Master of Science by Coursework in Evidence-Based Social Intervention and Policy Evaluation (EBSIPE)

• 1. Candidates must follow for at least three terms a course of instruction in Evidence-Based Social Intervention and Policy Evaluation.

• 2. Every candidate will be required to satisfy the examiners in the following:

  • (i) A compulsory core paper, in either Evidence-Based Social Intervention  or Policy Evaluation, examined by an unseen written examination;  

  • (ii) A compulsory ResearchEvaluation Methods paper, for which students will be examined on the basis of afive methods work bookassignments (consisting of twoone Quantitativeresearch methods essay and one Statistics assignments  each of up to 3,000 words, and a Qualitativestatistics assignment of up to 2,000 words) and a critical methods essay of up to 2,500 words; and two critical appraisals, one qualitative (up to 2,500 words) and one quantitative (up to 2,500 words)). 

     These are to be submitted throughout the year anonymously and in Word format via the University approved online assessment platform. Technical information on the requirements for online submissions is provided in the Course Handbook.

  • (iii) One Option paper examined by an unseen written examination;

  • (iv) AOne research thesis of not more than 10,000 words,  on a topic related to, and attentive to the  evidence-based intervention, policy evaluation or evaluation methods,. andThe decidedsubject jointlyof with,the andthesis must be approved by, the supervisor on behalf of the Department and should not exceed 10,000 words in length. 

• 3.  Candidates shall submit the methods work book to the Director of Graduate Studies in the Department of Social Policy and Intervention by noon on Friday of the sixth week of the third term of the course, accompanied by a statement that it is the candidate’s own work except where otherwise indicated. Two printed or word-processed copies of the Research Methods essay must be delivered to the M.Sc. Examiners (Evidence-Based Social Intervention), c/o Examination Schools, High Street, Oxford OX1 4BG, no later than 12 noon on Friday of sixth week of the Trinity Term in which the examination has been taken. One electronic copy of the Research Methods essay must be submitted along with the physical copy to the Examination Schools. The electronic copy must be anonymous, submitted in Word format, and identical in content and length to the physical copy of the essay.

• 4. Two printed or word-processed copies of the thesis must be delivereduploaded to the M.Sc.University examinersapproved (Evidence-Basedonline Socialassessment Intervention and Policy Evaluation), c/o Examination Schools, High Street, Oxford OX1 4BG,  platform no later than noon on 15 August or the weekday nearest to 15 August of the year in which the examination has been taken. One electronic copy of the thesis must be submitted along with the physical copies to the Examination Schools. The electronic copythesis must be anonymous, and submitted in wordWord format, and identical in content and length to the physical copies of the thesis. Successful candidates may be required to deposit a hard copy of their thesis in the Social Science Library. 

• 53.  A candidate who fails the examination may enter for one subsequent examination only, provided this is within six terms of his or her initial registration. A candidate who has attained a satisfactory mark in any one of the four components (i through iv) of the examination in item 2 above will not be required to retake the component(s) that concernedreceived a pass mark. 

• 64.  Each candidate must attend a  viva voce  when required to do so by the examiners.

• 7. The examiners may award a distinction for excellence in the whole examination.

Schedule

• (i) Evidence-Based Social Intervention and Policy Evaluation (core course): Candidates will be expected to have a knowledge of major theories underlying evidence-based social interventions  or policy evaluation research. The course will use exemplary intervention and evaluation research studies to illustrate important theoretical, ethical, methodological, and practice issues.

• (ii)  ResearchEvaluation Methods (core course): Candidates will be expected to have a knowledge of major quantitative and qualitative techniques, and research designs for understanding social problems and evaluating social interventions and policies.  In the event of failure of any of the five methods assignments, candidates are able to resubmit that assignment once. The maximum mark awarded for re-submitted elements is 50 except in exceptional circumstances. Candidates must pass all five assignments to successfully pass the methods workbook.

• (iii) Option course: This will enable students to link evidence-based solutions to a range of social problems. NotThe everylist optionof options will be offeredpublished annually by Friday of the sixth week of Michaelmas Full Term in anythe oneDepartment year,of Social Policy and applicantsIntervention. forCandidates admissionare willexpected beto advisedtake options offered through the EBSIPE course. Only in exceptional circumstances and with the special permission of this.the AreasCourse fromDirector, whichthe optionsoptional paper may be offeredfrom include:subjects promotingoutside thethis welfare of children and families; multicultural mental health interventions; substance misuse and offending; interventions in relation to HIV and AIDS; community work; refugees and asylum seekerslist.