Syllabus

|[pic] |Syllabus | | |School of Business | | |QNT/HC561 Version 2 | | |Applied Business in Research & Statistics in Health Care | Copyright © 2010, 2009, 2008 by University of Phoenix. All rights reserved. Course Description This course prepares students to apply statistics and probability concepts to health care business decisions. Students learn criteria for developing effective research questions, including the creation of appropriate sampling populations and instruments. Other topics include descriptive statistics, probability concepts, confidence intervals, sampling designs, data collection, and data analysis – including parametric and nonparametric tests of hypothesis and regression analysis. Course Topics & Objectives Week One: Descriptive Statistics and Probability Distributions • Compute descriptive statistics for given data sets. • Apply probability concepts related to discrete and continuous probability. • Apply the central limit theorem to sample means. • Construct confidence intervals for a mean. Week Two: Research and Sampling Designs • Formulate research questions relevant to management issues. • Construct a research design appropriate to given research questions. Week Three: Data Collection • Determine appropriate measurement scale types for a given research design. • Construct surveys using measurement scale types relevant to a given research design. Week Four: Research Methods and Business Decisions • Apply concepts of probability to business decisions. Week Five: Data Analysis • Conduct one- and two-sample tests of hypotheses. • Perform variance and chi-square analyses. Week Six: Correlation, Linear Regression, and Multiple Regression Analysis • Perform correlation, linear regression, and multiple regression analysis. • Create a plan of action based on data analysis. Policies Faculty and students/learners will be held responsible for understanding and adhering to all policies contained within the following two documents: • University policies: You must be logged into the student website to view this document. • Instructor policies: This document is posted in the Course Materials forum. University policies are subject to change. Be sure to read the policies at the beginning of each class. Policies may be slightly different depending on the modality in which you attend class. If you have recently changed modalities, read the policies governing your current class modality. Course Materials Broyles, R. W. (2006). Fundamentals of statistics in health administration. Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett. Cooper, D. R., & Schindler, P. S. (2008). Business research methods (10th ed.). Boston, MA: McGraw-Hill Irwin. Lind, D. A., Marchal, W. G., & Wathen, S. A. (2008). Statistical techniques in business & economics (13th ed.). Boston, MA: McGraw-Hill/Irwin. All electronic materials are available on the student website. Point Values for Course Assignments                                                                            |ASSIGNMENTS |Due |Points | |Individual (70%) | | | |Class Participation and Discussion Questions |All |30 | |Individual Assignment: Assessment and Learning in Knowledge Spaces (ALEKS) Problems |W2 |5 | |Individual Assignment: Decision of Uncertainty Paper |W4 |10 | |Individual Assignment: ALEKS Problems |W6 |5 | |Individual Assignment: Final Examination |W6 |20 | | | | | |Learning Team (30%) | | | |Learning Team Assignment: Business Research Methods, Part I |W2 |10 | |Learning Team Assignment: Business Research Methods, Part II |W3 |10 | |Learning Team Assignment: Business Research Methods, Part III |W6 |10 | |Total | |100 | Summary of Assignments due by Week |Week One | | | |Points | |No written assignments due – Begin Work on Week 1 ALEKs due end of Week 2 | | |Week Two |  | |Individual Assignment: Assessment and Learning in Knowledge Spaces (ALEKS)Problems |5 | |Learning Team Assignment: Business Research Methods, Part I |10 | |Week Three |  | |Learning Team Assignment: Business Research Methods, Part II |10 | |Week Four |  | |Individual Assignment: Decision of Uncertainty Paper |10 | |Week Five |  | |No written assignments due – begin working on ALEKs problems for Weeks 5 and 6 due in Week 6. |0 | |Week Six |  | |Individual Assignment: ALEKS Problems |5 | |Individual Assignment: Final Examination |20 | |Learning Team Assignment: Business Research Methods, Part III |10 | |All Weeks |  | |Participation & Discussion Questions |30 | |Assignment Totals | | |Individual |70 | |Learning Team |30 | |Point Total |100 | WEEK ONE Descriptive Statistics and Probability Distributions • Compute descriptive statistics for given data sets. • Apply probability concepts related to discrete and continuous probability. • Apply the central limit theorem to sample means. • Construct confidence intervals for a mean  INDIVIDUAL PARTICIPATION Due Day 1(Tuesday): Post your biography to the Chat Room forum. Respond to each other's biographies.   Due Day 2 (Wednesday): Individual Discussion Question 1: (Counted as part of Participation): Post your response to the Week 1 Individual Discussion Question in the Main forum and begin commenting on each other's responses. Please post your responses in the DQ threads. Responses to each question should be at least 200-300 words. Due Day 4 (Friday): Individual Discussion Question 2 (Counted as part of Participation): Post your response to the Week 2 Individual Discussion Question in the Main forum and begin commenting on each other's responses. Please post your responses in the DQ threads. Responses to each question should be at least 200-300 words.   