Student Highlights Capstone Chronicles, Part 2 Class of 2016

This is the second installment of an ongoing series following our MPA and MPP students in their final semester as they complete their Capstone Project, which is an intensive research project that addresses a self-selected policy question. The finished product includes a written paper and an oral presentation to a panel of experts.

We recently checked up on our Capstone Project cohort! We are more than halfway through the semester at this point, and our group of students has moved on from defining their research question and completing their literature review to finalizing their research design and doing analysis. Right before spring break, the group also had the opportunity to participate in an “elevator pitch” event.

The Art of Research

Methodologies for these projects can vary greatly, from qualitative program evaluations to econometric analyses (or some combination of the two). Selecting the best method can be complicated by the nature of the data available. Austin Coleman, a second-year MPP student, is addressing “the effect of income on broadband access. I chose this topic because of the persistence of the gap in access between individuals living in urban and rural areas,” he explains. How can you design your methodology to answer this question? Austin selected multivariate regression analysis; he’s using county-level data from the FCC and the Department of Agriculture.

However, he’s been presented with challenges in regards to his data. “The most interesting impact the data has had on my methodology is related to the amount of state-level variation present,” Austin notes. “State-level factors influence data aggregated at the county level, which I suspect is due to variation in state regulatory policy and the providers present in each state.”

Pitching your Ideas

The Thursday prior to spring break, students met with six volunteer professionals from a variety of backgrounds to present their research in sixty seconds– including a description of the topic, how it is being researched, and why it matters. No pressure, right? During the event, students met one-on-one with two of the experts; after giving their pitch, the practitioner and the student could chat for a few minutes about their research and presentation in greater depth. The feedback was positive– our experts were especially heartened to see students using primary data sources and thinking through implementation considerations.