Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Unit Convenor
Dr. Adam Stebbing
Contact via adam.stebbing@mq.edu.au
W6A 824
Tuesday 4.30pm to 5.30pm
Lecturer & Tutor
Dr. Beatriz Cardona
TBA
Charlotte Overgaard
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Credit points |
Credit points
3
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Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
SSC100 and SOC224 and admission to BSocSc
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Corequisites |
Corequisites
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Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
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Unit description |
Unit description
This social science unit continues from where SOC224 left off, focusing on vocational application and approaches to social research for purposes of policy and planning. We cover key aspects of evaluation research, with a particular focus on practical tools (including program logic), research methodologies, report writing and the conduct of research in social science workplaces. In doing this, we link the social science foundations established in the first and second year courses with the vocational experience students receive through the internship program at third year. This develops generic and specific social science research skills required by graduates.
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Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
Name | Weighting | Due |
---|---|---|
Online Quiz 1 | 10% | Wednesday 26th August |
Program Logic Task | 20% | 9am on 14th September |
Online Quiz 2 | 20% | 11:59pm on Monday 5th Oct |
Evaluation Research Proposal | 40% | 11:59pm on 9th November |
Course Participation | 10% | Continuing |
Due: Wednesday 26th August
Weighting: 10%
This online quiz will consist of 10 multiple choice questions. You will be asked to read each question and select the BEST response from the available options. It is designed to provide you with an early insight into how you are going in SSC200 and will draw on both the course readings and lecture materials.
The online quiz will become available on 19th of August and you can undertake the quiz until Wednesday 26th August (at 11:59 pm EST). It will become available via the SSC200 iLearn page. The quiz can only be taken once. You will be given 30 minutes to complete it.
More information will become available in the early weeks of semester.
N.B. In the event of technical difficulties, it is your responsibility to contact course staff before the due date. We advise you to ensure that you can access the link to the quiz on Wednesday 19th August (without starting the quiz unless you want to).
Due: 9am on 14th September
Weighting: 20%
As program logics are one of the most widely used tools in evaluation research, this task requires you to develop a program logic for ONE of four policies and programs identified on the course iLearn page and explain the theory of change that underpins it. Alternatively, if you would like to develop a program logic for another program, please contact the course convenor before proceeding. At the very least, the program logic should include: the issue; needs; desired outcomes; resources/inputs; activities/outputs; and actual outcomes. You should present the program logic in diagrammatic form and outline the core compenents of each aspect of the program logic in a table. You should also describe the program logic in the text of your paper and explain the theory of change that underpins it. And, you should briefly discuss the assumptions and limitations of the program logic model presented. Please note, we encourage you to choose the same policy or program for this assessment and the evaluation research proposal. Also, the word count does not have to include the diagrammatic presentation of the program logic or the table that outlines its different elements. Make sure that you identify the same elements of the program in both the diagram and table.
N.B Please submit this assignment via Turnitin ONLY. Note that it is due on a Monday morning by 9am. You are, of course, welcome to submit it sooner.
Due: 11:59pm on Monday 5th Oct
Weighting: 20%
This online quiz will consist of multiple choice and/or short answer questions. It is designed to provide you with ongoing insight into how you are going in SSC200 and will draw on both the course readings and lecture materials. It will also require you to analyse data using Microsoft Excel, using the detailed notes provided.
The online quiz will become available on 25th of September and you can undertake the quiz until Monday 5th October (at 11:59 pm EST). It will become available via the SSC200 iLearn page. The quiz can only be taken once. You will be given 90 minutes to complete it.
More information will become available in the early weeks of semester.
N.B. In the event of technical difficulties, it is your responsibility to contact course staff before the due date. We advise you to ensure that you can access the link to the quiz on Friday 25th September (without starting the quiz unless you want to).
