Unit 3: (Week 05 & Week 06) The Methods and Approaches of Social Policy

Research is an essential part of the study of social policy. Understanding social conditions, and the effects which responses have on them, depends strongly on being able to draw on good information about what is happening. People working in social policy in practice are expected to be able to interpret research material; and those who hope to develop policy need to appreciate what the effects of that policy might be, and how to find out what they really are. This unit focuses on following major areas:

Week 5: Lecture 5 

  • The research foundation for social policy

  • Policy research

  • The research process

Week 6: Lecture 6

  • Approaches, methods and design 

  • Ethical issues in research

  • Criticising research methods 

Required Reading

Spicker, P. (2014), Social Policy: Theory and Practice. Policy Press: UK 

 

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