This text shows students exactly how to use both qualitative and quantitative research techniques to inform decision making, presenting methodologies through real-life case studies.

Section 1. The Purpose and Value of Evaluation and Analytic Skills and their Use in Evidence in Decision-making 1. Introduction: What is Research? 2. Evidence-based Practice for Public Affairs 3. The Research Process: An Introduction to Key Concepts 4. Conducting Preliminary Research Section 2. The Basic Operations of Research: Setting Up a Project, Gathering Data 5. Research Design 6. Measurement 7. Population Sampling 8. Case Studies 9. Interviews 10. Field Research 11. Survey Data Section 3. Estimating How the World Works: Testing Claims and Drawing Inferences 12. Coding and Data Display 13. Descriptive Statistics 14. Introduction to Probability and Distributions 15. Hypothesis Testing 16. Measures of Association Section 4. Advanced Quantitative Techniques and Applied Decision Tools 17. Simple Linear Regression 18. Multiple Least Squares Regression Analysis 19. Applied Decision Tools 20. Mixing Research Methods Section 5. Managing Project, Completing Projects 21. Managing Research and Evaluation Projects 22. Presenting Research: Writing and Speaking in Policy and Management Settings 23. Conclusion: Bringing It All Together Appendix