15631 IPPG Research Project A
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Credit points: 6 cp
Result type: Grade and marks
Requisite(s): 12 credit points of completed study in spk(s): STM91196 24cp Core subjects (Applied Policy) MAppPol
Description
This is one of the two smaller research projects for the Master of Applied Policy (C04323). In this subject, students undertake a process of preparing a research proposal in order to conduct and complete a research essay, addressing a topic of relevance to governance and public policy. A key part of the final research proposal is determining the study questions for the completion of the research essay. This subject enables students to diversify their research interests in public policy and governance by conducting a smaller research project in a favoured policy area. Having completed this subject, students are then able to explore their research interests in a second policy area by undertaking 15632 IPPG Research Project B.
Students put forward a research design and associated data gathering methodologies in order to address the study questions. They review the literature to link their work to current material on the topic, including readings derived from any of the subjects undertaken as foundation and elective subjects. In this process, they work with a supervisor, who supports them in carrying out the reading, research and writing necessary to plan and prepare for the research project.
Subject learning objectives (SLOs)
On successful completion of this subject, students should be able to:
| 1. | Formulate, design and carry out research in public policy and governance context |
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| 2. | Discover, appraise and adapt insights from a research supervisor throughout the research process |
| 3. | Examine, prioritise and synthesise current literature pertaining to the chosen topic. |
| 4. | Select, interpret and extend insights from the literature to inform their research design |
Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs)
This subject also contributes to the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes:
- Ability to present, and invite feedback on, complex arguments and ideas. (C.1)
- Ability to question, challenge and develop new perspectives on current local domestic and international practice. (I.1)
- Demonstrated understanding of the principles and practices of policymakers across different national and sectoral contexts. (P.1)
- Ability to critically engage with diverse bodies of knowledge regarding national and sectoral contexts using scholarly attribution practices. (R.1)
- Ability to undertake applied research to inform policymaking practices and public management. (R.2)
- Ability to apply conceptual and theoretical frameworks to local supra-and subnational policy making practice. (R.4)
Teaching and learning strategies
The teaching and learning approaches used for this applied research subject are based on adult education and practitioner researcher principles and include the following:
- Preliminary consultation with the subject coordinator at the outset of the individual research journey in order to help them define the scope and purpose of their proposed research, and a supervisor allocated;
- Introductory consultation with subject coordinator at which research in a governance and public policy context is framed and contextualized, the ethics of research and other key aspects of conducting original research are discussed;
- Linkage is made with their research supervisors, who provide mentoring, administrative and expert support throughout the research process.
In order to achieve success in this subject, students are required to engage initially with the subject coordinator and then the supervisor throughout the research process; to undertake wide reading and show evidence of that reading in all or their research documentation; to complete the research ethics approval process; and to ensure that they complete all assessment tasks in a scholarly and timely way.
The Introductory consultation is the single opportunity for the research student to gain an overall perspective on the subject and its interlinkages with coursework subjects. A Subject Description is provided to all students via Canvas prior to the consultation. In addition to explaining the assessments in detail, it provides students with clear guidance for the conduct of their research, drawing strongly upon completed dissertations of graduated IPPG students to highlight key points.
Feedback is provided through individual consultations with Supervisor and is also availabe from the Subject Coordinator at times agreed between you. It is the student's responsibility to record feedback received during meetings. The REVIEW criteria-based assessment system is adopted in the marking of subjects to give students feedback about their development of these graduate attribute categories over time throughout their course of study. REVIEW also enables students to self-assess to encourage a self-reflective approach to their work. Formative assessment feedback will be provided online via ReView after completion of Assessment 1. Summative feedback will be provided after marking Assessment 2. All assessments are to be submitted through Turnitin plagiarism detection software.
Content (topics)
This is a Capstone subject and it is focused on enabling students to conduct research in a public policy and governance context, then present their work in the form of a research essay of between 5,000 and 6,000 words. In addition, they have the opportunity to work with an academic supervisor and learn about the research and writing process.
The content of the teaching/learning is geared towards enabling the students to achieve these overall objectives, while the specific, substantive content that the student focuses upon is, aside from a necessary focus on public policy and governance, determined by the topic of their choice. Undertaking 15631 Research Project A ensures that students are supported in completing the essential early parts of this research process, including:
- Discussing, refining and completing their research proposals
- Completing research ethics applications (where necessary) in accordance with University standards
- Working on, refining and completing their research design and methodology, including construction of the data-gathering instruments
- Completing a research essay in connection with the literature for their chosen topic.