Due: 11:59pm on 9th November
Weighting: 40%
This research assignment requires you to develop an evaluation research proposal. You should organise the proposal into the following parts: background information on policy issue; an outline of the program logic; a brief literature review; the aspects of the policy to be evaluated; a methodology; and ethical issues. When outlining the methodology, you should select one of Owen's (2006) five approaches to evaluation. The methodology should also identify the research methods that will be used and provide a justification for their selection. This task is similar to the research proposal you developed in SOC224, but it requires you to develop a methodology for a policy or program evaluation. More details will become available on the iLearn page. Again, if you have any doubts about the suitability of a particular program or policy, please contact the course convenor.
N.B Please submit this assignment via Turnitin ONLY.
Due: Continuing
Weighting: 10%
The weekly lectures and online workshops are compulsory. To meet the requirements of this course, you are required to write separate 300 word summaries for at least 70 per cent of lectures. These summaries need to be posted online within a fortnight of the lecture taking place. For instance, a summary of the Week 2 lecture should be posted no later than at the end of Week 4.
To meet the requirements of this course, you are required to participate in at least 80 per cent of workshops. In addition to contributing to workshops, you are also expected to actively participate in them. As an incentive, 10 percent of your final mark will be awarded for your attendance and your participation. We will look for evidence that you have done the readings and your ability to engage respectfully with other students.
N.B. There are 10 online workshops for SSC200. They will run from weeks 2 to 6 (inclusive) and from weeks 8 to 12 (inclusive). In other words, there are no workshops in week 1, 7 or 13.
The lectures for SSC200 will be recorded using the ECHO360 system and will be made available via the iLearn page.
In lieu of on-campus workshops, you will be required to contribute and actively participate in weekly online workshops (excluding weeks 1, 7 and 10) that can be found in the weekly tabs of the iLearn page.
The following technologies are used in SSC200...
iLearn
Important information about the weekly schedule for SSC200, course readings and assessment are all available on the course iLearn page. If you do not have access, please contact IT help. You are required to check iLearn and your student email regularly for course updates and information.
Turnitin
All written assessments for SSC200 need to be submitted via Turnitin. A link to Turnitin is available via the Assessments tab on the iLearn page. Please contact the convenor if you cannot find it (do not leave it until the day of the assessment). Written assignments will be marked via GradeMark and the results will be made available through Turnitin.
Unit Readings via Library website
The readings for the course should be available free-of-charge via e-Reserve or online via the world wide web. The Unit Readings tab is part of the Macquarie University Library website.
Week | Lecture Topic | Workshop Topic |
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1 |
Introducing evaluation research |
No workshop |
2 |
Social issues, public policy & wicked problems |
Wicked problems |
3 |
Understanding the policy process |
Engaging with the policy process |
4 |
Program logic: Policy as a theory of change |
Developing program logics |
5 |
Research paradigms and evaluation research |
Contemplating paradigms |
6 |
Designing evaluation research |
Using evaluation approaches |
7 |
Using observation & interviews in evaluations |
No workshop |
8 |
Conducting social surveys for evaluation research |
Using Excel to analyse data |
9 |
The ethics and politics of evaluation research |
Contemplating ethics & politics |
10 |
Presenting evaluation results |
Presenting data |
11 |
Social learning via evaluation (and beyond) |
Contemplating scenarios |
12 |
Evaluation in practice: A panel discussion |
Evaluation research proposals |
13 |
Course overview and evaluation |
No workshop |
Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central. Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:
Academic Honesty Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/academic_honesty/policy.html
Assessment Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/assessment/policy.html
Grading Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/grading/policy.html
Grade Appeal Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/gradeappeal/policy.html
Grievance Management Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/grievance_management/policy.html
Disruption to Studies Policy http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/disruption_studies/policy.html The Disruption to Studies Policy is effective from March 3 2014 and replaces the Special Consideration Policy.
In addition, a number of other policies can be found in the Learning and Teaching Category of Policy Central.
Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/support/student_conduct/
Results shown in iLearn, or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au.
Academic Honesty is an intergral part of the core values and principles contained in the Macquarie University Ethics Statement. Its fundamental principle is that all staff and students act with integrity in the creation, development, application and use of ideas and information. This means that:
See the link above for more information from Policy Central.
