POLI 7000:  Coding and Data Analysis

 

We, as public administrators, must always aim to provide our community's with compassion, understanding, and measurable action. Everything we do as administrators can make a difference, whether it's through government or nonprofit work. A public service perspective is important in all aspects of society even if you don't within the realm of public service. Viewing a problem through a "big picture" lens can reveal gaps in a program or policy that might otherwise be overlooked. Every perspective matters, and through public service, we must remember to always consider our constituents' opinions in our decisions and initiatives. Not only should we consider their opinions, we must be able to effectively present those ideas to those who hold different perspectives. Being able to communicate abstract ideas into reality with many different perspectives at the table can be a daunting task. The better an administrator is at analyzing, articulating, and acting through the public service lens, the easier it will be to help others understand the complexities of a civic project. 

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In Research Methods, I learned how to analyze intricate data, create clear visualizations of said data, and write concise, insightful reports to break down detailed case metrics. For our final coding and writing assignment, we examined a dataset encompassing racial bias within the police force and its impact on public trust. Synthesizing, coding, and articulating the case statistics was a challenging  task, but it reinforced the importance of understanding every data point and effectively communicating the significance to a broad population. At the end of the report, I was tasked with providing solutions for strengthening trust between officers and citizens while considering all perspectives. I integrated all results to identify the most effective strategies to reach a long-term solution.

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