Evidence-Based Social Intervention and Policy Evaluation

Course Overview

The MSc in Evidence-Based Social Intervention and Policy Evaluation emphasises research methods for evaluating interventions and policies, as well as the advanced study of evidence-based practice, with, for example, children and families, peoples with mental health problems, refugees, drug users, HIV, and young offenders. The main aim of the MSc in Evidence-based Social Intervention and Policy Evaluation is to develop critical analysis, problem solving and research skills in the field of evidence-based interventions and policies for social problems, which will allow you to be both a critical consumer of research and to carry out evaluations and other research designs. The core element of the programme comprises courses on research design, statistics, qualitative analysis and critical appraisal. There is a particular emphasis on appraisal and design of randomised controlled trials, quasi-random experimentation and systematic reviews, and their application to social interventions and policy evaluation. You will then select one of two available pathways, the evidence-based social intervention pathyway or the policy evaluation pathway. The evidence-based social intervention pathway covers theories underlying intervention (eg cognitive behavioural, ecological) ; ethical issues; major applications of evidence-based approaches; and challenges in applying and disseminating research into practice and policy. A specialist systematic reviewing course is also on offer, which will help you to develop your own review, as part of your degree. The policy evaluation pathway will introduce you to social policy analysis and to advanced methods of policy evaluation. Policy analysis examines the process of policy making, the setting of objectives, the choice and design of policy and the mechanisms of implementation, while the advanced methods component provides you with the methodological tools to determine how effective policies are in practice or prospect. In addition, you will take a specialist course from a list of options focusing on a particular social policy area or the application of evidence-based intervention with specific client groups, including children and families, prevention of HIV and AIDS, community analysis and intervention, and options offered by the Comparative Social Policy course. Whichever pathway you take, you will be required to write a 10,000 word thesis on a topic agreed with your supervisor. Assessment will be based on project work and two three-hour written examination papers.