an Excel spreadsheet, change the tab name at the bottom from ‘Sheet1’ to ‘My Data’ and create a table using the candy colors and number of pieces from your bag in Step 2. The table you create should look like the table in Step 2. Begin your table in cell A3. 41 Step 4: Change the color of each cell in the first column to match the corresponding color of candy. You may need to change the font color for the darker candies. Add border lines around all the cells. Add an extra thick line around the entire table. Step 5: Enter ‘Total’ at the bottom of the first column. In the adjacent cell, at the bottom of the second column, enter the proper =SUM formula to calculate the total number of the pieces for your bag. Step 6: At the right of the ‘Number of Pieces’ column, add another column called ‘Percent of the Total.’ Enter appropriate formulas to calculate the percent of the total for each color. Format the percentages with one decimal place. The total of the percentages should equal 100.0%. The first column should be left-justified. The remaining two columns should be right-justified. At the conclusion of Step 6, your table should resemble the following: (## reflects the number of candies from your bag, FF reflects formula you entered). Note: The table was started in cell A3. 42 Step 7: Graphically display the data from the table in Step 6 using the following charts: 1) Develop a pie chart displaying the percentage of each color. Include a label with the color and corresponding percentage. 2) Develop a bar chart displaying the number of candies for each color. Step 8: At the very bottom in the tab area, add another spreadsheet and rename it to ‘Class Data.’ Your tabs at the bottom should resemble the following: Step 9: In the new “Class Data” tab, starting in cell A3, create a table using the data below from the M&M bags of 9 other students. Add data from your bag as the 10th bag at the end. Candy Color Blue Brown Green Orange Red Yellow Step 10: #01 #02 #03 #04 #05 #06 #07 #08 #09 10 13 13 6 7 5 13 8 15 7 5 9 9 5 12 7 9 8 8 9 8 13 10 8 10 9 9 18 7 7 9 11 14 9 6 4 8 5 9 16 5 12 11 7 11 12 7 6 10 9 11 12 9 7 #10 (Your Bag) At the bottom of the first Candy Color column, enter ‘Bag Total.’ In the adjacent cells on that row, enter a =SUM formula to calculate the total number of the pieces in each bag. Once you enter the first formula, copy (Ctrl+C) and paste (Ctrl+V) the formulas across the row. Press F2 to check the formulas. 43 Step 11: At the right of #10 (Your Bag), add another column called ‘Color Total.’ Enter appropriate =SUM formulas to calculate the total for each color. Once you enter the first formula, copy (Ctrl+C) and paste (Ctrl+V) the formulas down the column. Press F2 to check the formulas. At the conclusion of Step 11, your table should resemble the following: (## reflects the number of candies from your bag, FF reflects formula you entered). Note: The table was started in cell A3. Step 12: At the right of the ‘Color Total’ column, add a column called ‘Color Average.’ Enter the appropriate =AVERAGE formulas to calculate the average for each color. Copy and paste as necessary and use F2 to check formulas. Do not include the Color Total column in your calculation. Step 13: At the right of the ‘Color Average’ column, add a column called ‘Standard Deviation.’ Enter the appropriate =STDEV formulas to calculate the standard deviation for each color. Copy and paste as necessary and use F2 to check formulas. Do not include the Color Total column in your calculation. Develop a bar chart like the one below by color based on standard deviation. Which color has the most variability? Which color has the least variability? 44 Candy Color Blue Brown Green Orange Red Yellow Total Number of Pieces Percentage of the Total 6 5 7 10 9 11 48 12.5% 10.4% 14.6% 20.8% 18.8% 22.9% 100.0% Plain M&M Candies 12 Yellow 23% Blue 12% 10 Brown 10% Frequency Plain M&M Candies 8 6 4 Green 15% Red 19% Orange 21% 2 0 Blue M&M Candies Brown Green Orange Color Red Yellow Candly Color Blue Brown Green Orange Red Yellow Bag Total #01 Candly Color Blue Brown Green Orange Red Yellow Standard Deviation 1.8974 2.6854 2.6437 3.9721 1.7764 2.497 10 13 13 6 7 5 54 #02 #03 #04 #05 #06 #07 #08 #09 #10 (Your bag) 13 9 8 10 9 8 11 10 6 8 5 9 9 11 5 7 9 5 15 12 8 9 14 9 11 11 7 7 7 13 18 9 16 12 12 10 5 9 10 7 6 5 7 9 9 9 8 8 7 4 12 6 7 11 57 50 56 60 53 55 54 58 48 Frequency Plain M&M Candies 4.5 4 3.5 3 2.5 2 1.5 1 0.5 0 Blue Brown Green Orange Colors Most variability is Orange Least variability is Red Red Yellow Color Total Color Average Standard Deviation 94 9.4 1.897366596 81 8.1 2.685351208 109 10.9 2.643650675 110 11 3.972125096 74 7.4 1.776388346 77 7.7 2.496664441 545 Candy Color Blue Brown Green Orange Red Yellow Total Number of Pieces Percentage of the Total 6 5 7 10 9 11 48 12,5% 10,4% 14,6% 20,8% 18,8% 22,9% 100,0% Plain M&M Candies 12 Yellow 23% Blue 12% 10 Brown 10% Frequency Plain M&M Candies 8 6 4 Green 15% Red 19% Orange 21% 2 0 Blue M&M Candies Brown Green Orange Color Red Yellow Candly Color Blue Brown Green Orange Red Yellow Bag Total #01 Candly Color Blue Brown Green Orange Red Yellow Standard Deviation 1,8974 2,6854 2,6437 3,9721 1,7764 2,497 10 13 13 6 7 5 54 #02 #03 #04 #05 #06 #07 #08 #09 #10 (Your bag) 13 9 8 10 9 8 11 10 6 8 5 9 9 11 5 7 9 5 15 12 8 9 14 9 11 11 7 7 7 13 18 9 16 12 12 10 5 9 10 7 6 5 7 9 9 9 8 8 7 4 12 6 7 11 57 50 56 60 53 55 54 58 48 Frequency Plain M&M Candies 4,5 4 3,5 3 2,5 2 1,5 1 0,5 0 Blue Brown Green Orange Colors Most variability is Orange Least variability is Red Red Yellow Color Total Color Average Standard Deviation 94 9,4 1,897366596 81 8,1 2,685351208 109 10,9 2,643650675 110 11 3,972125096 74 7,4 1,776388346 