This assignment is designed to test your knowledge of the content covered in weeks 1 to 7. The questions will be revealed two weeks prior to the due date, the 4th of April. The first three questions will address key discussion points covered in weeks 1 to 6. The program logic task will test your knowledge of material covered in week 7. All four questions require answers of 300 to 500 words. In researching your answers, start with unit readings and lecture material and extend your research effort from there. Do not cite lecture slides. 1 Evidence in the policy process, 10% (300 to 500 words) Describe, compare and contrast two policy models (3 points). In particular, explain how research, including evaluation research, is envisioned to enter the policy process in those two policy models  Wearing positivism as a jacket/skin, how would you argue that science can help solve social problems during the policy process. What would be two main criticisms of such claims (2 points)? 2 Stakeholders, 10% (300 to 500 words) Governments increasingly favour the inclusion of stakeholders in policy and evaluation processes. Identify the key stakeholders to policy developments, for example in child protection policy, education policy or carers’ policy  What are some ways to ensure that stakeholders get involved in the policy and evaluation processes? What are three arguments for including stakeholders ? 3 Politics, 10% Policy-making is a political exercise. Are the interests of policy practitioners at odds with the interests of researchers? What are some ways in which politics influence evaluation processes and evaluation findings ? What are some ways to ensure that policy becomes evidence-based or at least evidence-informed?

Read less