Module: Research Design for Policy Makers

Latest Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026

Module Title	Research Design for Policy Makers
Module Code	POL1071 (ITS: LG5065)
Faculty	Law & Government	School	Humanities & Social Sciences
NFQ level	9	Credit Rating	5

Description

This module is designed to prepare you to complete the Policy Analysis Exercise (PAE), which accounts for one third of your MPP. This is a pass/ fail module for which you will be expected to produce a research design for your PAE. To prepare you for that the moduule will introduce you to research design and some research methods. Often the PAE is designed around specific policy instruments, in an attempt to assess their efficacy. The policy is then a treatment. We will deal with causal inference, and look at methods that help establish causality. There will also be a practical guide to how to do a PAE.

Learning Outcomes

1. Create a research design for a piece of original policy research
2. Present their research proposal to a group
3. Critically evaluate other research designs

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full time hours per semester
Lecture	22	Attend and participate in class
Class Presentation	3	Prepare and present to class, engage with lecturer
Independent Study	100	Do reading and preparation for research deign
Total Workload: 125

Section Breakdown
CRN	11422	Part of Term	Semester 1
Coursework	0%	Examination Weight	0%
Grade Scale	PASS/FAIL	Pass Both Elements	Y
Resit Category	RC1	Best Mark	N
Module Co-ordinator	Roman-Gabriel Olar	Module Teacher	Daniel Marks

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Assessment Breakdown
Research Paper	Produce a research proposal for the PAE	100%	n/a
Presentation	Present the research design	0%	n/a

Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories; RC1: A resit is available for both^* components of the module. RC2: No resit is available for a 100% coursework module. RC3: No resit is available for the coursework component where there is a coursework and summative examination element. ^* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a coursework/summative examination split; where the module is 100% coursework, there will also be a resit of the assessment

Pre-requisite	None
Co-requisite	None
Compatibles	None
Incompatibles	None

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

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

What is the PAE?
Finding a Public Policy Puzzle. Examples: Does education lead to an increase in income?

Which hospital should I go to? Exercise: Making better questions

Building blocks for Theory Testing
Variables, concepts, unit of analysis, theories, hypotheses.

Collecting Evidence: Measurement
Level of measurement, types of measures, measurement error, reliability and validity.

Cause and Effect: Research Design
Covariance, temporal precedence, Internal and external validity, Regression to the Mean, causal mechanisms, control, Spurious relationships, DAGs, confounding, case or variable oriented design.

Different types of studies
Observational studies, sampling, RCTs, Statistical analyses, case studies, surveys, meta-analysis, process tracing.

Thinking Statistically
Endogeneity, selection bias, Bayesian analysis

A Practical Guide to the PAE
Having an argument, making it well

Indicative Reading List

Books:

William M. K. Trochim: 2016, Research Methods: Knowledge Base, Cengage, 9788131530856
John Gerring,Dino Christenson: 2017, Applied Social Science Methodology, Cambridge University Press, 400, 9781107416819

Articles:
None

Other Resources

None