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MPA Applied Studies

Module description

How can public administrators access and use evidence to inform policy and practice? How and to what extent can practitioners draw lessons from other countries to inform their own country’s administrative system? What methods are useful in public administration research and how can we critically appraise research for policy? In this module you will consider these questions, drawing on a mix of lectures, seminar discussion and critical personal reflection. You will also, under supervision, research a specific topic which is of benefit to your future career and, where applicable, your employer. A further complementary aim is to enable you to understand and critically evaluate British public administration through a programme of visits to local and regional institutions and a series of guest lectures by academics and practitioners. As part of the engagement with public institutions, short periods of work placement activity and/ or policy analysis activity will be arranged with public or non-profit bodies according to your professional interests.

Module aims - intentions of the module

This module is designed to accommodate the needs of cohort students from international public sector authorities. It is part of the 21 month MPA with Applied Studies programme.

The module aims to deepen your understanding of how research and evidence can be used to inform public administration practice, whilst acknowledging the political, practical and professional challenges of doing so.  You will apply knowledge gained in term 1 seminars to assist you in completion of your report in term 2. Support and supervision is provided in preparing a 10,000 word report on a specific topic agreed with your employers. The intention is to support you in your ability to conduct independent research and policy analysis that will be of benefit to your professional practice. The module coordinator will assist in setting up/ supervising your policy analysis activity, where appropriate linked to work placements.  

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 1. Critically compare public administration systems and/or practices between different jurisdictions and demonstrate this by analysing real world examples using theoretical frameworks studied in previous MPA modules;
• 2. Identify examples of 'best practice' and evaluate their transferability to other jurisdictions;
• 3. Demonstrate critical awareness of the drivers for, and varieties of, policy transfer
• 4. Demonstrate an understanding of the range of sources and types of evidence available to public administrators in professional practice
• 5. Show awareness of the political and professional challenges of evidence-based policy

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 6. Appraise and critically evaluate government reports, public policy and institutional frameworks;
• 7. Synthesise and comment critically on a corpus of academic literature;
• 8. Link public administration concepts and theories to real world examples;
• 9. Compare and contrast practices and institutions in different political systems

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 10. Undertake independent/self-directed learning (with effective time management) to achieve consistent, proficient and sustained attainment;
• 11. Refine oral presentation skills and presentational effectiveness; and
• 12. Reflect on the process of learning and evaluate personal strengths and weaknesses.

Syllabus plan

Whilst the module’s precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the syllabus will cover some or all of the following topics:

1. Introductory induction session for whole class
2. Fortnightly seminars & lectures with the module co-ordinator in term 1 covering topics such as evaluation, research methods in public administration, evidence-based policy, lesson drawing and policy transfer.
3. Fortnightly supervision meetings for employer report with module coordinator in term 2;  
4. Organised visits to local public and non-profit institutions;  
5. Talks by guest speakers on topics relating to public administration;
6. Work placements/ policy analysis activity on public or non-profit organisations
7. Review class for the whole group at the end of the module: discussion and appraisal

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Formative assessment

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Details of summative assessment

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

Biddle, N. 2017. Mixed methods for Policy Evaluation. London: Sage. (video)

Bochel, H. & Duncan, S. (Eds). 2007. Making Policy in Theory and Practice. Bristol: Policy Press. Chapter 3 (Outward-looking Policy Making); Chapter 5 (Evidence-Based Policy Making), Chapter 9 (Policy Evaluation).

Bogenschneider, K. and Corbett, T. 2010. Evidence-Based Policymaking. London: Routledge, Chapter 1.

Chandler, J.A. 2014. Comparative Public Administration. London, Routledge.

Gupta, D. 2011. Analyzing Public Policy. 2^nd Edition. Washington: Congressional Quarterly Press, Chapter 13.

Hadjiisky, M., Pal, L.A. Walker, C. 2017. Public Policy Transfer. Edward Elgar Publishing.

Kraft, M. and Furlong, S. 2013. Public Policy: Politics Analysis and Alternatives. Washington: Congressional Quarterly Press, Chapter 6.

Massey, A. 2009. ‘Policy Mimesis in the Context of Global Government’, Policy Studies, July 2009.

Nagel, S. 2002. Handbook of Public Policy Evaluation. London, Sage.

For the research report, the reading list will depend on the student’s topic, but will be guided by the module co-ordinator. 

Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources

Indicative web based resources e.g. ELE: 
The module will be supported by ELE materials, including the reflective learning log

Indicative learning resources - Other resources

Websites and literature produced by the various institutions visited

Key words search

Applied Studies, Politics, Public Administration, Evaluation, Evidence-Based Policy