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SPOL41020

Academic Year 2024/2025

Data & Methods for Policy Analysis (SPOL41020)

Subject:
Social Policy
College:
Social Sciences & Law
School:
Soc Pol, Soc Wrk & Soc Justice
Level:
4 (Masters)
Credits:
10
Module Coordinator:
Dr Micheal Collins
Trimester:
Autumn
Mode of Delivery:
On Campus
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

The objective of this course is to provide students with the knowledge and skills required to undertake policy analysis in a professional setting. The skills acquired on this course are intended to prepare students to undertake internships, complete a research thesis and commence careers in policy related roles.
Key topics covered in the module include:
- The availability and accessibility of key data sources for national, international, and comparative policy analysis.
- The principal methods used to gather qualitative and quantitative data for policy analysis.
- How to formulate a policy research question and write a policy report.
- How to critically evaluate a policy report.

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

On completion of this module students will be able to:
- Understand and access key sources of national data for policy analysis including survey and administrative data.
- Understand and access key sources of international data for comparative policy analysis.
- Understand the major methods of data collection, both quantitative and qualitative.
- Understand and critically assess the suite of policy analysis tools available to professionals in policy analysis.
- Critically evaluate published policy analysis reports.
- Apply key policy analysis tools to consider national and international policy analysis questions.

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

12

Computer Aided Lab

8

Specified Learning Activities

60

Autonomous Student Learning

120

Total

200


Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
The course is delivered as a mixture of face-to-face and online lectures (6 classes) and computer-based classes (4 classes) and takes an applied approach. Computer-based classes will use quantitative data and datasets from official sources and qualitative sources relating to recent policy reforms.

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 

Assessment Strategy
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade In Module Component Repeat Offered
Group Work Assignment: Group presentation based on a critical review of an allocated policy report. Week 5, Week 6, Week 7, Week 9, Week 10, Week 11 Graded No
30
No
Individual Project: An individual research project focused on applying the quantitative or qualitative methods introduced by the course. Week 15 Graded No
70
No

Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 

Resit In Terminal Exam
Spring No
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Group/class feedback, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Students will be provided with feedback which includes the assignment grade and some comments. These will be circulated electronically to students.

Core texts:

The following texts offer a comprehensive overview of many of the policy research approaches and methods we will discuss throughout the course. They are complemented by further specific reading corresponding to each lecture/lab topic and these are listed in the course outline.

Bryman, A. (2016). Social research methods (5th edition). Oxford, Oxford University Press. [earlier editions are also ok]

De Vaus, D. (2002). Analyzing Social Science Data: 50 key problems in data analysis. London, Sage.

Name Role
Dr Stephan Koeppe Lecturer / Co-Lecturer

Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
Autumn Computer Aided Lab Offering 1 Week(s) - 1, 2, 3, 4, 10, 11, 12 Fri 11:00 - 12:50
Autumn Computer Aided Lab Offering 1 Week(s) - 5, 6, 7, 9 Fri 11:00 - 12:50