SOSS3007 Evidence for Policy Making Assessment 2 Brief | UNSW Sydney

Assessment Name:

Evidence Review

SOSS3007 Assessment Description 

You will conduct a review of the published evidence about your research problem to answer a revised version of the research questions you generated for Assessment 1. You will do this using the evidence review methodologies covered in the course. Your review should cover evidence about both the nature of the problem and available/possible solutions to it.  

You will be assessed on your ability to:  

1. identify relevant and high-quality sources of evidence about a policy problem and available solutions, and clearly explain your method for doing so;  
2. synthesise this evidence to provide a coherent understanding of the nature of the problem and the suitability and effectiveness of available solutions; and 
3. provide answers to your research questions based on this evidence.   

Course Learning Outcomes

Course Learning Outcomes addressed in this task:

• CLO 2: Apply evidence to policy problems 
• CLO 3: Evaluate and interpret published research/data to assess policy problems and identify solutions • CLO 4:  Identify implications of how evidence is generated and used in policy making for specific groups in society, including First Nations and international communities  

Relevance 

The ability to identify, evaluate and synthesise research evidence relating to policy problems is a valued skill across a range of sectors that employ social science graduates, including government/policy making, research bodies and think tanks, and advocacy and even some service delivery organisations.

How to complete the assessment: 

1. Revise your research questions based on feedback provided on A1. 
2. Review and synthesise relevant research evidence related to your problem/questions, following the review methodologies covered in the course. 
3. Write up the findings of your review in a 2,000-word report (including a summary of your method and answers to your research questions).  

Resources 

Lectures and readings from weeks three and four outline the concepts and skills relevant to this task. Ensure you review these before completing this assignment. Materials from weeks five and seven will also be useful, in that they will help you understand some of the different ways that policy-relevant research evidence is produced.