University of South Carolina, Arnold School of Public Health, Dept. of Health Services Policy and Management Courses and Curricula

HSPM J716
Quantitative Methods for Health Administration
Spring 2005

This year's dates are different, of course. Also, there's no book to buy this year. All materials are on-line.

 14-minute lecture 

Click on one of these links to open the sound recording in a new window: J716/lecture1/leftside.au, J716/lecture1/leftside.mp3. You can pause the playback, and you can follow links, contrary to what the recording may say.

One the sound starts, switch back to this window. As you listen to the sound recording, read down the left column below.

Return to 2005 Lecture 1 page.

Samuel L. Baker, Ph.D.

Associate Professor
Office: HESC 121
Phone: (803)777-5045
Fax: (803)777-6986 or (803)777-1836
E-mail:
For course-related e-mail, please include 716 in the subject.		 Photo by Jeff Salter
Date Assignment due Discussion topic
Jan. 12   Introduction to spreadsheets and econometrics 

Online lecture. No class meeting (in 2005).

Introductory probability and statistics review

Jan. 19 1 (1A optional)
Getting data for assignments 1 and 1A 		Assumptions behind using regression
Demonstrations used in class
Jan. 26 1A and 2
Data for assignment 1A
Answer Checker for assignment 2 (includes help with the confidence interval) 		Multiple regression
Feb. 2 3
Getting data for assignment 3
LS
Comment hints		 Multicollinearity in regression
Feb. 9 4 Download data for assignments 4&5
LS
Answer Checker		 Heteroskedasticity, nonlinear regression
Feb. 16 5
LS
Answer Checker		 Time series analysis
Feb. 23 6 Download file for Assignment 6
LS
Answer Checker		 Queuing theory introduction
Demonstrations used in class
Mar. 2 7, 7A Answer Checker Queuing theory advanced models
Queuing theory cookbook with named cells
Mar. 16 8 Answer Checker
8A Answer Checker		 What-if analysis
Mar. 23 9 Answer Checker for part 1
Download file for Contest
See if you are leading in the Contest		 Linear programming introduction
Mar. 30 10 Answer Checker
If Solver... is not under Tools on Excel's menu bar, here is how to install it.		 Linear programming, scheduling
Apr. 6 11 Answer Checker Project planning, critical path method (CPM)
CPM instructions and assignment (same as in booklet)
Apr. 13 12
Pathfind
Answer Checker 		Decision Theory
Apr. 20 13 Markup languages, HTML, and XML
HTML discussion and instructions for assignment 14
Apr. 27 14 and all make-up or late work No class
 

Classes meet Wednesdays from 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in Wardlaw 116, the first floor TV studio. The classes are televised live to regional campuses and other locations with access to the ETV closed-circuit network. Classes start Jan. 12 and end April 27. No class on Mar. 9, Spring Break.

Goal of the course: To introduce selected quantitative methods applicable to public and institutional health administration.

Instructional method: Learning by doing. You will apply the methods presented in class in homework exercises due each week.

Required work: The weekly assignments are the only required work in the course. No examinations. A premium will be placed on having the assignments done on time, so that we can go over the homework in class.

Grades in HSPM J716

Each assignment is worth 4 points, if done well.
There are 14 assignments, so a perfect score for the semester is 56.

Semester grade
 Total
 Average per assignment
A
 52.5 to 56
 3.75 to 4.00
B+
 45.5 up to 52.5
 3.25 up to 3.75
B
 38.5 up to 45.5
 2.75 up to 3.25
C+
 31.5 up to 38.5
 2.25 up to 2.75
C
 24.5 up to 31.5
 1.75 up to 2.25
D or D+
 10.5 up to 24.5
 0.75 up to 1.75
F
 below 10.5
 below 0.75

Errors

Erroneous or missing answers deduct 0.5 points each.  You can fix your errors later and get full credit for the assignment.  Full credit is 4 points if you turned in a reasonable effort by the due date.

Late Assignments

Assignments are due by the start of class each week.  Maximum credit available for an assignment is reduced by 0.1 for each week or part week that the assignment is late.  If you turn in a reasonable effort by the time an assignment is due, you can fix your errors later and still get a 4.

Two-part assignments

Two-part assignments, like assignments 1 and 1A, are worth 4 points total. Each part is worth 2 points.

Prerequisite: BIOS 700 or its equivalent with permission of the instructor. This course builds on the statistics concepts and the computer experience in BIOS 700. If you can understand this introductory probability and statistics review, you should be OK.

Readings: A required booklet will be distributed by Distance Education exclusively (meaning that it won't be in the bookstores). The booklet will have theoretical material and the assignments.
Students wishing additional detail on econometric theory may consult a standard textbook, such as Wonnacott & Wonnacott, Econometrics, but this not required.

Required computer access: Every course assignment will require using a computer. You may do course assignments in our computer lab, Room 124 of the School of Public Health Building. If you wish to work elsewhere, you must have access to personal computer with a full-featured spreadsheet program and internet access with a browser that can do Java.

