MAKING PUBLIC POLICY: THEORY AND PRACTICE - 2020/1

Module Overview

This module will introduce students to the main debates and methods associated with policy analysis. It covers key traditional theoretical concepts used in public policy analysis such as pluralism, elitism as well as more contemporary approaches and developments such as evidence based policy making.

Module provider

Politics

Module Leader

EXADAKTYLOS Theofanis (Politics)

Number of Credits: 15

ECTS Credits: 7.5

Framework: FHEQ Level 5

Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A

Module Availability

Semester 1

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

None

Module content

The module introduces students to some of the key debates and concepts associated with the analysis of public policy.

The course is structured around the following themes:

1.         Introduction

2.         Key concepts in policy analysis

3.         The policy process: theoretical underpinnings 1

4.         The policy process: theoretical underpinnings 2

5.         The development of the policy network approach

6.         Policy formulation and policy implementation

7.         The policy cycle and research practice: what influences policy making?

8.         Methodologies for policy evaluation

9.         Sources of evidence 1: media and policy documents

10.       Sources of evidence 2: introduction to Impact assessment

11.       Drafting policy recommendations

 

Weekly lectures will cover the topics listed above. Each topic will also be the focus of one of the fortnightly seminars. The seminars will provide an opportunity for students to analyse, in considerable detail, policy document produced by: government departments; political parties; think tanks; and non-governmental organisations.

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

N/A

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy is designed to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate

• An understanding of traditional and/or contemporary theories of public policy


• The ability to use these theories to analyse contemporary public policy making

Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of:

• Plan for Project (1,500 words)


• Final Project (3,000 words)

Formative assessment and feedback

Verbal feedback will be given from module leader and peers during seminar discussions and activities around the research plan/projects as well as brief written feedback on planned research questions in the module discussion forum on Surrey Learn.

Module aims

• Develop students’ understanding of some of the main concepts and key debates
• Introduce students to some of the main methodologies to analyse public policies
• Consolidate students’ ability to apply theoretical models to real-life examples, through

Learning outcomes

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The learning and teaching strategy is designed to:

Introduce students to some of the key concepts in public policy analysis and to enable them to discuss these theories with contemporary case studies of policy areas in preparation for carrying out their own independent research on a piece of public policy.

The learning and teaching methods include:

• 11 x 2 hour workshops (including a mixture of lectures and seminar discussions) plus independent study, guided discussions on the VLE and preparation of own individual research projects.

 

Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.

Reading list

https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: POL2047

Programmes this module appears in

Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2020/1 academic year.