- CATALOG DESCRIPTION: Introduction to use of probability and statistics in urban and regional planning
research. Basic planning techniques; data analysis and display; projection techniques;
land use surveys and coding; simple models; economic base and locational analysis;
electronic data processing. 3 lecture/discussions; 1 three-hour laboratory. Concurrent
enrollment required.
URP 521 (CRN 10252) meets on Mondays in 7-235 from 7 to 9:50 p.m. URP 521L (CRN 10253) meets on Wednesdays in 7-235 from 7 to 9:50 p.m. The class will occasionally meet in a community setting and in a campus computer lab.
- EXPECTED
OUTCOMES: On successful completion of the course, students should be able to demonstrate:
- a basic knowledge of elementary research methods, data sources, and analytical
techniques used by planners;
- competence in microcomputer-based methods of analysis and research. Student
work will involve both computer-mediated and non computer-mediated methods;
- understanding of
the role of quantitative and qualitative methods or reserach in the plan-making process;
- skills
in the oral, written, and graphic presentation of data obtained from urban
settings;
- competentence in
working professionally with others.
- COURSE REQUIREMENTS
- Attendance at all lectures and assigned
lab sessions. Be aware that class activities will involve field research.
- Timely completion and submission of
all laboratory projects. Late lab assignments will not be accepted unless
specifically and individually allowed by the instructor.
- Timely completion and submission of
weekly homework assignments based on the text and lecture material. Assignments
will be distributed each Wednesday and will be due the following Wednesday
at the beginning of class. Each assignment may consist of two parts--a part
that must be submitted online using the Bb "drop box" and /or
a Bb Quiz, and another part that must be submitted as hard copy. The assignments
will clearly specify which portion should be submitted online, which in
hard copy. Late assignments will receive no credit. Assignments
submitted after the beginning of class on the day they are due will be considered
late. If you
fear being late, you may mail a hard copy of your assignment through the U.S.
Post Office. It will be considered "submitted" on the day it is postmarked. Bring two copies of your homework to class on the due date; we
will go over it in class that day. Absolutely do not email or fax
assignments unless specifically requested to do so. Unsolicited emailed
or faxed assignments will not be acknowledged.
- Students will work in teams to complete
assignments and class activities throughout the quarter: students are expected to have a positive
attitude about collaborating with other students in the course.
- EXAMINATIONS
EXAMS: Two examinations will be given, the first on 30 January
and 1 February and the second on Monday, 12 March. Each will cover 5 weeks of material and each will count
for 15 percent of the final grade. Students may use books, class notes, and
calculators during each exam.
- INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS
The required text, Remler
and Van Ryzin's (2011) Research Methods in Practice, may be purchased at the Bronco Bookstore. Additional supplemental
reading material may be provided as hard copy or electronic handouts during
the quarter.
The class
website will be managed through "Blackboard." Students must use their Cal Poly USERIDs to log into Blackboard. See the Blackboard page
for further instruction and for information about Blackboard workshops for
students. Log on to the Blackboard web page at Cal Poly Pomona at: blackboard.csupomona.edu. During specified hours of the early morning,
Blackboard may be down for maintenance. Consult the log-in page to see if
this is the case. When Blackboard is down, you cannot take quizzes or submit
assignments. Please plan accordingly. For assistance in getting access to
your Blackboard account, visit the I&IT help desk in Building 1:100. Their
office hours are Monday through Thursday: 7:00 AM - 6:00 PM and Friday: 8:00
AM - 5:00 PM (excluding state holidays).
- MINIMUM STUDENT MATERIALS:
Students will be expected to have access to computers in their homes or
in University labs; word-processing and spreadsheet software will be used,
and access to the world wide web will be required at times. Students will
need simple calculators--they must have a square root function. Students
should have an email account, either through the University (free) or a private
provider. Responses to questions about current homework that are posed via
email will be posted on the class web page (anonymously).
- BASIS FOR
GRADES:
- 10 % Class attendance
and participation, including in-class assignments
- 30 % Assignments
1-8 each worth 3.75 points towards your final grade
- 30 % Exams (15
@ )
- 30 % Lab assignments
- Lab II =
10 %
- Lab III
= 15 %
- STATEMENT
ON ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
Be aware of University
guidelines regarding academic integrity ("Policies and Regulations"
section of the 2011-12 University Catalog, especially pages 54-55): All forms
of academic dishonesty at Cal Poly are a violation of University policy and
will be considered a serious offense. That is, violations will be referred
to the Office of Judicial Affairs and will result in failing grades on the assignment
in question. Academic dishonesty includes but is not limited to:
- "Plagiarism,
falsification, fabrication is intentionally or knowingly presenting words,
ideas or work of others as one’s own work.. . . .
- Cheating
during exams. . .
- Use
of unauthorized study aids . . .
- Falsifying
any University document--this includes . . .falsifying prerequisite requirements."
- Academic
dishonesty also includes presenting fabricated data, such as field notes,
as authentic.
- ACCESSIBILITY
Students with special needs of which the instructor should be aware should
register with the Disability Resource Center and advise the instructor as soon as possible.
- COURSE OUTLINE: Schedule of
activities
Schedule of activities (revised
Sunday, 1 January, 2012
)
| Week |
Topic
and assigned reading |
Assignment
dates |
| 1 |
Research,
theories and models
Remler & Van Ryzin, Chapters 1-2 |
4 Jan.- Assignment 1 out
4 Jan.-Lab I out |
| 2 |
Measurement
Remler & Van Ryzin, Chapter 4 |
11 Jan.-Assignment 1 in
11 Jan.-Assignment 2 out
13 Jan. (Friday, by midnight) Lab I in--online submission |
| 3 |
Sampling
Remler & Van Ryzin, Chapter 5
16 January--Martin Luther King Holiday,
no class
|
18
Jan. Assignment 2 in
18 Jan. Assignment 3 out
|
| 4 |
Primary & secondary data
Remler & Van Ryzin, Chapter 6-7
|
25
Jan. Assignment 3 in
25
Jan.Assignment 4 out
27 Jan. Lab II out
|
5
|
Midterm |
30 Jan and 1 Feb. midterm
|
6
|
Data
analysis
Remler
& Van Ryzin, Chapter 8
|
8
Feb Assignment 4 in
8
Feb. Assignment 5 out
10 Feb. Lab III out
|
| 7 |
Causation
Remler
& Van Ryzin, Chapters 10-11 |
15
Feb: Assignment 5 in
15 Feb. Assignment 6 out
17 Feb: (Friday, by midnight) Lab II in--online submission
|
| 8 |
Qualitative
research
Remler & Van Ryzin, Chapter 3 |
22
Feb. Assignment 6 in
22 Feb. Assignment
7 out |
| 9 |
"Experiments"
Remler & Van Ryzin, Chapters 12 and 13 |
29
Feb. Assignment 7 in.
29
Feb. Assignment 8 out |
| 10 |
Ethics,
catch up and review
Remler & Van Ryzin, Chapter 14 |
5 Mar. Assignment
8 in (note this is a Monday), review for final, start Lab III presentations
7 Mar. Lab
III presentations
9 Mar:
(Friday, by midnight) Lab III in--online submission |
Finals
week |
FINAL
exam: Monday, 12 March 7-9
pm |
|
|