LEARNING TEAM PARTICIPATION Due Day 6 (Sunday): Learning Team Discussion Question (Counted as part of Team Participation): Discuss the Week 1 Learning Team Discussion Question in your respective Learning Team forums, and then have one member of each team post a collective response from the team in the Main forum. Then comment on other team's responses in the Main forum. Please post your responses in the DQ threads. Responses to each question should be at least 200-300 words.   All Week: Participation (4 points): Contribute substantively to the class discussions 4 out of 7 days during the week.   ASSIGNMENTS (INDIVIDUAL 1. Readings • Read objectives and welcome. • Read Ch. 3, 5, 8, 9 of Statistical Techniques in Business & Economics. • Read Ch. 5 of Fundamentals of Statistics in Health Administration. • Read materials in the Course Materials forum. • ALEKs: Solve the problem sets under Week 1 in ALEKs but is due end of Week 2. You receive points based on the percentage of problems completed. These questions help prepare you for the final exam. • You are responsible for completing 100% of the ALEKs practice questions each week. Points must not be awarded for number of questions answered correctly, but rather for the percentage of problems completed. Five points are granted for 100% completion. |100% |5 Points |50% |2.5 Points | |90% |4.5 Points |40% |2 Points | |80% |4 Points |30% |1.5 Points | |70% |3.5 Points |20% |1 Points | |60% |3 Points |10% |.5 Points | • [pic] LEARNING TEAM • Begin Learning Team Charter Due Week 2 • Review the objectives from Week One and discuss additional insights and questions that may have arisen. Summary of Assignments Due Week 1: Only Participation and Discussion is due Week 1 WEEK TWO Research and Sampling Designs • Formulate research questions relevant to management issues. • Construct a research design appropriate to given research questions. INDIVIDUAL PARTICIPATION  Due Day 2 (Wednesday): Individual Discussion Question 1: (Counted as part of Participation): Post your response to the Week 2 Individual Discussion Question in the Main forum and begin commenting on each other's responses. Please post your responses in the DQ threads. Responses to each question should be at least 200-300 words. Due Day 4 (Friday): Individual Discussion Question 2 (Counted as part of Participation): Post your response to the Week 2 Individual Discussion Question in the Main forum and begin commenting on each other's responses. Please post your responses in the DQ threads. Responses to each question should be at least 200-300 words.   LEARNING TEAM PARTICIPATION   Due Day 6 (Sunday): Learning Team Discussion Question (Counted as part of Team Participation): Discuss the Week 2 Learning Team Discussion Question in your respective Learning Team forums, and then have one member of each team post a collective response from the team in the Main forum. Then comment on other team's responses in the Main forum. Please post your responses in the DQ threads. Responses to each question should be at least 200-300 words.   All Week: Participation (4 points): Contribute substantively to the class discussions 4 out of 7 days during the week.  ASSIGNMENTS • (INDIVIDUAL 1. Readings • • Review Ch. 3, 4, 5 of Business Research Methods. • Read Ch. 6, 14, 15 of Business Research Methods. • Read materials in the Course Materials forum. 2. Individual Assignment: ALEKS Problems • Resource: Student Web site • ALEKs: Solve the problem sets under Week 1 in ALEKs but is due end of Week 2. You receive points based on the percentage of problems completed. These questions help prepare you for the final exam. • You are responsible for completing 100% of the ALEKs practice questions each week. Points must not be awarded for number of questions answered correctly, but rather for the percentage of problems completed. Five points are granted for 100% completion. |100% |5 Points |50% |2.5 Points | |90% |4.5 Points |40% |2 Points | |80% |4 Points |30% |1.5 Points | |70% |3.5 Points |20% |1 Points | |60% |3 Points |10% |.5 Points | Submitting ALEKs assignment. You should send me the report at epkirk@email.phoenix.edu Individual assignments are due on Mondays of the particular week by 11:59PM MST. [pic] LEARNING TEAM ASSIGNMENT: 3. [pic] Learning Team Assignment: Business Research Methods, Part I • Resource: Business Research Methods • Identify and analyze a research question that applies to a health care organization. • Write a paper of no more than 700 words. • In the paper: I. Begin paper with an introduction that contains a thesis statement. Questions to be covered in the paper. a. Choose a and describe the health care organization with which your team is familiar or willing to research. b. Develop a research question arising from an organizational dilemma. Make sure you define the problem. c. Explain how the management-research question hierarchy is used to develop your question. Refer to pp. 114-124 of Business Research Methods for help. d. Construct an appropriate research design. Describe its characteristics, such as independent and dependent variables, operational definitions, and so forth. e. Identify a sample design to use for collecting data. II. End paper with conclusion that summarizes the paper and ends with the