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

Differences from 2015/16 to 2024/25

  • 1. The programme shall be under the supervision of the Graduate Studies Committee of the Department of Social Policy and Intervention. 

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

  • 23. Every candidate will be requiredassessed to satisfy the examiners in the followingby:  

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

    • (ii) A compulsory Research Methods paper, forassessed whichby studentsthree will be examined on the basis of a methods work bookassignments (consisting of twoone Quantitativeresearch andmethods essay (up to 2,500 words), one Statisticsstatistics assignments  eachassignment of (up to 3,000 words), and a Qualitative assignment of up to 2,000 words) and aqualitative critical methodsappraisal essay of (up to 2,500 words)). 

       

    • (iii) One Optionoption paper; assessed by a 4,000 word coursework assignment to be submitted by no later than noon on Tuesday of week 0 of Trinity term. The list of options will be published annually by Friday of week 6 of Michaelmas term. In exceptional circumstances and with the permission of the Course Director, the option paper may be from subjects outside this list.

    • (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. 

  • 3.  Candidates shalland submitshould thenot methodsexceed work10,000 book to the Director of Graduate Studieswords 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 indicatedlength. 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 deliveredsubmitted toby the M.Sc. examiners (Evidence-Based Social Intervention and Policy Evaluation), c/o Examination Schools, High Street, Oxford OX1 4BG,  no later than noon on 15 August or the weekday nearest to 15 August.

  • 4. ofAll the year in which the examination has been taken. One electronic copy of the thesisassessments must be submitted along withusing the physicalUniversity copiesapproved toonline submission system. Technical information on the Examinationrequirements Schools.for Theonline electronicsubmissions copyis must be anonymous, submitted in word format, and identical in content and length to the physical copies of the thesis. Successful candidates may be required to deposit a copy of their thesisprovided in the SocialCourse Science LibraryHandbook.   

  • 5.   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 of the examination in 2 above will not be required to retake the component(s) concerned. 

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

  • 7. The examiners may awardexamine aany distinctioncandidate forviva excellence in the whole examinationvoce.

    • 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) Research 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. 

    • (iii) Option course: This will enable students to link evidence-based solutions to a range of social problems. Not every option will be offered in any one year, and applicants for admission will be advised of this. Areas from which options may be offered include: promoting the 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 seekers.