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SP52115: Research for policy: concepts, methods and values

[Page last updated: 15 August 2024]

Academic Year: 2024/25
Owning Department/School: Department of Social & Policy Sciences
Credits: 5 [equivalent to 10 CATS credits]
Notional Study Hours: 100
Level: Masters UG & PG (FHEQ level 7)
Period:
Semester 2
Assessment Summary: CWES 100%
Assessment Detail:
  • Coursework 1 (CWES 50% - Qualifying Mark: 50)
  • Coursework 2 (CWES 50% - Qualifying Mark: 50)
Supplementary Assessment:
Like-for-like reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations)
Requisites:
Learning Outcomes: By the end of the course, you will understand the key issues in current debates about evidence-based policy in the UK, you will explore approaches to the systematic management of research and other evidence for policy making, you will understand the challenges of applying and disseminating research into policy and practice, and the main methods used for the evaluation of new policies and programmes. You will develop a critical awareness of the meaning and nature of 'evidence' in policy making and evaluation. You will be able to synthesise and interpret evidence for policy making and evaluation, and you will be able to be critical consumers and users of research evidence.


Synopsis: Study major contemporary debates in evidence-based policy, which is often central to government thinking about policy development and to the machinery of government. You will: - explore what 'works' and debate the meaning and impact of evidence-based policy - study some of the main methods for generating research evidence - examine examples of the impact of research on policy across a range of policy areas

Content: The unit will be taught partly by lectures but mainly in a seminar/reading group format. You will be set required reading for each session and practical exercises in evaluating evidence for policy purposes, hence the relatively high proportion of time devoted to private study. There will be a strong focus on the interpretation and use of research evidence for policy. The content will include the following:
  • Critical introduction to the theory and practice of 'evidence-based' policy and practice. The interface between researchers and government.
  • Systematic evidence management for policy - systematic reviews, secondary analysis, e-resources (data-bases, etc), social indicators and audits.
  • Research methods for policy - evaluating processes and outcomes, combining qualitative and quantitative methods, longitudinal studies, RCTS, experiments and quasi-experiments.
  • Learning from others and from experience - policy transfer, pilots, prototypes and demonstration projects.
  • Evidence-based practice and the development of guidelines.
  • Assessing impacts - methods of analysis for assessing the impact of policy or practice interventions, isolating effects in the context of multiple interventions.
  • Making an impact - case studies of research and policy in practice.
Throughout the unit examples will be drawn from specific policy areas and examples, both from the UK and other countries, and also from a supra-national perspective, in particular in respect of the EU.

Course availability:

SP52115 is a Must Pass Unit on the following courses:

Department of Social & Policy Sciences

SP52115 is Optional on the following courses:

Department for Health Department of Social & Policy Sciences
  • THSP-AFM54 : MRes Global Challenges: geopolitics, inequalities and mobilities 
  • THSP-AFM55 : MRes Global Challenges: geopolitics, inequalities and mobilities 

Notes:

  • This unit catalogue is applicable for the 2024/25 academic year only. Students continuing their studies into 2025/26 and beyond should not assume that this unit will be available in future years in the format displayed here for 2024/25.
  • Courses and units are subject to change in accordance with normal University procedures.
  • Availability of units will be subject to constraints such as staff availability, minimum and maximum group sizes, and timetabling factors as well as a student's ability to meet any pre-requisite rules.
  • Find out more about these and other important University terms and conditions here.