77 7,7 2,496664441 545 APPENDIX D EXCEL PRACTICE EXERCISE When students begin MPA620, they typically have a detailed understanding of how to write reports using online research. However, many students will not have that same familiarity with data and will be challenged by the data collection and analysis components of the final project. Students feeling uncertain and anxious about the challenges of working with data can relax. This exercise and accompanying project on tithing will help overcome those challenges. While the content of this exercise may seem elementary using an individual bag of plain M&Ms, it introduces students to many of the concepts necessary to collect and analyze data for the final capstone project. For example, in the capstone project, students will collect their own data using surveys, interviews, or observations. In this exercise, your data collection begins with purchasing your individual bag of M&Ms. Once you open your bag and count your candies by color, you have collected your data and are ready to conduct a series of steps that will analyze your data in the same way you will analyze the data for your final project. However, unlike your capstone project, you can eat the data after it has been collected and counted! __________________________________________________________________ Directions: Students are required to complete the following steps to become familiar with basic spreadsheet navigation, formula development, and basic statistical analysis. Step 1: Student must obtain an individual (1.69oz) bag of plain Milk Chocolate M&M’s candy for this exercise. This is the smallest individual brown bag that can be found in store check-out aisles. Be sure to purchase the plain 1.69oz bag! Step 2: Open the bag and count the number of pieces for each color. Partial or broken pieces can be discarded. Complete the following table based on the number of pieces in the bag. You may write the numbers on the table below: Candy Color Blue Brown Green Orange Red Yellow Step 3: Number of Pieces In an Excel spreadsheet, change the tab name at the bottom from ‘Sheet1’ to ‘My Data’ and create a table using the candy colors and number of pieces from your bag in Step 2. The table you create should look like the table in Step 2. Begin your table in cell A3. 41 Step 4: Change the color of each cell in the first column to match the corresponding color of candy. You may need to change the font color for the darker candies. Add border lines around all the cells. Add an extra thick line around the entire table. Step 5: Enter ‘Total’ at the bottom of the first column. In the adjacent cell, at the bottom of the second column, enter the proper =SUM formula to calculate the total number of the pieces for your bag. Step 6: At the right of the ‘Number of Pieces’ column, add another column called ‘Percent of the Total.’ Enter appropriate formulas to calculate the percent of the total for each color. Format the percentages with one decimal place. The total of the percentages should equal 100.0%. The first column should be left-justified. The remaining two columns should be right-justified. At the conclusion of Step 6, your table should resemble the following: (## reflects the number of candies from your bag, FF reflects formula you entered). Note: The table was started in cell A3. 42 Step 7: Graphically display the data from the table in Step 6 using the following charts: 1) Develop a pie chart displaying the percentage of each color. Include a label with the color and corresponding percentage. 2) Develop a bar chart displaying the number of candies for each color. Step 8: At the very bottom in the tab area, add another spreadsheet and rename it to ‘Class Data.’ Your tabs at the bottom should resemble the following: Step 9: In the new “Class Data” tab, starting in cell A3, create a table using the data below from the M&M bags of 9 other students. Add data from your bag as the 10th bag at the end. Candy Color Blue Brown Green Orange Red Yellow Step 10: #01 #02 #03 #04 #05 #06 #07 #08 #09 10 13 13 6 7 5 13 8 15 7 5 9 9 5 12 7 9 8 8 9 8 13 10 8 10 9 9 18 7 7 9 11 14 9 6 4 8 5 9 16 5 12 11 7 11 12 7 6 10 9 11 12 9 7 #10 (Your Bag) At the bottom of the first Candy Color column, enter ‘Bag Total.’ In the adjacent cells on that row, enter a =SUM formula to calculate the total number of the pieces in each bag. Once you enter the first formula, copy (Ctrl+C) and paste (Ctrl+V) the formulas across the row. Press F2 to check the formulas. 43 Step 11: At the right of #10 (Your Bag), add another column called ‘Color Total.’ Enter appropriate =SUM formulas to calculate the total for each color. Once you enter the first formula, copy (Ctrl+C) and paste (Ctrl+V) the formulas down the column. Press F2 to check the formulas. At the conclusion of Step 11, your table should resemble the following: (## reflects the number of candies from your bag, FF reflects formula you entered). Note: The table was started in cell A3. Step 12: At the right of the ‘Color Total’ column, add a column called ‘Color Average.’ Enter the appropriate =AVERAGE formulas to calculate the average for each color. Copy and paste as necessary and use F2 to check formulas. Do not include the Color Total column in your calculation. Step 13: At the right of the ‘Color Average’ column, add a column called ‘Standard Deviation.’ Enter the appropriate =STDEV formulas to calculate the standard deviation for each color. Copy and paste as necessary and use F2 to check formulas. Do not include the Color Total column in your calculation. Develop a bar chart like the one below by color based on standard deviation. Which color has the most variability? Which color has the least variability?