Module Specifications..
Current Academic Year 2023 - 2024
Please note that this information is subject to change.
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Description This module will give students training in a number of core skills for policy makers, including bargaining and negotiations, cost-benefit analysis, risk and uncertainty. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Learning Outcomes 1. to conduct a synthesis of research relevant to policy 2. to conduct a negotiations/ bargaining simulation 3. to understand risk and uncertainty with relation to policy making 4. to conduct a cost-benefit analysis 5. to understand and use tools for forecasting policy options | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml |
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Indicative Content and Learning Activities
Synthesising researchFew policy makers directly conduct or commision research. They depend on others' research or how analysis of how policy treatments worked in other countries. We will look at the quality of data/ evidence, meta-analysis, diversity of evidence with a view to conducting research synthesis.Risk/ uncertaintyFew or no policies are chosen with positions of certainty as to the outcomes. Understanding risk and uncertainty (and the differences between the two) is therefore crucial to good policy analysis. we will introduce probability, confidence etc.Negotiating and BargainingOne of the keys skills of a policy maker is to negotiate a position on behalf of the organisation. To do this effectively one needs to understand each sides bargaining strengths. We will use Game Theory to help conduct simulations of bargaining.Forecasting policy optionsA key skill in policy analysis is to forecast policy options. we will look at four main types of forecasting: judgement, extrapolating trends, modelling, and decision structuring to gain knowledge of policy forecasting and see how these work in real cases, focussing then on their relative strengths.Cost Benefit AnalysisThis is one of the most common tools of policy analyists. It builds on many of the concepts dealt with earlier in the module and the programme to show how to conduct a CBA and when they might be of most and least use. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Indicative Reading List
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Other Resources None | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Programme or List of Programmes
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