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MODULES

CROLS offers the following two modules as part of the ISSP PhD platform. Both modules are available inter-institutionally.

SPA480 Communicating Research to Non-Specialists
SPA471/SPA424 Evaluation for Public Policy

SPA480 Communicating Research to Non-Specialists (5 ECTS)

Co-ordinator: Dr Brian Hughes

Despite the fact that the whole of society are stakeholders in academic research, most researchers are poorly skilled at communicating their findings to audiences outside their own discipline. This can impede the dissemination of research knowledge, the development of applications or interventions based on research, the education of students and the public at large, and the career progression of individual researchers. On the other hand, the successful communication of research to broad audiences helps enhance public empirical literacy and the appreciation of knowledge, which in turn contributes positively to the social, political, and economic wellbeing of the population.

The module aims to give students the opportunity to examine the consequences of population-level scientific and research literacy, to appreciate the principles of communication as they pertain to empirical research findings, to acquire skills in communicating research to non-specialists, and to evaluate how their own research might best be communicated.

The module is oriented to researchers in social sciences areas, but is of relevance to all empirical disciplines, including physical and life sciences. The module is organised by the Centre for Research on Occupational and Life Stress in conjunction with the other member-centres of the Irish Social Sciences Platform at NUI Galway.

Indicative Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this module, students should be able:

to critique the role of empirical research in contexts beyond their own academic discipline
to appreciate the differences among audiences, such as policy-making audiences, general popular audiences, and population audiences
to evaluate published research for clarity
to articulate technical research findings to a variety of audiences in oral presentations
to articulate technical research findings to a variety of audiences in written presentations

Content

The module will be delivered in block-release format across three consecutive days. The format will consist of seminars, workshops, and interactive practical sessions, including the following segments (each approximately 1 to 2 hours in duration; all content subject to revision):

Communicating research to non-specialists: Whys and wherefores
Rudiments of communication: Theory and practice
Workshop: Writing about research (Part 1)
Workshop: Writing about research (Part 2)
The public as audience: Contributing to popular empirical literacy
Government as audience: Communicating with decision-makers
Workshop: Talking about research (Part 1)
Workshop: Talking about research (Part 2)
Media as audience: Presentation by University Press & Information Office
Orientation on assignments

The lead contributors will be Dr Brian Hughes and Dr Siobhan Howard, of the Centre for Research on Occupational and Life Stress. Other contributors will include be drawn from such groups as the Child and Family Research Centre, the Irish Centre for Social Gerontology, and the University Press & Information Office.

A module website will be available at https://nuigalway.blackboard.com. This facility will be used to download module materials and speaker presentations, as well as provide links to suitable online resources.

Assessment

Assessment (Pass/Fail) will be based on evaluation of a portfolio containing the following three items:

A brief summary document suitable for a general audience based on an academic research paper pertaining to own PhD research area
An academic critique of a published news report or website covering a piece of research related to own PhD research area
A brief PowerPoint presentation, with speaker notes or recorded voice-track, describing a work package from own PhD research activities

Pending student agreement, all submissions will be posted to a module-dedicated blog, which will be accessible to the general public as a resource on communicating research to non-specialists.

SPA471/SPA424 Evaluation for public policy (5 ECTS)

Co-ordinators: Dr Brian Hughes (CROLS)

The module aims to give students the opportunity to acquire knowledge relevant to becoming sophisticated participants in, consumers of, and commentators on, public policy debates as they relate to social science areas. Adopting a social science perspective, it is assumed that optimal public policy will be evidence-based. As such, the module will examine the nature, production, and evaluation of evidence in this context. Consideration is given to the issues surrounding quantitative and qualitative evidence and the practice of evaluation. The module will also address evaluative case-studies of evidence-based public policy. The module aims to highlight the pertinence of social sciences to public policy development, the contribution of social sciences to the discussion of public policy, and the importance of academic rigour in maximising the role of social sciences in public policy arenas.

Indicative Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this module, students should be able:

to critique the production and application of quantitative information for public policy
to critique the production and application of qualitative information for public policy
to critique the broader implications of applying social science knowledge to public policy contexts
to scrutinise and reflect on the norms of practice in evidence-based public policy related to the social sciences
to communicate innovative insights related to public policy to peers

Content

Opening and introduction
Evaluations and public policy
Evaluation in child/family contexts
Evaluations in the ageing sector
Evidence-based policy: Good, bad, and ugly
Public policy and decision-making
Evaluation in disability contexts
Group-based evaluations of specific policies and preparation of presentations
Presentations: Groups 1 and 2
Presentations: Groups 3 and 4

Contributors will include speakers from such groups involved in conducting evaluation research, including CROLS, the Child and Family Research Centre, the Irish Centre for Social Gerontology, and the Centre for Disability Law and Policy.

A module website will be available at https://nuigalway.blackboard.com. This facility will be used to download module materials and speaker presentations, and to engage in discussion forums before and after the sessions.

Assessment

Assessment (Pass/Fail) will be based on evaluation of:

Group presentation (40%): Based on presentation made during module, evaluating an assigned public policy document
Individual paper (60%): An evaluation paper (1500 words) based on an assigned written exercise.

Centre for Research on Occupational and Life Stress - An tIonad Taighde um Strus Saothair agus Saoil
National University of Ireland, Galway, University Road, Ireland - Ollscoil na hÉireann, Gaillimh, Bóthar na hOllscoile, Gaillimh, Éire

This page was last updated Thursday, August 25, 2011