 Testing Java 

:( If you see this text, Java is not working. Check your browser's settings to see if Java is present but disabled. (Internet Explorer calls it Microsoft VM, under Tools | Internet Options | Security | Custom Level .)
If you do not see two messages, you need to download and install a new Java VM for the desktop, which is free at http://java.com
If you did that and you still don't see the second message

Internet access, with a web browser with Java, will enable you to download data for assignments, use course software, read about bugs and last-minute changes, and use the Answer Checkers. (Answer checkers let you know instantly whether you are on the right track as you do assignments.) If you do not have internet access or cannot get Java to work, plan to spend time in our lab.

Full-featured spreadsheets:

Microsoft ExcelOK
Corel Quattro ProOK
Lotus 1-2-3OK
Microsoft WorksNot OK -- limited features, incompatible file format with Excel
Sun Star OfficeOK for most assignments, but lacks Solver

The assignment booklet will give keystroke-by-keystroke instructions for doing the assignments with Excel 2000, run under Microsoft Windows 2000, with some instructions for Quattro Pro. All of the course assignments can be done with recent versions of Excel, Quattro Pro, and Lotus 1-2-3. Course data files will be provided in a format that all of these programs can read. Students using spreadsheets other than Excel 2000 will have to translate the booklet's instructions to fit their particular programs. Excel 2000 is very similar to other recent versions of Excel; the booklet's instructions will translate easily. Lotus 1-2-3 and Quattro Pro are similar to Excel in principle, but more different in detail.

Solver: Several of the course exercises use Excel's Solver. This is not installed by the default "typical" installation of Excel. If the choice Solver... does not appear when you click Tools on Excel's menu bar, here are instructions for installing it. You will need your original Microsoft Office installation CD.

If you need to purchase a full-featured spreadsheet program, special pricing is available for students. Contact the USC Bookstore at Russell House.

Please locate the computer(s) that you intend to use well before the first meeting of the course. Contact me if you have questions about your computer's capabilities.

Homework: A write-up is mandatory. The write-up should answer the assignment's questions in sentences. It is good to also turn in your spreadsheet file. That can help a lot if I need to track down an error. Your write-up and spreadsheet can be separate, such as a Word file and an Excel file, or you can include your write-up in the spreadsheet.

Turning in homework: Blackboard's assignment facility is the best choice. You can include a spreadsheet file as an attachment. Your write-up can go in the text box, in an attached file of its own, or it can be incorporated into the spreadsheet. Other choices for turning in assignments are e-mail, bringing them to class or to my office, fax, and U.S. Mail.

Some assignments ask you to draw something on paper. If you have a scanner, you can scan the drawing and attach the picture in Blackboard or to an e-mail. Otherwise, bring the drawing to class or to my office, fax it, or send it by US Mail.

Specific Learning Objectives

  1. Spreadsheet and Presentation Graphics Skills
    1. Students will demonstrate an ability to use a computer-based spreadsheet as a tool for organizing data and making calculations. (All course sessions)
    2. Students will demonstrate an ability to create graphs that present data clearly. (Jan. 19 session)
  2. Econometrics and Forecasting
    1. Students will demonstrate an understanding of the theory behind regression-based forecasting methods. (Jan. 19 - Feb. 16 sessions)
    2. Students will demonstrate an ability to present a reasonable analysis of time series data, including a forecast with a statement of justification and limitations. (Feb. 16 session)
  3. Queuing Theory
    1. Students will demonstrate an understanding of the theory behind standard methods of analyzing the dynamics of queues (waiting lines), including the assumptions behind and limitations of that theory. (Feb. 23 - Mar. 2 sessions)
    2. Students will demonstrate an ability to analyze specific queuing situations. (Mar. 2 session)
  4. What-If Analysis
    1. Students will demonstrate an ability to do What-If analysis, and an understanding of the limitations of What-If analysis. (Mar. 16 session)
  5. Linear Programming
    1. Students will demonstrate an understanding of the theory of optimization under constraint where the constraints and objective function are linear. (Mar. 23 - Mar. 30 sessions)
    2. Students will demonstrate an understanding of the scope and limitations of the applicability of linear programming theory. (Mar. 23 - Mar. 30 sessions)
    3. Students will demonstrate an ability to analyze specific linear programming problems. (Mar. 23 - Mar. 30 sessions)
  6. Project Planning / Critical Path Analysis
    1. Students will demonstrate an understanding of the scope of network analysis theory. (Apr. 6 session)
    2. Students will demonstrate an ability to apply the Critical Path Method to a specific problem. (Apr.6 session)
  7. Decision Theory
    1. Students will demonstrate an understanding of basic ideas and methods in decision theory. (Apr. 13 session)
    2. Students will demonstrate an ability to apply these ideas to a specific problem. (Apr. 13 session)
  8. Markup Languages, HTML
    1. Students will demonstrate an understanding of theoretical and practical considerations behind the design of markup languages. (Apr. 20 session)
    2. Students will demonstrate an ability to design a basic web page in HTML. (Apr. 20 session)
    3. Students will demonstrate an acquaintance with the concepts behind interactive web pages. (Apr. 20 session)
  9. Writing skills -- Students will demonstrate an ability to present clearly and accurately the results of mathematical analysis. (All sessions)

Student performance of these objectives will be evaluated by weekly assignments.

The views and opinions expressed in this page are strictly those of the page author. The contents of this page have not been reviewed or approved by the University of South Carolina.
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