NOTE THAT WEBSITE SYLLABUS IS TENTATIVE AND MAY BE REVISED; IF YOU TAKE COURSE, BE SURE TO GET PRINTED SYLLABUS IN CLASS

ITRN 601, Research and Analysis for International Commerce and Policy,

Fall 2002, Mondays, August 26 – December 16, 7:20-10:00 pm

Dr. Daniel Gaske, Instructor, 703-613-6957, dgaske @ earthlink.net

Office Hours: Before and After Class, by Appointment

Welcome! I hope this course provides research and analysis methods and techniques that will be valuable during your course of studies here at ICP and in your careers.

Course Requirements

Students are required to complete 4 graded activities in the course:

1. A short research paper on an instructor-selected topic in late September;

2. A take-home exercise on preparation and interpretation of tables in late October,

3. An in-class examination on statistical calculations in late November, and

4. A “briefing” of the class on a student-selected topic selected in December.

Details on the requirements for each assignment are distributed during the course.

Performance on these activities form the basis for the course grade. Each activity is assigned a letter grade of A, A-, B+, etc., based on the number of errors/shortfalls in completion of the activity. Each activity letter grade is assigned its numerical equivalent from the GMU scale (A=4.00, A-=3.67, B+=3.33, etc.); an average of the 4 numerical grades taken; and the GMU letter grade which the result is closest to assigned as the course grade. In events of averages exactly half-way between 2 grades, the lower grade is assigned.

Course Materials

Four printed resources, available in the Bookstore, are used in course: 1. The Craft of Research; 2. Guide to Economic Indicators: Making Sense of Economics; 3. Numbers Guide: The Essentials of Business Numeracy; and 4. Understanding the Calculations of Key Economics and Business Statistics. Materials for the course also are provided through the LAN in the classroom, the web, and regular handouts. Use of materials is detailed below.

Course Schedule

I - Knowing the Basics of Research

Aug 26 Defining and Doing a Research Project

Resource Materials: The Craft of Research; Selected Chapters

Sep 2 No Class

Sep 9 Information Sources for International Commerce and Policy Research (Dr. Van Schaik)

Resource Materials: Provided by Dr. Van Schaik

Sep 16 Writing a Research Report

Resource Materials: The Craft of Research, Selected Chapters

First Homework Assignment; due Sep 30

Sep 23 Consultation on Assignment

II - Finding and Using International Economic and Business Performance Indicators

Sep 30 Domestic Economic and Financial Performance Indicators

Resource Materials: Economic Indicators 1,3,4,5,6,7,8,12,13

Oct 7 International Financial Performance Indicators

Resource Materials: Economic Indicators 10,11

Oct 15 Economic Structure and International Trade Indicators

(Tue) Resource Materials: World Development Report, Statistical Annex

Oct 21 Sectoral Indicators and Company Balance Sheets and Income Statements

Resource Materials: Economics Indicators, 9

Second Homework Assignment; due Oct 28

III - How to Calculate International Economic and Business Performance Indicators

Oct 28 Review/Overview of Excel and PowerPoint

Resource Materials: Files on Room 242 LAN – excelbasics.ppt and pwrptbasics.ppt

Nov 4 Calculating Ratios, Shares, Deflators, and Changes over Time

Resource Materials: Numbers Guide 1,4; Economic Indicators 2; Understanding the

Calculation of 1-2,4-5

Selection of Final Project

Nov 11 Calculating in Different Currencies and Exchange Rates; Creating Tables and Charts

Resource Materials: Numbers Guide 1,4; Economic Indicators 2; Understanding the

Calculation of 1-2,4-6

Nov 18 Descriptive Statistics; Regression Analysis

Resource Materials: Numbers Guide 1,4; Economic Indicators 2; Understanding the

Calculation of 3

Nov 25 In Class Examination

Final Projects

Dec 2 Recap and Review

Dec 9 FINAL PROJECT PRESENTATIONS 1

Dec 16 FINAL PROJECT PRESENTATIONS 2