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PSY-40083 - Module Specification
School of Psychology
Faculty of Natural Sciences

For academic year: 2023/24 Last Updated: 13 February 2024

PSY-40083 - Using Research to Influence Policy and Practice
Coordinator: Sue Sherman Room: DH1.88 Tel: +44 1782 7 33384
Lecture Time: See Timetable...
Level: Level 7
Credits: 15
Study Hours: 150
School Office: 01782 733736

Programme/Approved Electives for 2023/24

None

Available as a Free Standing Elective

No

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2023/24

In this module, we will explore how research can be used to influence policy and practice in a range of different settings such as education, health, government, charity sector, social change, legal system and so on. Where relevant, this will be done using real examples from staff and also external contributors where possible. For example, staff in the School have experience of working with organisations both in the UK and internationally to influence healthcare policy, policing, educational, and legal practice.
The assessment will give you the opportunity to write a policy briefing in the format used to help Members of the House of Commons and the House of Lords and UK Parliament staff navigate complex research. You will be asked to select an issue of your choice in one of the domains covered in class and drawing on research from psychology and cognate disciplines, you will write a briefing based on the format of the POST (Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology) Note.

Aims
To advance students¿ knowledge and understanding of how research can be used to inform policy and practice across a range of settings.

Talis Aspire Reading List
Any reading lists will be provided by the start of the course.
http://lists.lib.keele.ac.uk/modules/psy-40083/lists

Intended Learning Outcomes

synthesise and articulate key knowledge and concepts relevant to a policy issue: 1
critically discuss how psychological and cognate research relates to practice in an applied setting: 1
tailor research informed messages to a non-specialist audience: 1

Study hours

24 hours: attendance at seminars
24 hours asynchronous activities focused on seminar preparation and formative work
102 hours independent study: identifying literature, reading and preparation of assignment

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment

1: Report weighted 100%
Write a policy brief about a current issue based on psychological and cognate research findings
Students will be asked to write a policy brief in a similar style as the POST note (POST = Parliamentary Office for Science and Technology https://post.parliament.uk/how-to-write-a-policy-briefing/). To be up to 8 pages long (2500 words). Precise details regarding line spacing, font size and indicative number of figures, case-studies, glossaries and other contextual materials to be provided in the module guide and to be based on formal POST guidance. They will have the opportunity to present their ideas in class to get both peer and staff feedback on their chosen topic and level at which the information is pitched.

Please note that for the 2022/23 Academic Year programmes may be adapted to operate in accordance with a flexible, digital approach. This means that there may be some changes made to how modules are delivered and assessed. The latest information will be provided to you by your School in module handbooks. We endeavour to give you as much notice as possible of any changes and details about the circumstance in which changes are made to programmes can be found in the Student Agreement, available at: https://www.keele.ac.uk/student-terms-and-conditions/

Last Updated: 13 February 2024