Assessment
Assessment task 1: Research Proposal
| Intent: | Students draft their research proposals, of no more than two standard A4 pages, with the support of the subject coordinator and their supervisors. The drafting occurs at the same time that wider reading for the project is undertaken. Students are assessed on the research proposal, as it contributes to the completion of the research essay. | ||||||||||||||||||||
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| Objective(s): | This task addresses the following subject learning objectives: 2, 3 and 4 This task also addresses the following course intended learning outcomes that are linked with a code to indicate one of the five CAPRI graduate attribute categories (e.g. C.1, A.3, P.4, etc.): C.1, P.1, R.1 and R.4 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Type: | Project | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Groupwork: | Individual | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight: | 10% | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Criteria: | Assessment criterion 1.1 – 40% The research proposal provides evidence of the student planning to undertake original, applied research to inform public policy and governance. This includes:
Assessment criterion 1.2 – 20% The research proposal demonstrates the student’s competence in:
Assessment criterion 1.3 – 20% The research proposal demonstrates the student’s application of conceptual and theoretical frameworks that are derived from the literature when formulating the research questions and designing the research methodology. Assessment criterion 1.4 – 20% There is evidence in the research proposal of a contribution to public policy governance in theory or practice. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Criteria linkages: |
SLOs: subject learning objectives CILOs: course intended learning outcomes |
Assessment task 2: Research Essay
| Intent: | The students complete a research essay of between 5000 to 6000 words in connection with the topic, informed by their research questions and by the fact that the research being conducted is in public policy and governance. The dissertation is presented as a stand-alone document. Through completing this first phase of their research study, students demonstrate skill in achieving a key objective of the subject, namely conducting research pertaining to the chosen topic. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Objective(s): | This task addresses the following subject learning objectives: 1, 2, 3 and 4 This task also addresses the following course intended learning outcomes that are linked with a code to indicate one of the five CAPRI graduate attribute categories (e.g. C.1, A.3, P.4, etc.): C.1, I.1, R.1, R.2 and R.4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Type: | Project | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Groupwork: | Individual | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight: | 90% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Criteria: | Assessment criterion 3.1 – 5% The submission provides evidence of a research orientation to the reading and data-gathering carried out for the study, as well as the implications of the study. The process and outcome of the research demonstrate its usefulness to studies in public policy and governance. Assessment criterion 3.2 – 5% The research is underpinned by key themes relating to public policy and governance principles and practices (e.g. decentralisation, globalisation, corruption, intergovernmental relations, engaging communities, public policy and governance reform, etc.) as appropriate to the topic. This is made explicit, for example, in the rationale put forward for carrying out the study or the implications of the study for improved public policy and governance practice. Assessment criterion 3.3 – 20% Demonstrated application of conceptual and theoretical frameworks from the literature in the formulation of research question(s), the design of the research methodology, analysis of data, the drawing of conclusions and making recommendations relevant to public policy and governance practice. Assessment criterion 3.4 – 10% Skill in identifying and analysing reference material from a wide range of sources, as demonstrated through acknowledgement of those sources via consistent and accurate in-text referencing and the reference list. Also skill in structuring complex information, arguments and ideas in written form, as demonstrated through the structure of the text and readability. Assessment criterion 3.5 – 30% Primary or secondary research has been undertaken and documented. The submission includes a clear rationale for the study; the formulation of an overall research objective, research aims and question(s); a literature review; a description of the methodology; and a clear presentation of research findings. Assessment criterion 3.6 – 10% Ability to question, challenge and develop new perspectives for public policy and governance, as evidenced by submission structure and content. Assessment criterion 3.7 – 20% There is evidence in the submission of the student putting forward creative and innovative solutions to public policy and governance theory and practice, drawing on findings generated through the conduct of the research study and through links made to the literature on the topic. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Criteria linkages: |
SLOs: subject learning objectives CILOs: course intended learning outcomes |
Minimum requirements
Students must meet attendance requirements and overall must obtain at least 50% of the total marks.
Required texts
There are no textbooks for this subject. Reading widely on the chosen topic, as well as reading relevant research design and methodology literature, is integral to the student being equipped to produce a dissertation of high scholarly standards. Subject guidelines and relevant resources will be made available online to students, as will an online facility for communicating with peers and supervisors.