1. MODULE DETAILS
Module Title: Policy Development and Evaluation 1
Module Level: 5
Module Reference Number: UEL_5_PD1
Credit Value: 20
Student Study Hours: 200
Contact Hours: 45
Private Study Hours: 155
Pre-requisite Learning (If applicable): None
Co-requisite Modules (If applicable): None
Course(s): BA (Hons) Housing Studies
Year and Semester 2014-15 Semester 1
Module Coordinator: Lynn Vickery
MC Contact Details (Tel, Email, Room) Tel: 02078157154
Teaching Team & Contact Details
(If applicable): Email: vickerl@lsbu.ac.uk
Subject Area: Housing
Summary of Assessment Method: Two pieces of written coursework (Literature review and Research proposal) .
External Examiner appointed for module: Ms Ziggy Crawford, CEO BarnsburyHosuing Association
2. SHORT DESCRIPTION
This module is offered in semester 1 and is linked with Policy Development and Evaluation (2) which is taught is the second semester. The two sections of this module are linked by an overview given at the onset and reiterated throughout (with reference to the second semester module – 2) to ensure students understand the interaction between policy, research, strategy, implementation and evaluation, in relation to housing.
The module enables students to engage with the nature of policy development from the pre-policy stage to evaluation. The module emphases an appreciation of processes and people that form policy and provides the overview of the research process as applied to policy development.
The research practice element of the module will provide students a number of key skills in research practice, related to the skills and application of learning to the student’s dissertation in their final year. Research practice applied to professional practice is amplified by the inclusion of a number of guest speakers from relevant research organisations and professional bodies.k and replace]
3. AIMS OF THE MODULE
The module aims to offers a coherent appreciation and critical analysis of the ways in which policy is contextualised, formulated, appraised and enacted at a national and local level. The emphasis is on housing policy and its relationship to social and economic policies and highlights the role of housing policy in within local government’s strategic responsibilities. Particular attention is given to sustainability issues and critiques within policy and strategy throughout the module. Elements of the assessment (the literature review and research proposal) are included to assist students as they approach their dissertation in their final year.
4. LEARNING OUTCOMES
4.1 Knowledge and Understanding
Students will
• Differentiate between the specific models of housing policy formulation and implementation, and identify the interactions between the housing sector and the wider public policy agenda
• Be able to understand the policy process and its enactment
• Have knowledge of the key players in policy development
• Understand the role and process of research
• Appreciate the perspectives of a range of practitioners
4.2 Intellectual Skills
Students will
• Be able to distinguish between policy development, strategic planning and evaluation
• Be aware of the context of policy at a national and local level
• Be able to construct a framework for critical analysis
• Source and evaluate literature for reviews
Contrast theoretical perspectives, conceptual frameworks and policy imperatives for housing research
4.3 Practical Skills and Transferable Skills
Students will
• Acquire keys skills in critical analysis, research and evaluation techniques
• Develop searches for sources and correct referencing
• Have understood the skills needed to co-operate in strategic planning
• Have experience of commissioning research
5. ASSESSMENT OF THE MODULE
The assessment criteria are linked to the learning outcomes for this module (Please see Appendix A).
This module has 2 x written elements for assessment:
CW1 – Literature review – Word count 2500 word (60%)
Students are asked to write a structured literature review focussed on a topic in housing. Students are expected to produce a fully referenced text with a reference list in the Harvard style. Sources should focus on the UK but references to housing policy and practice outside the UK is allowable if it directly relates to UK housing issues. Guidance on topic areas will be offered within sessions. Literature reviews may incorporate quotations from verifiable sources but should not be overly long and should be relevant to the main body of the review. No set number of reference sources is required but students should expect to directly reference at least 12 sources from books, articles and journals.
Assessment criteria:
– Demonstration of relevant reading (40%)
– Understanding of the issues and the development of the key augments (40%)
– Presentation and referencing (10%)
– Use of English (grammar and spelling)(10%)
CW2 – Research proposal based onthe literature review. Word count 1500 (40%)
The research proposal must be submitted in the prescribed format which will be given to students to download from Moodle.
Assessment criteria:
– Presentation and use of format (10%)
– Quality of the proposal (realistic and relevant to stated housing issue/problem) (80%)
– Use of English (grammar and spelling)(10%)
Coursework must be submitted electronically:
– Through Turnitin, available through the module Moodle site and directly via the Moodle site. No hard copies are required.
The standard expected is that all work is presented in good Standard English and all sources must be fully referenced. Poor spelling and sentence construction will be penalised up to 10% of the mark for any individual piece of coursework.
6. FEEDBACK
Feedback will normally be given to students 15 working days after the final submission of an assignment or as advised by their module leader.
General feedback, applying to all students, will also be placed on the module VLE site within 15 working days.
7. INTRODUCTION TO STUDYING THE MODULE
7.1 Overview of the Main Content
The Module consists of two sections:
Section 1:
A. Formulating policy and policy development
• Introduction and structure of the whole module. Overview of policy development
• Development of housing policy – contexts and processes/types and interfaces.
• Contemporary housing policy within wider social and economic policy patterns and trends
• Practitioner guest – national policy, people and politics
• The role, purpose and construction of a literature review
• Workshop – focus on CW1 (literature review)
B. Research practice
• Research purpose, types and process overview/developing research questions and hypotheses – overview
• Developing criteria for analysis and critique ( critical analysis)
• Practitioner guest – commissioning research
• Choosing methodologies, methods/collecting data and constructing findings
• Workshop – focus on CW2 (research proposal)
7.2 Overview of Types of Classes
The module is designed to build a comprehensive appreciation of the policy process and the people involved in it. The emphasis is on critical evaluation in relation to contemporary housing policy and practice. Each of the two sections is structured to include taught sessions, group work and a guest practitioner. A workshop is included in each section.
