Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Charlotte Overgaard
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Credit points |
Credit points
4
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Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
Admission to MPASR or MPASRMDevStud or GradCertPASR or GradDipPASR or MAppAnth or MIntPubDip or MPPP or GradCertPP or GradDipPP or MPlan or MPPPMDevStud or MIntell or MCTerrorism or MSecStrategicStud or MCrim or MPPPMPASR or MDevStud or GradDipSIA or GradCertSIA or MSecStrategicStudMCrim or MSecStrategicStudMIntell or MSecStrategicStudMCyberSec or MSecStrategicStudMCTerrorism or MIntellMCrim or MIntellMCyberSec or MIntellMCTerrorism or MCTerrorismMCrim
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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 unit introduces students to policy evaluation and accounts for its place in the policy process and social sciences respectively. Students will acquire a knowledge of different approaches to evaluation as well as the ethical and political issues surrounding this process. The unit also focuses on how trends informing public sector management have an influence on the evaluation process and the actual implemenation of evaluations.
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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:
Assignment Submission
All written assignments are to be submitted via the Turnitin links set up for each assignment on the unit iLearn page.
Name | Weighting | Hurdle | Due |
---|---|---|---|
Take-home task | 40% | No | 18 April 2019 |
Evaluation Proposal | 40% | No | 6 June 2019 |
Participation | 20% | No | Ongoing |
Due: 18 April 2019
Weighting: 40%
Take-home task: 3 short answers and a program logic
Length: maximum 2000 words
Total Weight: 40% (each question counts 10%).
This assignment is designed to test your knowledge of the content covered in weeks 1 to 7. The questions will be revealed two weeks prior to the due date, the 4th of April.
The first three questions will address key discussion points covered in weeks 1 to 6. The program logic task will test your knowledge of material covered in week 7.
All four questions require answers of 300 to 500 words.
In researching your answers, start with unit readings and lecture material and extend your research effort from there. Do not cite lecture slides
Due: 6 June 2019
Weighting: 40%
Evaluation Proposal for Their Futures Matter
Length: maximum 2000 words
Total weight: 40% (Evaluation proposal: 30%. Reflection: 10%)
The Their Futures Matter team has contacted you in your role as an evaluation consultant. Their Futures Matter has given you this brief information about the task and the background to the task:
“The Evidence, Monitoring and Evaluation team requires a motivated, high performing consultant to design evaluation and evidence-building activities of the reform. This is a rare and exciting opportunity to work across an evidence-based reform that improves outcomes to NSW’s most vulnerable children and families. You will have the opportunity to work across the entire reform to develop evaluation frameworks and data collection approaches that measure client outcomes and program activity. There is tremendous opportunity to influence how NSW Government collects data to monitor and evaluate programs in this role. You will play a critical role ensuring the reform continues to build a strong evidence base to inform decisions on how to improve outcomes for NSW children and families.
More specifically, you must:
Part 1: Proposal, 30% (1200 to 1500 words)
This research assignment requires you to develop an evaluation proposal for the NSW reform Their Futures Matter. This assignment is designed to give you the skills that enables you to design an evaluation.
You should organise the proposal to include the elements outlined in the table.
Note: The sections indicated with an asterix * (cover letter, research timetable, budget, personnel, appendices) normally feature in research proposals and grant applications, but due to the word limit for this task they do not have to be included here (and will not count toward your task). References (which are compulsory) do not count toward your word limit.
Please make sure that you make linkages between the different sections of this report where appropriate.
Table 1: Evaluation Proposal
Cover letter*
You should include a cover letter and address the evaluation proposal
Title
The title should indicate the topic of the study in 1- 15 words
Summary
100 to 200 words summary of the entire project
Background/
Significance/
Context
This section should outline the program that you will be evaluating in the proposed research and indicate why evaluation is needed. What is the context of the policy? Are there controversies about the program or the social issue it responds to? What do we already know about the policy problem? Why is there a need for further information about this program?
When indicating why the evaluation is needed, you should discuss the program, the social issue that it responds to and what the evaluation will contribute to our knowledge.
Start with the webpage and expand your knowledge from there, such as previous inquiries, reviews, research etc.
Aims and
Objectives
Identify the study’s main objective and the key research questions that will guide the evaluation.
Approach and methods
Outline the approach of the evaluation. Discuss the suggested approach and justify why you have chosen that approach. What methods will you use? What will be the outcome of using this approach and these methods? Which stakeholders will be involved?
It is imperative that you explain the links between the evaluation question(s), the evaluation approach, the methods and how these will be operationalised in this particular case.
Use references when appropriate. In particular, take care to cite unit material.
Ethical and
Political Issues
Identify any specific issues arising from the research. Pay careful attention also to generic ethical issues in research with human subjects – Respect for Persons: Informed Consent; confidentiality; possible risks for subjects and any possible benefits. State whether Ethics approval has, or will be sought, and if so, from whom.
Also, consider the political dimensions of this report – are there controversies about the program or social issue? Are there any conflicts of interest (i.e. as internal or external evaluators)? And, consider the ethical issues that are likely to arise because this is evaluation research.
Use references, including those covered in the unit, if appropriate.
Research
Timetable*
Set out the best information available on the time needed for the various stages of the research: preparation, data collection, analysis, write up, publication/dissemination.
Personnel*
Where appropriate, identify the main people (including yourself as primary researcher)
are likely to be involved and summarise the experience and expertise they would need to bring in order to produce high quality data.
Budget*
This is required for many grant applications, consultancies, etc. It is often useful to complete in other cases as well.
References
List any books, articles, reports, web sites etc. you have cited in the proposal.
Appendices*
Attach any important documents (e.g. questionnaires, ethics approvals, CVs, budget, sampling framework) referred to in the body of the proposal.
Part 2: Reflection over suggested approach in part 1, 10% (300 to 500 words)
Compare and contrast the suggested approach in part 1 to one other evaluation approach. What are the strengths and weaknesses of the two approaches?
Due: Ongoing
Weighting: 20%
This assessment task is intended to encourage and reward you for actively engaging in the discussions and tasks set for each week. It is expected that you are prepared to engage with the lecturer and other students.
In marking this assignment, teaching staff will look for evidence that you have read the set readings, your willingness to engage in discussions and the quality of your participation. Your mark will reflect on both the quality and quantity of your engagement.
Course Delivery
The teaching program consists of:
As this is an advanced course in the use of applied social science, it is vital for students to participate in all components of the unit. The lecture material and readings provide the conceptual basis of the course, examining the theory for each topic. The lectures and the workshop exercises are designed to complement this by providing the opportunity to exchange ideas, discuss research, and develop a critical and collaborative approach.
Required Readings and Recommended Texts
Readings for each week’s topics are listed on Ilearn and you are expected to have read them before class each week. Active participation is a requirement of the course.
There is no textbook for this course. All readings will be made available on Ilearn.
Week |
Topics |
1 |
Introduction to evaluation research |
2 |
The nature of social problems, wicked problems |
3 |
Research Paradigms |
4 |
Engaging with the policy process |
5 |
Evidence in policy |
6 |
Values, Stakeholders |
7 |
Developing program logic models |
BREAK | |
8 |
Evaluation approaches |
9 |
Evaluation approaches, continued |
10 |
Methods |
11 |
Methods |
12 |
Ethics and politics |
13 |
Study week, no lecture or readings (final task due) |
Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:
Undergraduate students seeking more policy resources can visit the Student Policy Gateway (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/student-policy-gateway). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.
If you would like to see all the policies relevant to Learning and Teaching visit Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central).
Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/study/getting-started/student-conduct
Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) 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 or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au
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
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