MODULE TITLE:POL3041 Policy-Making in Practice

Module Provider (AoU): / Politics / Subject (3 letters): / POL
Level: / HE3 / Number of Credits: / 20
Module Co-ordinator: / Dr R Brooks (Politics)
MODULE AVAILABILITY: / Year Long

ASSESSMENT PATTERN

Unit(s) of Assessment / Weighting Towards Module Mark (%)
Essay (3000 words) / 50%
Essay (3000 words) / 50%

PRE-REQUISITE/CO-REQUISITES

None

MODULE OVERVIEW

The primary focus of this module is the exploration of the practical realisation of various areas of policy-making in contemporary political systems. Consequently, it draws upon both theoretical perspectives and empirical evidence.

MODULE AIMS

  • Develop students’ understanding of some of the main concepts and key debates associated with the analysis of public policy.
  • Consolidate students’ ability to apply theoretical models to real-life examples, through analysing developments in specific areas of public policy.
  • Deepen students’ substantive knowledge of specific areas of public policy.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

On completion of this module, students should be able to:
  • Discuss some of the main concepts and key debates associated with the analysis of public policy.
  • Assess the main processes and outcomes of areas of public policy.
  • Analyse policy developments in specific policy areas, using at least one of the concepts covered in the module.
Generic LEARNING OUTCOMES and Skills
  • Gather, organise and deploy evidence, data and information from a variety of secondary and some primary sources.
  • Construct reasoned argument, synthesise relevant information and exercise critical judgement.
  • Reflect on their own learning and seek and make use of constructive feedback.
  • Engage in interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary debates.
  • Apply theoretical frameworks to policy analysis.
Transferable skills
  • Communicate effectively and fluently in speech and writing.
  • Use communication and information technology for the retrieval and presentation of information, including, where appropriate, statistical or numerical information.
  • Work independently, demonstrating initiative, self-organization and time-management.
Practical skills
  • Make appropriate use of information and communications technology.
  • Employ relevant research skills to investigate a policy-related area.
  • Access relevant policy-related datasets and be able to retrieve data from them.
  • Manage their own time effectively.

The module builds on skills and knowledge gained in lower level modules, in order to consider in more depth the realities of public policy formulation, implementation and review. It sets out a variety of theoretical and methodological tools, which will then be applied to the exploration of particular areas of public policy.
The structure of the module is as follows:
  • Toolkits: theory and methods for understanding and explaining public policy
  • Building case-studies: here students and module leader will collectively identify areas of policy for detailed exploration. Students will work in small groups to lead discussion and research.
  • Exploring case-studies: groups create spaces for discussion with the whole class, to highlight key points and themes
  • Synthesising public policy: the groups return to a larger discussion, to identify common areas of interest, which in turn feeds into a summarising activity led by the module leader.

MODULE CONTENT

METHODS OF TEACHING/LEARNING

Lectures, seminars, small group discussion, student presentations, prescribed reading

SELECTED TEXTS/JOURNALS

  • C. Ham & M. Hill (1993), The policy process in the modern capitalist state, 2nd Ed., London, Harvester Wheatsheaf
  • W. Parsons (1995), Public policy : an introduction to the theory and practice of policy analysis, Cheltenham, Edward Elgar
  • W. Dunn (2008), Public policy analysis : an introduction, 4th Ed., UpperSaddleRiver, Pearson Practice Hall
  • D. Marsh (ed.) (1998), Comparing policy networks, Buckingham, Open University Press
  • M. Considine (2005), Making public policy : institutions, actors, strategies, Oxford, Polity
  • M. Moran, M. Rein & R. Goodin (eds.) (2006), The Oxford handbook of public policy, Oxford, OUP
  • M. Hill (2005), The public policy process, 4th Ed., Harlow, Pearson Longman
  • P. Sabatier (ed.) (2007), Theories of the policy process, 2nd Ed., Boulder, Westview Press