Public Policy Process

Module title	Public Policy Process
Module code	POLM887
Academic year	2023/4
Credits	30
Module staff	Professor Oliver James (Lecturer)

Duration: Term	1	2	3
Duration: Weeks	11

Number students taking module (anticipated)	20

Module description

The module provides skills and knowledge in a social science approach to public policy analysis, grounded in political science but extending to include concepts from economics of efficiency and equity along with behavioural and psychological based concepts. Topics include the ‘public’ aspect of the policy process (focusing on public ownership, funding and regulation), the policy cycle approach (development, formulation, implementation and analysis/evaluation). Key concepts are introduced including theory of markets, failures, externalities and public goods. Students gain an overview of policy analysis methods including use of qualitative and quantitative evidence, basic cost benefit analysis, and experimental methods for policy analysis. Students learn and critically analyse the methods for public policy analysis and carry out tasks to develop skills for conducting analysis applicable to a range of topic areas and organisations.

Module aims - intentions of the module

This module aims to:

Develop skills and knowledge that are important for policy making relevant both to public organisations and private organisations in sectors where public policy is important.

Develop skills and knowledge about the policy process, policy development, implementation, analysis and evaluation

Develop skills and knowledge about the role of evidence, values and analysis in public policy and become familiar with ways to avoid common biases and mistakes in public policy.

Reflect on the way that politics influences public policy for better or worse and consider implications for policy performance to facilitate the analysis of patterns of success and failure.

To use skills and knowledge for students to be more effective policy makers and policy analysts, or to undertake policy research in their future study and careers.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

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

1. Demonstrate comprehensive skills and knowledge about policy process, policy development, implementation, analysis and evaluation relevant to different policy sectors and governance scales;
2. Evaluate critically current practice of public policy at all its stages;
3. Identify examples of good practice in public policy that can be used more widely;

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

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

4. Appraise and critically evaluate public policy as contained in government reports and public policy;
5. Synthesise and comment critically on a corpus of academic public policy literature;
6. Systematically link public policy theories and methods to real world examples;

ILO: Personal and key skills

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

7. Intensively study in an independent and directed manner over in short time scales to produce work of a consistent high-quality standard;
8. Communicate complex ideas and evidence developed during learning in seminars, workshop activities and supported study;
9. Reflect on the process of learning and evaluate personal strengths and weaknesses and plan for future study and careers.

Syllabus plan

Drawing on research on public policy, the module sets out theoretical foundations, develops skills and knowledge. Whilst the module’s precise content may vary slightly from year to year, the syllabus will cover the majority of the following:

Defining public policy and its importance

Policy agendas, framing and stages of the policy process

Policy development and design

Policy implementation

Policy analysis and evaluation

Policy outcomes and feedback

Ethics and values in public policy

Economic analysis of public policy including concepts of efficiency and cost benefit analysis.

Evidence in public policy and meta analysis of evidence

Heuristics, biases and overcoming biases in public policy

Experimental methods to evaluate public policy outcomes

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

Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities	Guided independent study	Placement / study abroad
22	278

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Category	Hours of study time	Description
Scheduled Learning & Teaching activities	22	11 x 2 hour seminars
Guided Independent Study	118	Private study reading and preparing for the module seminars and report writing
Guided Independent Study	160	Preparation of a 3500 word policy report

Formative assessment

Form of assessment	Size of the assessment (eg length / duration)	ILOs assessed	Feedback method
Policy report outline	500 words	1-8	Written

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Coursework	Written exams	Practical exams
100	0	0

Details of summative assessment

Form of assessment	% of credit	Size of the assessment (eg length / duration)	ILOs assessed	Feedback method
Reflective learning log	20	1500 words	1-9	Written
Policy Report	80	3500 words	1-8	Written

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

Original form of assessment	Form of re-assessment	ILOs re-assessed	Timescale for re-assessment
Reflective learning log	Reflective learning log	1-9	August/September reassessment period
Policy Report	Policy Report	1-8	August/September reassessment period

Re-assessment notes

Deferral – if you miss an assessment for certificated reasons judged acceptable by the Mitigation Committee, you will normally be either deferred in the assessment or an extension may be granted. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of deferral will not be capped and will be treated as it would be if it were your first attempt at the assessment.

Referral – if you have failed the module overall (i.e. a final overall module mark of less than 50%) you will be required to submit a further assessment as necessary. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of referral will be capped at 50%.

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

Boaz, A., & Davies, H., Fraser A, Nutley, S. (Eds.). (2019). What works now?: evidence-informed policy and practice. Policy Press.
Cairney, P, (2019) Understanding Public Policy: Theories and Issues, 2^nd Edition. Palgrave MacMillan
Howlett, M. and Tosun, J. (2019) Policy styles and policy-making: exploring the linkages. Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge.
Dunlop, C (ed) (2019) Policy Learning and Policy Failure. Bristol, Policy Press
James, O, Jilke, S. and Van Ryzin, GG. (eds) 2017. Experiments in Public Management Research: Challenges and Contributions, Cambridge University Press.
Knill, C. and Tosun, J. 2020 Public Policy: A new introduction. 2nd edition Basingstoke, Palgrave MacMillan.
James, O., Moynihan, D., Olsen, A., Van Ryzin, G.G. (2020) Behavioural Public Performance, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press.

Smith P.C et al (2000) What Works? Evidence Based Policy and Practice in Public Services, Bristol, Policy Press.

Key words search

Public policy, policy analysis, policy design, policy implementation, evaluation

Credit value	30
Module ECTS	15
Module pre-requisites	none
Module co-requisites	none
NQF level (module)	7
Available as distance learning?	No
Origin date	17/12/2021
Last revision date	02/02/2022