Exploring Policy Research - SPY00157M
- Department: Social Policy and Social Work
- Credit value: 15 credits
- Credit level: M
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Academic year of delivery: 2023-24
- See module specification for other years: 2024-25
Module summary
Effective policy-making and public administration depend on good research. This module enables you to critically reflect on the strengths, limitations and appropriateness of different research approaches and techniques, and you acquire the skills needed to evaluate and commission research for public policy and administration contexts.
Module will run
| Occurrence | Teaching period |
|---|---|
| A | Online Teaching Period 1 2023-24 |
Module aims
The module equips students with the knowledge of research methods required to make systematic and critical use of research in policy analysis and public administration. By providing a grounding in issues of research design, including core principles of key quantitative and qualitative approaches, it introduces students to the range and types of methods and data sources used in policy research and their strengths and limitations. Students can thus develop the skills needed to evaluate and assess the quality of ‘real world’ policy research based on relevant and appropriate criteria.
Module learning outcomes
By the end of this module, students should be able to:
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understand the advantages and disadvantages of research techniques and approaches for public administration and public policy purposes.
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demonstrate familiarity with key data sources and their strengths and limitations.
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assess and articulate the merits of competing research designs as applied to specific policy or practice contexts.
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evaluate case studies of research in public administration to inform evidence-based decision-making.
Indicative assessment
| Task | % of module mark |
|---|---|
| Essay/coursework | 100.0 |
Special assessment rules
None
Indicative reassessment
None
Module feedback
Feedback on summative assessments will be provided within 20 working days, consisting of written comments and a marking matrix.
Indicative reading
Majchrzak, A. and Markus, M. L. (2013) Methods for Policy Research Taking Socially Responsible Action - Second Edition, Applied Social Research Methods Series, London: Sage
Springer, J.F., Haas, P.J. and Porowski, A. (2017) Applied Policy Research Concepts and Cases, Second Edition, Abingdon: Routledge.
Vigoda-Gadot, E. and Vashdi, D. (eds) (2020) Handbook of
Research Methods in Public Administration, Management and Policy,
Cheltenham: Edward Elgar