main take home message. NOTE: Use each question in BOLD as a heading to introduce the paragraph that answers the questions. After an introduction that includes a thesis statement you would write: a) Choose and describe the health care organization with which your team is familiar or willing to research. Then for the next paragraph you would begin with b) Develop a research question arising from an organizational dilemma. Answer the question and repeat until you have answered all of the questions in BOLD. Remember to provide appropriate citations as described below. Format your paper according to APA standards. The paper must be written in correct grammar, with appropriate punctuation and in APA format. Also you must use 3 resources (one can be the text) that should be used within the body of the text itself and referenced in APA format at the end. You should also end with a conclusion that summarizes the paper and ends with a few concluding remarks. 4. Learning Team Charter Due. One team member post it in their individual forum. Learning team assignments are due on Mondays of the particular week by 11:59PM MT. Summary of Assignments Due Week 2: Individual Assignment: Assessment and Learning in Knowledge Spaces (ALEKS) Problems Learning Team Assignment: Business Research Methods, Part I WEEK THREE Data Collection • Determine appropriate measurement scale types for a given research design. • Construct surveys using measurement scale types relevant to a given research design. INDIVIDUAL PARTICIPATION Due Day 2 (Wednesday): Individual Discussion Question 1: (Counted as part of Participation): Post your response to the Week 2 Individual Discussion Question in the Main forum and begin commenting on each other's responses. Please post your responses in the DQ threads. Responses to each question should be at least 200-300 words. Due Day 4 (Friday): Individual Discussion Question 2 (Counted as part of Participation): Post your response to the Week 2 Individual Discussion Question in the Main forum and begin commenting on each other's responses. Please post your responses in the DQ threads. Responses to each question should be at least 200-300 words. LEARNING TEAM PARTICIPATION Due Day 6 (Sunday): Learning Team Discussion Question (Counted as part of Team Participation): Discuss the Week 3 Learning Team Discussion Question in your respective Learning Team forums, and then have one member of each team post a collective response from the team in the Main forum. Then comment on other team's responses in the Main forum. Please post your responses in the DQ threads. Responses to each question should be at least 200-300 words.    ASSIGNMENTS • (INDIVIDUAL 1. Readings • Read Ch. 9 – 13 of Business Research Methods. [pic] LEARNING TEAM ASSIGNMENT: 2. Learning Team Assignment: Business Research Methods, Part II • Collect data using your sample design and appropriate collection methods to maintain data validity. • Write a paper of no more than 1,250 words. • In the paper: I. Begin paper with an introduction that contains a thesis statement. Questions to be covered in the paper. a. Discuss two to three types of survey methods and select one for your research design. Justify your choice. b. Construct a survey appropriate for the research question and sample. c. Present your data in one of the appropriate general response types: rating, ranking, categorization, or sorting. d. Classify your findings in order of power: nominal, ordinal, interval, and ratio. Do not discuss your analysis at this time. II. End paper with conclusion that summarizes the paper and ends with the main take home message. NOTE: Use each question in BOLD as a heading to introduce the paragraph that answers the questions. After an introduction that includes a thesis statement you would write: a) Discuss two to three types of survey methods and select one for your research design. Justify your choice. Then for the next paragraph you would begin with b) Construct a survey appropriate for the research question and sample. Answer the question and repeat until you have answered all of the questions. Remember to provide appropriate citations as described below. The paper must be written in correct grammar, with appropriate punctuation and in APA format. Also you must use 3 resources (one can be the text) that should be used within the body of the text itself and referenced in APA format at the end. You should also end with a conclusion that summarizes the paper and ends with a few concluding remarks. Learning team assignments are due on Mondays of the particular week by 11:59PM MT. Summary of Assignments Due Week 3: Learning Team Assignment: Business Research Methods, Part II WEEK FOUR Research Methods and Business Decisions • Apply concepts of probability to business decisions. INDIVIDUAL PARTICIPATION Due Day 2 (Wednesday): Individual Discussion Question (Counted as part of Participation): Post your response to the Week 2 Individual Discussion Question in the Main forum and begin commenting on each other's responses. Please post your responses in the DQ threads. Responses to each question should be at least 200-300 words.   