Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

1. understand the key elements of research in policy and governance, with a keen appreciation of how research and analysis of important issues can inform policy debates and deliberations;
2. understand the importance of integrating relevant theory and practice through the development of appropriate analytical frameworks to guide and inform empirical studies;
3. understand the importance of systematically researched, evidence-based policy development, implementation and evaluation in governance; and
4. understand the way in which the above understandings apply to the policy and governance context addressed by your specific study.

Other Information

Delivery Mode:

On campus. Each student is allocated a supervisor for the duration of the project. Students are required to attend workshops on a weekly basis throughout the semester. 

Indicative Assessment

1. Assessment (100% of the grade for the course) is based on the satisfactory completion of a 8,000-10,000 word research paper. It will be necessary to make three (ungraded) presentations leading to the completion of the research paper: a proposed topic presentation and two progress presentations. Please see Assessment details on the POGO8035 Wattle site. (100) [LO 1,2,3,4]

The ANU uses Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. While the use of Turnitin is not mandatory, the ANU highly recommends Turnitin is used by both teaching staff and students. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website.

Workload

There are approximately 30 contact hours for class sessions, with additional time spent with individual supervisors. Because this is a research project, students will spend most time working independently. The workload is potentially higher than for a normal 6 point course.

Please see class dates and topics, as well as details on project and presentation requirements, on the POGO8035 Wattle site.

Inherent Requirements

Not applicable

Requisite and Incompatibility

Prescribed Texts

Previous Policy and Governance Research Projects are available to read, and a full list of these will be made

available on the POGO8035 Wattle site.

Writing resources – key books are:

Booth, W.C., Colomb, G.C. and Williams, J.M., 2008. The Craft of Research (3rd ed.), University of Chicago Press,

Chicago. This book covers both the logic of research and how to write it well. The fundaments of establishing a

question, argument, the research writing process, and the presentation of your argument are covered in elegant

detail.

Williams and Colomb have also written an excellent guide to English Style: Williams, J.M and Colomb, G.C., 2010.

Style: Lessons in Clarity and Grace (10th ed.), Longman, Boston.

Swales, J.M. and Feak, C.B., 2000. English in Today’s Research World: A Writing Guide, University of Michigan

Press, Ann Arbor. If you want information and exercises on how English works when writing research, this is a

great resource.

Useful web sites will be listed on the POGO8035 Wattle site as we discuss them in class.

Assumed Knowledge

Distinction or better performance in POGO8096

Offerings, Dates and Class Summary Links