Qualitative Methods for Policy

• • "A week-by-week guide to the topics you will explore in this subject will be provided in your study materials."

Equivalent subjects

You should not enrol in this subject if you have successfully completed any of the following subject(s) because they are considered academically equivalent:

• MAQ-SOCX831-Qualitative Methods (No longer available)

You must have successfully completed the following subject(s) before starting this subject:

• MAQ-SOCX8020-Evaluating Social Policy

Others

20 credit points at the 8000 level or above; or admission to MPSP or MPASR or GradCertPASR or GradDipPASR NCCW (pre-2020 units) SOCX831 NCCW (2020 and onwards) SOCI8035 Qualitative Methods for Policy

Additional requirements

• Other requirements -

  Students who have an Academic Standing of Suspension or Exclusion under Macquarie University's Academic Progression Policy are not permitted to enrol in OUA units offered by Macquarie University. Students with an Academic Standing of Suspension or Exclusion who have enrolled in units through OUA will be withdrawn.

This subject was previously known as SOCX831 Qualitative Methods for Policy.

Social research is critical for evidence based policy making. This unit canvasses the use of qualitative research to inform public and social policy. Students will develop skills in conducting qualitative research and how it contributes to policy processes. This includes designing and conducting qualitative research and working with existing qualitative data to develop policy. The course will be structured around four modules. The first examines qualitative research designs for policy. The second introduces students to qualitative research methods and analysis, including qualitative analysis of policy documents. The third applies this knowledge to policy processes, including finding and using existing qualitative data sets; qualitative research as consultation; and the uses and misuses of citizen perspectives in policy processes. The unit concludes by considering how qualitative and quantitative data can be combined as policy evidence. Throughout, the unit will include expert speakers from the non-profit, government and academic sectors to provide insider perspectives on the use of qualitative data for policy making and to discuss the politics of research utilization. By undertaking this course, students will develop advanced skills in undertaking qualitative research and be able to apply these skills in a range of policy settings.

• Research Design (30%)
• Policy Research Report (40%)
• Participation (10%)
• Policy research presentation (20%)

Current study term: 23 Jul 23 to 05 Nov 23