Due Day 4 (Friday): Individual Discussion Question 3 (Counted as part of Participation): Post your response to the Week 2 Individual Discussion Question in the Main forum and begin commenting on each other's responses. Please post your responses in the DQ threads. Responses to each question should be at least 200-300 words. LEARNING TEAM PARTICIPATION  Due Day 6 (Sunday): Learning Team Discussion Question (Counted as part of Team Participation): Discuss the Week 4 Learning Team Discussion Question in your respective Learning Team forums, and then have one member of each team post a collective response from the team in the Main forum. Then comment on other team's responses in the Main forum. Please post your responses in the DQ threads. Responses to each question should be at least 200-300 words.  ASSIGNMENTS • (INDIVIDUAL 1. Readings • Read Ch. 1 and 2 of Business Research Methods. 2. Individual Assignment: Decision of Uncertainty Paper • Resource: Week Four Student Roadmap • Identify a health care organization that must make a decision. • Identify what decision must be made and whether or not to pursue a course of action given the likelihood of different outcomes. • Locate data and apply probability concepts, such as confidence intervals, point estimates, or Poisson distribution, to recommend a decision. • Refer to the Student Roadmap for an example. • Write a paper of no more than 1,050 words. • In the paper: I. Begin paper with an introduction that contains a thesis statement. Questions to be covered in the paper. a. Include appropriate probability concepts and your application of them to find resulting data to limit the uncertainty in this decision. b. Include a rationale for the chosen concept. c. Identify each discrete outcome from your statistical analysis, providing rationale for each. d. Identify tradeoffs between accuracy and precision required by various probability concepts and the effect on your data. e. Include the decision you recommend based on statistical data. II. End paper with conclusion that summarizes the paper and ends with the main take home message. NOTE: Use each question in BOLD as a heading to introduce the paragraph that answers the questions. After an introduction that includes a thesis statement you would write: a) Include appropriate probability concepts and your application of them to find resulting data to limit the uncertainty in this decision. Then for the next paragraph you would begin with b) Include a rationale for the chosen concept. Answer the question and repeat until you have answered all of the questions in BOLD. Remember to provide appropriate citations as described below. Format your paper according to APA standards. The paper must be written in correct grammar, with appropriate punctuation and in APA format. Also you must use 3 resources (one can be the text) that should be used within the body of the text itself and referenced in APA format at the end. You should also end with a conclusion that summarizes the paper and ends with a few concluding remarks. Individual assignments are due on Mondays of the particular week by 11:59PM MT. • [pic] LEARNING TEAM: Review the objectives from Week Four and discuss additional insights and questions that may have arisen. Summary of Assignments Due Week 4: Individual Assignment: Decision of Uncertainty Paper WEEK FIVE Data Analysis • Conduct one- and two-sample tests of hypotheses. • Perform variance and chi-square analyses. INDIVIDUAL PARTICIPATION Due Day 2 (Wednesday): Individual Discussion Question 1: (Counted as part of Participation): Post your response to the Week 2 Individual Discussion Question in the Main forum and begin commenting on each other's responses. Please post your responses in the DQ threads. Responses to each question should be at least 200-300 words. Due Day 4 (Friday): Individual Discussion Question 2 (Counted as part of Participation): Post your response to the Week 2 Individual Discussion Question in the Main forum and begin commenting on each other's responses. Please post your responses in the DQ threads. Responses to each question should be at least 200-300 words.   LEARNING TEAM PARTICIPATION   Due Day 6 (Sunday): Learning Team Discussion Question (Counted as part of Team Participation): Discuss the Week 5 Learning Team Discussion Question in your respective Learning Team forums, and then have one member of each team post a collective response from the team in the Main forum. Then comment on other team's responses in the Main forum. Please post your responses in the DQ threads. Responses to each question should be at least 200-300 words.  ASSIGNMENTS • (INDIVIDUAL 1. Readings • Read Ch. 6, 7, 8 of Fundamentals of Statistics in Health Administration. • Read materials in the Course Materials forum. 2. Individual Assignment: ALEKS Problems • Resources: Ch. 10 and 11 of Fundamentals of Statistics in Health Administration and Student Web site. • ALEKs: Solve the problem sets under Week 5 and Week 6 in ALEKs but is due end of Week 6. You receive points based on the percentage of problems completed. These questions help prepare you for the final exam. • You are responsible for completing 100% of the ALEKs practice questions each week. Points must not be awarded for number of questions answered correctly, but rather for the percentage of problems completed. Five points are granted for 100% completion. |100% |5 Points |50% |2.5 Points | |90% |4.5 Points |40% |2 Points | |80% |4 Points |30% |1.5 Points | |70% |3.5 Points |20% |1 Points | |60% |3 Points |10% |.5 Points | • • Solve the problem sets under Week 5 and 6 but is due end of Week 6. You receive points based on the percentage of problems completed. These questions help prepare you for the final