Course Syllabus

 Course Details - SPCN V548

Instructor: Dr. Jennifer Silva, Associate Professor

Office Hours and Contact Info: Office hours can be set up via email as needed: Jensilv@iu.edu 

May 12-July 2, 2026

Course Description

This course is designed to teach students about and provide them with practice with gathering information and evidence, and presenting the evidence compellingly and ethically in a way that informs decision-making.

 Learning Outcomes 

Learning Objectives

• Conduct research for a specific purpose;
  • Describe what constitutes credible evidence in support of a management decision or policy argument;
• Identify appropriate resources available (at IU, online, etc.) to aid in research;
• Describe the data environment;
• Assess the quality of a data source;
• Identify appropriate technology for analytical tasks;
• Discuss ethical considerations pertaining to the analysis performed;
• Effectively/professionally communicate findings to experts and non-experts, the general public, and policy-makers using appropriate models of written and spoken research communication, and using effective data and conceptual visualizations. 

Learning outcomes will be assessed by a student’s participation and comments in class, written and presented work, the case competition, and the final discussion post.

 Course Requirements 

This course will involve several assignments, a case competition, and a final post. The grade breakdown is as follows. 

• Discussion Posts 20% 
• Homework assignments 30% 
• Case competition report 19% 
• Case competition presentation 19% 
• Case competition effort 7% 
• Final discussion post 5% 

Discussion posts are graded on effort and quality of content. Homework assignments are graded on a letter-grade basis using the grading rubric.  

The full case competition grade includes a report, a presentation and a participation grade. The first two are a group grade, based on the quality of the submitted assignment and graded according to a rubric. The participation grade is based on a self-evaluation, a peer-review, and my own evaluation. 

 

Grade Conversion 

Assignments will be graded through Canvas using a point system. The letter grades will be converted as follows: 

A+ 98.0%         B+ 87.0%          C+ 77%            D+ 67.0%         F 00.0% 

A   93.0%         B   83.0%          C   73%            D   63% 

A-  90.0%         B-  80.0%         C-  70%            D-  60% 

The letter grade conversion above also applies to course grades. The instructor may round up the final course grade ONLY if you are within .5% of the next letter grade.   

Academic Integrity 

You are expected to adhere to the Indiana University guidelines regarding academic standards and behavior. I expect that all work you turn in will be your own. If you synthesize or rely on other people’s ideas or words to make your argument, you must cite them. Please take a moment to review your responsibilities here: https://studentcode.iu.edu/. 

 Required Texts

This class mostly relies on articles and online readings or talks. In the last two class sessions, I assign readings in two books: 

1. Schwabish, J. 2021. Better data visualizations: A guide for scholars, researchers, and wonks. Columbia University Press: New York City.  

1. Schwabish, J. 2016. Better presentations: A guide for scholars, researchers, and wonks. Columbia University Press: New York City.  

These books are available online through the IU library at no cost. You may elect to purchase these books—they offer excellent guides and examples for visuals and presentations—but it is not required or necessary for this course.

Course Policies

Please take a few minutes and review the Core Rules of Netiquette  (Links to an external site.) and considerations for when you are attending class remotely  (Links to an external site.) .

1. Make-up Exams: There are no in-class exams for this course. In the event of missed presentations, students should speak with the instructor to determine the appropriate course of action. 

1. Late Assignments: If you face any problems completing your work (whether due to family emergencies, financial issues, technology failures, illness, etc.), please talk to the instructor and reasonable arrangements may be made. In the case of unexcused late work, 10% will be deducted each day from the total grade for the assignment. 

1. Technology Use: Technology will be permitted in the classroom for the express purpose of taking notes and other tasks directly related to the course. The instructor retains the right to ask students to put technology away in the case that it is found to distract students from the course materials or is otherwise used inappropriately.  

1. Late Withdrawal: The auto-W deadline is NO LONGER THE LAST DAY OF CLASS (as it was during and post-Covid).  After the auto-W deadline, withdrawal will be significantly limited, and you will need permission to withdraw and must meet requirements established by O’Neill. 

1. Incompletes: The grade of Incomplete used on the final grade reports indicates that work is satisfactory as of the end of the semester but has not been completed. The grade of Incomplete may be given only when the completed portion of a student’s work in the course is of passing quality. Instructors may award the grade of Incomplete upon a showing of such hardship to a student as would render it unjust to hold the student to the time limits previously fixed for the completion of his/her work.  

Possible analytical software applications used in the course 

The course is “tool agnostic” and require students identify their own approach, with resources provided. Software programs that students may choose among include R, Tableau Desktop, Python, and Excel. This policy does not refer to use of AI/ChatGPT (see above). 

Writing Resources 

This course seeks to help students improve their writing skills. There are several assignments that require writing. If you need help with writing, IU offers writing tutorial services, which you can access here: http://wts.indiana.edu/.  

 Course Communication Policy

This is a core course in the MPA program and an elective for any other graduate program. Classes will be entirely asynchronous and all lectures are pre-recorded. We will have online discussions each week. 

Assignments and Grades

Students will submit all assignments through Canvas. Assignments will be given feedback through Canvas and graded within one week. Due date can be found on the Assignments tab on this course site. 

How much time should you be spending on this class:  If this is a standard 3-credit semester length class, you are expected to spend an average of 6 or more hours outside of class per week on reading, studying, assignments, etc.  If this is a 6- or 8-week 3-credit class, you are expected to spend at least 12 hours outside of class per week on these activities.

