Teaching With Microcomputers

A number of articles have been written on how useful microcomputers can be for teaching social science research methods, which generally means statistical analysis. Microcomputers are useful for that purpose because students can quickly obtain output from archived data or inputted data and then experiment with changing the inputs and the procedures to gain insights as to the effects and meaning of various aspects of statistical analysis’. That can be done while the instructor lectures, explains, and discusses what is or should be happening. Microcomputers can also be used by students for organizing data, drafting reports, retrieving information, and interacting with other people. It is the purpose of this chapter to describe a way in which microcomputers can be used to teach public policy substance, rather than methods or office practice, especially where the substance involves controversial issues.1