exam. Individual assignments are due on Mondays of the particular week by 11:59PM MT. • [pic] LEARNING TEAM Review the objectives from Week Five and discuss additional insights and questions that may have arisen. Summary of Assignments Due Week 5: Only Participation and Discussion is due Week 5 BUT begin working on ALEKs problems for Weeks 5 and 6 due end of Week 6. WEEK SIX Correlation, Linear Regression, and Multiple Regression Analysis • Perform correlation, linear regression, and multiple regression analysis. • Create a plan of action based on data analysis INDIVIDUAL PARTICIPATION Due Day 2 (Wednesday): Individual Discussion Question 1: (Counted as part of Participation): Post your response to the Week 2 Individual Discussion Question in the Main forum and begin commenting on each other's responses. Please post your responses in the DQ threads. Responses to each question should be at least 200-300 words. Due Day 4 (Friday): Individual Discussion Question 2 (Counted as part of Participation): Post your response to the Week 2 Individual Discussion Question in the Main forum and begin commenting on each other's responses. Please post your responses in the DQ threads. Responses to each question should be at least 200-300 words.   LEARNING TEAM PARTICIPATION   Due Day 6 (Sunday): Learning Team Discussion Question (Counted as part of Team Participation): Discuss the Week 5 Learning Team Discussion Question in your respective Learning Team forums, and then have one member of each team post a collective response from the team in the Main forum. Then comment on other team's responses in the Main forum. Please post your responses in the DQ threads. Responses to each question should be at least 200-300 words.   ASSIGNMENTS • (INDIVIDUAL 1. Readings • Read Ch. 10 and 11 of Fundamentals of Statistics in Health Administration. • Read materials in the Course Materials forum. 2. Individual Assignment: Final Examination • Resource: Statistical Techniques in Business & Economics • Click the link to the Final Examination on your student website available from the end of Week Five through the end of Week Six. • Complete the Final Examination. You are allowed one attempt to complete the exam, which is timed and must be completed in 3 hours. Results are auto graded and sent to your instructor. Note. Final Examination questions are adapted from Statistical Techniques in Business & Economics 3. Individual Assignment: ALEKS Problems ▪ Submit your completed ALEKS problem sets to the facilitator at epkirk@email.phoenix.edu Individual assignments are due on Mondays of the particular week by 11:59PM MT. • [pic] LEARNING TEAM 4. Learning Team Assignment: Business Research Methods, Part III ▪ Resource: Business Research Methods, Part II • Write a paper of no more than 1,400 words. • In the paper: I. Begin paper with an introduction that contains a thesis statement. Questions to be covered in the paper. a. Discuss the statistical analysis of your data from the Business Research Methods, Part II assignment. b. Discuss potential challenges to validity and reliability of your research question, data, and analysis. c. Outline steps needed to minimize these challenges. d. Present your data in one of the appropriate general response types. e. Classify your findings in order of power. f. Describe your plan of action based on the analysis. Draw substantive conclusions from your statistical analysis and recommend actions based on those conclusions. II. End paper with conclusion that summarizes the paper and ends with the main take home message. NOTE: Use each question in BOLD as a heading to introduce the paragraph that answers the questions. After an introduction that includes a thesis statement you would write: a) Discuss the statistical analysis of your data from the Business Research Methods, Part II assignment. Then for the next paragraph you would begin with b) Discuss potential challenges to validity and reliability of your research question, data, and analysis. Answer the question and repeat until you have answered all of the questions in BOLD. Remember to provide appropriate citations as described below. Format your paper according to APA standards. The paper must be written in correct grammar, with appropriate punctuation and in APA format. Also you must use 3 resources (one can be the text) that should be used within the body of the text itself and referenced in APA format at the end. You should also end with a conclusion that summarizes the paper and ends with a few concluding remarks. Learning team assignments are due on Mondays of the particular week by 11:59PM MT. Summary of Assignments Due Week 6: 1) Individual Assignment: ALEKS Problems 2) Individual Assignment: Final Examination 3) Learning Team Assignment: Business Research Methods, Part III Copyright University of Phoenix® is a registered trademark of Apollo Group, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries. Final exams contain third-party copyrighted materials. Portions are: Copyright © 2010 University of Phoenix. All rights reserved. Copyright © 2008 McGraw-Hill. All rights reserved. Microsoft®, Windows®, and Windows NT® are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. All other company and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies. Use of these marks is not intended to imply endorsement, sponsorship, or affiliation. Edited in accordance with University of Phoenix® editorial standards and practices.