Comparative Analysis of Social and Public Policy (P01992)

? Credit Points : 20 ? SCQF Level : 11 ? Acronym : SPS-P-P01992

This course will introduce students to the challenges of making comparative analyses of and for social policy development. It will give them opportunities to develop their analytic and methodological skills for comparative analysis. It will consider on main focii of comparison in social policy, including the comparative analysis of welfare states, of regions and nations, and of particular policies. These subjects will be examined from an analytic perspective which explores some key themes, such as role of context and constraints, the analysis of policy choice, the influence of values and institutions, and the processes of learning and policy transfer. The course will be taught largely through seminars. Examples will primarily reflect the research interests of staff though students will be encouraged to bring and develop their own comparative interests. The course will complement the focus on courses on the politics and economics of policy in the MSc in Policy Studies.

Entry Requirements

none

Subject Areas

Home subject area

Postgraduate (School of Social and Political Studies), (School of Social and Political Studies, Schedule J)

Delivery Information

? Normal year taken : Postgraduate

? Delivery Period : Semester 1 (Blocks 1-2)

? Contact Teaching Time : 2 hour(s) per week for 10 weeks

Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes

- understanding of the role of theory and modelling in comparative analysis
- knowledge of data sources and their limitations [including web-based sources]
- appreciation of methods and problems of inference from data
- understanding of context, constraints, choice and values in policy development
- exploration of processes of policy learning and policy transfer
- engagement with substantive issues in comparative social policy

Assessment Information

A 4000 word essay or equivalent. Students will be encouraged to explore a particular policy problem of contemporary relevance from a comparative perspective. Variants on assessment may include assignments involving skill acquisition.