Unit name | Policy Analysis |
---|---|
Unit code | SPOLM0058 |
Credit points | 20 |
Level of study | M/7 |
Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24) |
Unit director | Professor. Alex Marsh |
Open unit status | Not open |
Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
Power, Politics and the Policy Process [SPOLM1060]; Evaluating and Informing Policy [SPOLM1061] (MPP) Or Philosophy and Research Design in Social Science [SPOLM0013] (MPolRes) |
Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
None |
Units you may not take alongside this one | |
School/department | School for Policy Studies |
Faculty | Faculty of Social Sciences and Law |
This unit starts from the premise that public policy is more likely to be effective when it rests upon high quality policy analysis. Policy analysis can be broken down into a number of elements. It runs from careful problem framing to effective communication of the nature of proposed policy responses to diverse audiences. Using the elements of the policy analysis process to provide its broad structure, this unit seeks to develop students’ appreciation of a range of key topics including: problem framing; project work, including stakeholder management; the ethical dimensions to policy; policy design and instrument choice; impact assessment, including equalities issues; thinking seriously about implementation; and, getting the message across. While there are tools and techniques that can enhance the policy analysis process it is essential to recognise that it is rarely an entirely technocratic exercise: the unit therefore seeks to embed an understanding of the role played by power and politics.
The aims of this unit are:
By the end of the unit the student should be able to:
This unit will be delivered using a mixture of interactive lectures (10 hours) and seminars (10 hours). The seminars will be structured around small group exercises, guided by readings. The exercises will run across multiple weeks. This will be supplemented by the use of an online discussion forum, and online quizzes to allow students to check their understanding of core ideas.
1) Problem definition/policy brief exercise (1000 word written assignment, 30%) (ILO 1, 2, 4 and 6)
2) Policy analysis exercise (3000 word written assignment, 70%) (ILO 1-6)
If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.
If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. SPOLM0058).
How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours
of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks,
independent learning and assessment activity.
See the Faculty workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit.
The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. If you have self-certificated your absence from an
assessment, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (this is usually in the next assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any extenuating circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.