A current mantra of governments worldwide is that they are committed to 'evidence-based policy making'.  This course critically examines that commitment.  It begins by focusing on the question of how we might asses policy success, emphasising that this does not simply involve policy evaluation.  Rather, there are also process and political dimensions to success and often tensions between these dimensions which shape policy developments and outcomes.  One particular issue we shall consider is the argument made in some critical literature that, in Westminster democracies like Australia, we have politically-driven evaluation, rather than evaluation-based policy.

By the end of this course, students should be able to:

i) Use specific examples to explain key concepts in policy and program evaluation.

ii) Develop a critical analysis of policies and programs based on application of these concepts.

iii) Understand the contribution of sociological theory and research methods to policy and policy evaluation

i) Essay of 1,500 words on the key concepts covered in the course 30%.

Learning Outcomes 1 and 3

ii) Essay of 3,500 words in which students apply the concepts to a particular area of Australian public policy 70%.

Learning Outcomes 2-3

There will be one two hour lecture and one one hour tutorial every week. Students will be expected to undertake 6 hours independent learning each week.

12 units of 1000 Level SOCY or POLS courses or with permission of lecturer.

Appropriate first year courses.

McConnell, A. (2010), Understanding Policy Success: Rethinking Public Policy, Palgrave Macmillan: Basingstoke.

Marsh, D. and McConnell, A. (2010), "Towards a Framework for Establishing Policy Success", Public Administration, Vol. 88, No 2, pp. 564-583.

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