Researching Public Policy URBAN5142

  • Academic Session: 2024-25
  • School: School of Social and Political Sciences
  • Credits: 20
  • Level: Level 5 (SCQF level 11)
  • Typically Offered: Semester 1
  • Available to Visiting Students: Yes
  • Collaborative Online International Learning: No

Short Description

This course aims to familiarise students with methodologies in Public Policy areas by covering research philosophies, key research designs, strategies of qualitative & quantitative data collection, policy analysis methods and research ethics. By the end of the course, students should be able to justify their research designs by formulating research questions, collecting and measuring data, and choose analytical methods for their research projects.

Timetable

This course runs ten weeks in total.

One hour lecture and two-hour seminar per week.

Requirements of Entry

General requirements for entry to PGT level

Excluded Courses

None

Co-requisites

None

Assessment

The summative assessment for this course is in two parts.

 

1) Groups of 4 to 6 students will deliver a 15 minutes GROUP PRESENTATION on research design elements of a published research paper.

 

2) Students are required to submit a RESEARCH PROPOSAL (length: 3,000 words) containing (1) research aim and research questions that students will likely undertake for their dissertation;(2) a preliminary overview of the literature relevant to the research aim and research questions; (3) an explanation of and justification for the methods they might use; (4) a reflection on ethics, limitation of the methods and timing.

 

The presentation will contribute to 40% to the final grade and the research proposal will contribute to 60% to the final grade.

Course Aims

The course will introduce students to research designs, methods and analysis in the field of Public Policy and, in doing so, it will familiarise them with considerations of research ethics, presentation and proposal writing to prepare the ground for the master's dissertation in the Public Policy and Management MSc programme.

Intended Learning Outcomes of Course

By the end of this course students will be able to:

 

1) Classify the basic philosophical principles underlying different traditions of social science and distinguish between different methods of quantitative and qualitative research.

 

2) Critically examine the appropriate methods that apply in research practice, including design, execution, and analysis.

 

3) Critically evaluate research ethical issues relating to research with participants, data security, and avoidance of risks while conducting research.

 

4) Develop research writing and critical thinking skills, including presenting methodological and analytical information.

 

5) Formulate a well-rounded Research Proposal that students will likely undertake for their dissertation.

Minimum Requirement for Award of Credits

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.