The grade that a student receives will signify their overall performance in meeting the learning outcomes of the unit of study. Graded units will use the following grades
HD High Distinction 85-100
D Distinction 75-84
Cr Credit 65-74
P Pass 50-64
F Fail 0-49
As per university policy, written assessments will be returned to students within three weeks of the submission date. Early assignments will not be marked early. And, the short class test held during the examination period at the end of semester will not be returned to students.
In the first instance, extensions for course assessments should be discussed with the unit convenor. Medical certificates or similar documentation will be needed to support requests for extensions. If you have any doubts about whether your situation qualifies for an extension, please contact the course convenor.
Special consideration should be applied for when students experience circumstances of three (3) consecutive days duration (or longer) within a semester that prevents completion of assessment or formal examination. You should apply online to the Faculty of Arts. For an application to be valid, it must include a completed Application for Special Consideration form and all supporting documentation.
The special consideration policy is available online at: http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/special_consideration/policy.html
For all written assessment tasks, the Department applies the following penalties for late work that does not have an extension:
5 per cent for the first day (or weekend if the assessment is due on Friday and submitted the following Monday); 1 per cent for each subsequent day
Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/
Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to improve your marks and take control of your study.
Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.
For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au
For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://informatics.mq.edu.au/help/.
When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.
Our graduates will also be capable of creative thinking and of creating knowledge. They will be imaginative and open to experience and capable of innovation at work and in the community. We want them to be engaged in applying their critical, creative thinking.
This graduate capability is supported by:
We want our graduates to have emotional intelligence and sound interpersonal skills and to demonstrate discernment and common sense in their professional and personal judgement. They will exercise initiative as needed. They will be capable of risk assessment, and be able to handle ambiguity and complexity, enabling them to be adaptable in diverse and changing environments.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Our graduates will have enquiring minds and a literate curiosity which will lead them to pursue knowledge for its own sake. They will continue to pursue learning in their careers and as they participate in the world. They will be capable of reflecting on their experiences and relationships with others and the environment, learning from them, and growing - personally, professionally and socially.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Our graduates will take with them the intellectual development, depth and breadth of knowledge, scholarly understanding, and specific subject content in their chosen fields to make them competent and confident in their subject or profession. They will be able to demonstrate, where relevant, professional technical competence and meet professional standards. They will be able to articulate the structure of knowledge of their discipline, be able to adapt discipline-specific knowledge to novel situations, and be able to contribute from their discipline to inter-disciplinary solutions to problems.
This graduate capability is supported by:
We want our graduates to be capable of reasoning, questioning and analysing, and to integrate and synthesise learning and knowledge from a range of sources and environments; to be able to critique constraints, assumptions and limitations; to be able to think independently and systemically in relation to scholarly activity, in the workplace, and in the world. We want them to have a level of scientific and information technology literacy.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Our graduates should be capable of researching; of analysing, and interpreting and assessing data and information in various forms; of drawing connections across fields of knowledge; and they should be able to relate their knowledge to complex situations at work or in the world, in order to diagnose and solve problems. We want them to have the confidence to take the initiative in doing so, within an awareness of their own limitations.
This graduate capability is supported by:
We want to develop in our students the ability to communicate and convey their views in forms effective with different audiences. We want our graduates to take with them the capability to read, listen, question, gather and evaluate information resources in a variety of formats, assess, write clearly, speak effectively, and to use visual communication and communication technologies as appropriate.
This graduate capability is supported by:
As local citizens our graduates will be aware of indigenous perspectives and of the nation's historical context. They will be engaged with the challenges of contemporary society and with knowledge and ideas. We want our graduates to have respect for diversity, to be open-minded, sensitive to others and inclusive, and to be open to other cultures and perspectives: they should have a level of cultural literacy. Our graduates should be aware of disadvantage and social justice, and be willing to participate to help create a wiser and better society.
This graduate capability is supported by:
We want our graduates to be aware of and have respect for self and others; to be able to work with others as a leader and a team player; to have a sense of connectedness with others and country; and to have a sense of mutual obligation. Our graduates should be informed and active participants in moving society towards sustainability.
This graduate capability is supported by:
The weekly schedule, readings and assessment have changed since previous offerings.