| Unit name | Policy Analysis Capstone Project |
|---|---|
| Unit code | SPOLM0093 |
| Credit points | 60 |
| Level of study | M/7 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 4 (weeks 1-24) |
| Unit director | Dr. Molina |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you may not take alongside this one |
None |
| School/department | School for Policy Studies |
| Faculty | Faculty of Social Sciences and Law |
Why is this unit important?
The Policy Analysis Capstone Project is important as it enables you to carry out original independent study whereby you select a policy issue and carry out research in depth over a substantial period of time to arrive at a series of policy recommendations aimed at practitioners. It is an important opportunity for you to apply the academic perspectives, research skills and policy analysis tools gained during the programme to your chosen area of study. Your learning is supported by regular individual supervision sessions and workshops, though the expectation is that the Capstone Project is primarily an individual piece of work.
How does this unit fit into your programme of study?
This unit is one of the two options you have to culminate your programme of study, together with the Dissertation (MSc in Public Policy). It builds on the academic perspectives and contemporary debates about public policy developed in your core and optional modules. It will provide you with the opportunity to demonstrate your application of research and policy analysis skills to an independent research project aimed at a policy audience.
An overview of content
The Policy Analysis Capstone Project gives you the opportunity to undertake independent learning in the form of prolonged project, either by conducting primary research or analysing secondary data. The process of conducting this research and writing an extended report is an opportunity for you to consolidate, demonstrate and extend the ideas, methods and skills that you have learnt during the course of your degree.
How will you be different as a result of the unit:
You will become more confident that you have an in-depth knowledge of your specialist subject area and can critically evaluate research that others have undertaken. You will have the ability to select and use appropriate policy analysis tools. You will be aware of ethical issues and can work within ethical constraints. You will be able to develop a logical and consistent argument, supported by empirical research. You will be able to integrate academic perspectives alongside empirical research findings. You will be able to communicate results effectively and professionally. You will have the ability to carry out original work independently.
Learning outcomes
On successful completion of the unit, you will be able to:
Both the Researching Public Policy and Policy Analysis units will prepare students with an essential understanding of good practice in undertaking primary and secondary policy-focused research. The Policy Analysis unit will prepare you to use policy analysis techniques. In TB2, you will have lectures/workshops for the Policy Capstone unit. The TB2 lectures/workshops will provide opportunities for you to develop you research ideas, receive instruction on research design, data collection methods and analytical techniques appropriate to qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods research. You will submit a research proposal for your Researching Public Policy Unit. expected to present your research proposal after which you will be assigned a dissertation supervisor. Thereafter,In TB2, alongside lectures/workshops, your individual study will be supported by regular, academic supervision either online or in person as the situation allows. You must submit an acceptable research ethics proposal to the ethics committee before beginning your research.
Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks (formative):
You will receive feedback from your Policy Analysis unit summative assessment, which will be the basis for your capstone project. Lectures/workshops during TB2 will support you with preparing you research design, proposed data collection methods and analytical techniques. In TB2, you will have regular supervision meetings and you supervisor’s written feedback will support you with preparing an ethics application and draft chapters.
Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative):
Extended report (10,000 words) with an executive summary (2,000 words), 100%
This assessment addresses all of the intended learning outcomes.
When assessment does not go to plan
Subject to the university regulations for taught programmes, you may be offered an opportunity for reassessment. If you are eligible to resubmit, this will normally be a revised version of your previous assignment.
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. SPOLM0093).
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 University Workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The assessment methods listed in this unit specification are designed to enable students to demonstrate the named learning outcomes (LOs). Where a disability prevents a student from undertaking a specific method of assessment, schools will make reasonable adjustments to support a student to demonstrate the LO by an alternative method or with additional resources.
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. For appropriate assessments, if you have self-certificated your absence, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (for assessments at the end of TB1 and TB2 this is usually in the next re-assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any exceptional circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