7.3 Learning Environment
We wish to foster a learning environment for all students as part of the standards expected by the university and by the professional guests and institutions associated with the Housing Studies course. Lectures and seminars will commence promptly at the agreed time. All students are expected to be on time and not come into the classroom late or cause disruption to other students and staff. Students who are aware that they will be late should contact the tutor by phone or text in advance of the start of the lecture so that permission to enter late to the class can be recorded. Students are advised that persistent absence through lateness or any other form of disruption to lectures or to other students will be referred to the Head of Dept.
7.4 Importance of Student Self-Managed Learning Time
Student responsibility in the learning and development process will be emphasised. Students are required to undertake directed self-study and prepare solutions/discussions to questions relative to various topic areas. Students will be encouraged to identify for themselves particular problems of difficulty and to use seminar discussions, where appropriate, for the resolution of these. Students must regularly access the Moodle site for this module. They should download the class/lecture material from the Moodle site, and do the recommended reading, before each lecture/class.
Where appropriate, students are also expected to download the relevant seminar questions and study them in advance of each seminar, in order to derive maximum benefit from seminar time. The programme of teaching, learning and assessment gives guidance on the textbook/articles/research reports reading required for each week, the purpose of which is to encourage further reading both on and around the topic.
The lectures introduce topics and explain concepts. Every area is far greater than can be covered within a lecture slot. Therefore, the student must read around the various issues to learn further about the processes and concepts, to develop a more detailed knowledge and understanding, and to identify how the various issues inter-act with one another.
The student should consider this reading and exploration of the subject both in the library, at home and by experience at work as part of their life-long continuing professional education.
7.5 Employability
Students will have an appreciation of contemporary issues that affect housing policy at a national and local level and will be able to hold a broad understanding on the role and use and elements of commissioned research within the policy context.
8. THE PROGRAMME OF TEACHING, LEARNING AND ASSESSMENT
Week Date Topic
1 24 /09/14 Introduction to the module – Literature reviews and research proposals
Relationship to PD2
Policy development – what is it?
Policy literature
2 1/10/14 Housing policy development- contexts and processes /types and interfaces
3 8/10/14
IN G004 in the LRC Literature reviews – the basics
Finding appropriate literature
Good referencing practice and avoiding plagiarism
4 15/10/14 Implementing housing policy – strategic planning and actions
5 22/10/14 Literature reviews – quality of content and impact of presentation
6 29/10/14
Seminar groups
7 5/11/14
Literature reviews – best practice examples
8 12/11/14
Submission date CW1 (The Literature Review)
Introduction to the research process
Types of research
9 19/11/14 Research– theoretical underpinning and practical considerations
10 26/11/14
The value of research for the housing profession
11 3/12/14 The structure and content of a dissertation (using proposals and literature)
12 10/12/14 Workshop – writing research proposals
Submission date for CW1 (The Literature Review is Wednesday 12thNovember 2014.
Submission date for CW2 (The Research Proposal is Wednesday 17th December 2014.
9. STUDENT EVALUATION
Students are asked to complete an evaluation sheet at the end of each module. In 2013, 14(50%) students completed the evaluation sheets. 57% of these students agreed or agreed strongly that their overall experience of this module good.
10. LEARNING RESOURCES
Reading List
Please see Reading List Online via this Moodle Site or link to:
http://readinglists.lsbu.ac.uk/lists/B759BD7F-F49C-606F-288E-E4C821085CB8.html
11. APPENDIX A: LINKING LEARNING OUTCOMES AND ASSESSMENT
Learning outcome Assessment
4.1 Knowledge and Understanding
Students will:
• Differentiate between the specific models of housing policy formulation and implementation, and identify the interactions between the housing sector and the wider public policy agenda
• Be able to understand the policy process and its enactment
• Have knowledge of the key players in policy development
• Understand the role and process of research
• Appreciate the perspectives of a range of practitioners
Demonstration of relevant reading
Understanding of the issues and the development of the key augments
Understanding of the issues and the development of the key augments
Understanding of the issues and the development of the key augments
Quality of the proposal (realistic and relevant to stated housing issue/problem)
Understanding of the issues and the development of the key augments
4.2 Intellectual Skills
Students will:
• Be able to distinguish between policy development, strategic planning and evaluation
• Be aware of the context of policy at a national and local level
• Be able to construct a framework for critical analysis
• Source and evaluate literature for reviews
• Contrast theoretical perspectives, conceptual frameworks and policy imperatives for housing research
Demonstration of relevant reading
Demonstration of relevant reading
Understanding of the issues and the development of the key augments
Presentation and use of format
Demonstration of relevant reading
Understanding of the issues and the development of the key augments
4.3 Practical and transferable skills
Students will:
• Acquire keys skills in critical analysis, research and evaluation techniques
• Develop searches for sources and correct referencing
• Have understood the skills needed to co-operate in strategic planning
• Have experience of commissioning research
Quality of the proposal (realistic and relevant to stated housing issue/problem)
Demonstration of relevant reading
Presentation and referencing
Understanding of the issues and the development of the key augments
Quality of the proposal (realistic and relevant to stated housing issue/problem)
