There are no pre-requisites for this module to be added

What counts as ‘impact’? When can we claim for example, a social intervention is ‘impactful’ on target communities and groups? How do we know that something (e.g. a policy or engagement strategy) ‘just works’ or is ‘useful’? In this module you will build on knowledge from Social Policy and Landscapes of Contemporary Issues and gain evaluation and assessment skills necessary in social research and/or social policy work. You will expand theoretical framework and critically engage with practical approaches to ‘impact’ in diverse sectors (governmental, charity, academic, business, arts), and you will develop skills of preparing targeted and meaningful forms of appraisal and evaluation.

An important aspect of the module engages you in thinking about communication, dissemination, and exploitation of social research. This includes planning ‘pathways to impact’, including forms of public engagement and knowledge exchange, involvement of target audiences, choosing suitable channels and means of outreach best suited for the intended objectives.

You will learn key concepts and approaches to evaluation and practice working on component parts, such as cost-benefit analysis, qualitative and quantitative KPIs (‘key performance indicators’) or using logic modelling. You will be prepared to engage with political and socio-cultural contexts and conditions, and ethical considerations since no policy remains outside of power and institutional relations.

On completion of this module, you will be able to:
1. Demonstrate an advanced understanding of theoretical perspectives and practical models for impact and evaluations.
2. Demonstrate a critical awareness of contexts, frameworks, and conditions surrounding impact and evaluation in different fields of research.
3. Plan and project tailored impact pathways, suitable for given parameters and objectives.
4. Plan and project tailored evaluation strategies, suitable for given parameters and objectives.