SP420 Half Unit
Understanding Policy Research (Advanced)
This information is for the 2025/26 session.
Course Convenor
Dr Tania Burchardt
Availability
This course is compulsory on the MPhil/PhD in Social Policy and MSc in International Social and Public Policy (Research). This course is available on the MSc in International Social and Public Policy, MSc in International Social and Public Policy (Development), MSc in International Social and Public Policy (Education), MSc in International Social and Public Policy (LSE and Fudan), MSc in International Social and Public Policy (Migration) and MSc in International Social and Public Policy (Non-Governmental Organisations). This course is available with permission as an outside option to students on other programmes where regulations permit. This course uses controlled access as part of the course selection process.
All Social Policy Courses are ‘Controlled Access’.
Other than for students in the first category below, when applying for a course all students are required to provide a written statement explaining why they wish to take that course.
Statements are considered by the Course Convenor and, where merited by the statement, places are offered in the following priority order:
1. Students for whom the course is a ‘core course’ on their Programme Regulations (these students should already be allocated to the course in LSE for you – i.e. no written statement is required).
2. Students for whom the course appears as an ‘optional core course’ on their Programme Regulations (where students have to choose between a small number of core options).
3. Students for whom the course appears as an optional course on their Programme Regulations.
4. Other Social Policy students.
5. LSE students from Departments other than Social Policy.
Please note: The number of students that can be accommodated on most courses is limited. If a course is over-subscribed, places will be allocated at the Convenor’s discretion, based on student statements. Therefore, you are advised to have an alternative course in mind in case you are unable to secure your first-choice course selection.
If offered a place on a Social Policy course, please accept the place as early as possible. NB: Offers will ‘time-out’ after 48 hours and the place will be offered to another student. If you wish to reject an offer, please do so as early as possible so that the place can be offered to one of your fellow students.
Close of Course Selection is on the 10 October 2025 (dependant on availability of course places).
Please Note: No places will be offered on Social Policy courses UNTIL 1pm on 29th September 2025.
For queries contact: socialpolicy.msc@lse.ac.uk
Course content
The course equips you with transferable research design skills, including the design of policy evaluations, and an in-depth understanding of the role of different types of research in the policy-making process. It is an advanced course and students are expected to already have a grasp of basic research design principles and their application to social and public policy, for example as covered in MY400 Fundamentals of Research Design or SP401 Understanding Policy Research, both of which run in the MT, although these courses are not a formal pre-requisite. Lectures are given by leading academics engaged in research using the methods under consideration, some of which has achieved substantial policy impact. Students are encouraged to critically assess applications of complex research methods to contemporary national and international social and public policy questions. Topics may include uses of randomised control trials, quasi-experimental methods, longitudinal and life history analysis, systematic reviews and meta-analysis. The relationship between research and policymaking is a theme that runs throughout the course.
Teaching
This course has a reading week in Week 6 of Winter Term.
All teaching will be in accordance with the LSE Academic Code (https://info.lse.ac.uk/current-students/lse-academic-code) which specifies a "minimum of two hours taught contact time per week when the course is running in the Autumn Term (AT) and/or Winter Term (WT)". Social Policy courses are predominantly taught through a combination of in-person Lectures and In person classes/seminars. Further information will be provided by the Course Convenor in the first lecture of the course.
Each lecture will be given by a member of staff or external expert in that particular method or topic and will be followed by a seminar providing opportunities for students to work collaboratively in small groups to examine research exemplifying the approach and the issues raised. There will also be help sessions with the seminar leader to discuss feedback on essays and progress on the course.
Formative assessment
Essay
There will be one compulsory formative coursework essay, which will follow from a seminar task. This formative assignment is designed to prepare students for the summative coursework. Written and/or verbal feedback will be provided.
Indicative reading
- A Bryman (2016), Social Research Methods, 5th edn
- J Parkhurst (2017), The Politics of Evidence
- D Green (2016) How Change Happens
Additional references will be supplied at the start of the course and in lectures.
Assessment
Essay (100%) in Spring Term Week 2
The summative assessment focuses on assessing students' abilities to devise and justify a research design to address a specified social policy research question. It will consistent of one essay of 2000 words. Students will be given a choice of questions.
Key facts
Department: Social Policy
Course Study Period: Winter Term
Unit value: Half unit
FHEQ Level: Level 7
CEFR Level: Null
Total students 2024/25: 37
Average class size 2024/25: 12
Controlled access 2024/25: YesCourse selection videos
Some departments have produced short videos to introduce their courses. Please refer to the course selection videos index page for further information.
Personal development skills
- Self-management
- Team working
- Problem solving
- Application of information skills
- Communication
- Application of numeracy skills
- Specialist skills