O'Neill School Expectations of Civility and Professional Conduct

The O’Neill School takes matters of honesty and integrity seriously because O’Neill is the training ground for future leaders in government, civic organizations, health organizations, and other institutions charged with providing resources for the public, and for members of society who are vulnerable and who are lacking in power and status. Precisely because O’Neill graduates tend to rise to positions of power and responsibility, it is critical that the lessons of honesty and integrity are learned early.

O’Neill requires that all members of its community – students, faculty, and staff – treat others with an attitude of mutual respect both in the classroom and during all academic and nonacademic activities outside the classroom. A student is expected to show respect through behavior that promotes conditions in which all students can learn without interruption or distraction. These behaviors foster an appropriate atmosphere inside and outside the classroom:

• Students are expected to attend class regularly and to be prepared for class.
• Students must be punctual in their arrival to class and be present and attentive for the duration of the class. Eating, sleeping, doing work for another class, wandering in and out of the classroom, and packing up or leaving class early are not civil or professional behaviors.
• Students must abide by the course policy regarding use of electronic devices in the classroom.
• Students must responsibly participate in class activities and during team meetings.
• Students must address faculty members, other students, and others appropriately and with respect, whether in person, in writing, or in electronic communications.
• Students must show tolerance and respect for others.
• Students must not destroy or deface classroom property nor leave litter in the classroom.

[1] These expectations are excerpted from the O’Neill School Honor Code which can be found under Student Ethics and Policies: https://oneill.indiana.edu/undergraduate/course-advising/advising/resources.html

 

 Academic Integrity

Use of generative AI (such as ChatGPT) in this class.  Using AI to assist in completing assignments in this class is prohibited.  If you do use AI, you will be committing plagiarism* and will be subject to penalties in this class and sanctions by Indiana University.  You are permitted to use the free version of Grammarly and Microsoft Word’s spelling and grammar tool. 

WARNING: Submitting any questions, assignments, notes, slides,  or other instructor-produced course materials into Generative AI without permission is a violation of the faculty member’s exclusive rights and will be reported to the Dean of Students as academic misconduct. 

*Plagiarism: Plagiarism is defined as presenting someone else’s work, including the work of other students, as one’s own. Any ideas or materials taken from another source for either written or oral use must be fully acknowledged, unless the information is common knowledge. https://studentcode.iu.edu/responsibilities/academic-misconduct.html. (emphasis added)

Course Materials—Instructor’s Exclusive Rights.

The faculty member teaching this course holds the exclusive right to distribute, modify, post, and reproduce course materials, including all written materials, study guides, lectures, assignments, exercises, and exams. While you are permitted to take notes on the online materials and lectures posted for this course for your personal use, you are not permitted to re-post in another forum, upload to AI, distribute, reproduce content from this course, or sell the instructor’s course materials (including notes and study guides) without the express written permission of the faculty member.

Violations of this policy will be reported to the Dean of Students as academic misconduct (violation of course rules). Sanctions for academic misconduct may include a failing grade on the assignment for which the notes/study guides are being sold, a reduction in your final course grade, or a failing grade in the course, among other possibilities.

Additionally, you should know that selling a faculty member’s course using IU email, or via Canvas may also constitute a violation of IU information technology and IU intellectual property policies; additional consequences may result.

 Additional Information

Counseling and Psychological Services

For information about services offered to students by CAPS:  http://healthcenter.indiana.edu/counseling/index.shtml

 

TimelyCare

Indiana students have free, 24/7 access to virtual mental health care services with TimelyCare. Students do not need insurance to access TimelyCare services. https://www.iu.edu/mental-health/find-resources/timely-care.html#0

 

Religious Accommodation Requests

The "Request for Accommodation for Religious Observances" form must be submitted by the student to the professor no later than two weeks prior to the anticipated absence.  A separate form must be submitted for each absence and for each course. Faculty do not have to consider accommodations for the purpose of allowing students to travel away from Bloomington for religious observance.  Information about the policy is found here: https://vpfaa.indiana.edu/resources/religious-observances-information.html.

 

Accessible Educational Services (formerly Disability Services for Students) 

Securing accommodations for a student with disabilities is a responsibility shared by the student, the instructor, and the AES Office. For information about support services or accommodations available to students with disabilities, and for the procedures to be followed by students and instructors: https://studentlife.indiana.edu/student-support/iub-aes/index.html

 

Sexual Harassment 

As your instructor, one of my responsibilities is to help create a safe learning environment on our campus. Title IX and our own Sexual Misconduct policy prohibit sexual misconduct.  If you have experienced sexual misconduct, or know someone who has, the University can help.

 

If you are seeking help and would like to talk to someone confidentially, you can make an appointment with:

1. The Sexual Assault Crisis Service (SACS) at 812-855-8900
2. Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) at 812-855-5711
3. Confidential Victim Advocates (CVA) at 812-856-2469
4. IU Health Center at 812-855-4011

 

For more information about available resources:  http://stopsexualviolence.iu.edu/help/index.html. It is also important to know that federal regulations and University policy require me to promptly convey any information about potential sexual misconduct known to me to our campus’ Deputy Title IX Coordinator or IU’s Title IX Coordinator.  In that event, they will work with a small number of others on campus to ensure that appropriate measures are taken and resources are made available to the student who may have been harmed.  Protecting a student’s privacy is of utmost concern, and all involved will only share information with those that need to know to ensure the University can respond and assist.  I encourage you to visit http://stopsexualviolence.iu.edu/help/index.html to learn more.

 

IU Culture Centers: https://studentlife.indiana.edu/communities/culture-centers/index.html