Evidence-Based Social Intervention and Policy Evaluation Master's Programmes

The central paper for both streams of the EBSIPE programme is the Research Methods (RM) paper. This trains you to be good consumers and producers of research on evaluation of social policy and interventions. It includes a range of experimental designs, research synthesis, statistical analysis and qualitative methods. There is a particular emphasis on appraisal and design of randomised controlled trials, quasi-random experimentation and systematic reviews, and their application to social interventions and policy evaluation. 

The RM paper includes four different (but related) modules: 

• Evaluation Methods – a two-term module about the design, analysis and appraisal of evidence-based evaluation, that runs through Michaelmas and Hilary terms, with a compulsory group exercise held in Trinity term. 

• Systematic Reviews – a two-term module covering both quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-method systematic reviewing. 

• Quantitative Analysis using R– a one-term module that runs in Michaelmas term, with weekly applied seminars and a set of lectures.  

• Qualitative Methods – a short one-term module that runs in Hilary term. 

Your RM paper is examined through three RM assignments, submitted throughout the academic year. Each assignment assesses a different aspect of the topics covered across the paper’s modules. You typically have several weeks between receiving the assignment instructions and the deadline to submit your work. 

There are two distinct pathways structured around a shared core. You can focus on the evaluation of micro-level social interventions on the Evidence-Based Intervention pathway or macro-level social policies on the Policy Evaluation pathway. 

Social Intervention 

This pathway examines major theories underlying social interventions. It uses exemplary intervention research studies to illustrate important theoretical, ethical, methodological and practice issues.  Topics include critical examination of: 

• the ethics of intervening and of researching with vulnerable groups; 

• the cultural factors in intervention research; 

• theoretical approaches to intervention including ecological, cognitive-behavioural and developmental; 

• the application of evidence-based approaches in practice using exemplary research studies (for example, combining quantitative and qualitative methods in large cohort studies to inform mental health practice; community-based randomised controlled trials; practitioner evaluation studies); 

• the dissemination and transportability of research into policy and practice and across cultures; 

• the limitations of evidence-based practice. 

The paper is taught in the first term through lectures, seminars and tutorials.  

You will write two formative (not included in final mark) essays for discussion with your supervisor in tutorials, as well as prepare class presentations. 

Policy Evaluation

This course introduces you to social policy analysis. Policy analysis examines the process of policy making, the setting of objectives, the choice and design of policy, and the mechanisms of implementation.  

On this pathway, you will join those studying Comparative Social Policy to study Social Policy Analysis. This course will equip you with the theoretical and analytic tools necessary to engage in formal policy analysis. It will also provide experience of applying them to real-world-like problems, while receiving constructive feedback. 

You will be taught through a series of lectures and case-studies. These are followed by practical sessions, in which you work in groups to present and defend policy analyses of your own. 

The options are built around the specialist interests of academic staff and, as such, different options may be offered each year, depending on availability of staff and your interests. 

Teaching for the option papers takes places during the second term and you will be assessed through an exam and/or assessment. Your study is through small seminar groups (usually 6-12 students). 

There will be eight sessions with associated work for each option.  The areas from which options may be offered include: 

• Community analysis 

• Promoting the welfare of children and families 

• Addressing health inequalities through social policy 

There may be some capacity for certain other options (such as poverty, labour markets, family policy), available from the MSc in Comparative Social Policy.   

In your thesis, you will analyse a topic within the subject of the course. Your thesis preparation is supported through the research methods course, which includes a session on thesis preparation, and through individual tutorial support with your supervisor. You are encouraged to seek guidance on your work from other experts in the University and to attend relevant research seminars.  

MSc students write a 10,000-word thesis and you will normally work on it during the third term of the course and the first part of the summer vacation, for submission by the middle of August. You will have an individual supervisor for the thesis. This will normally be your course supervisor, though on occasions it may be someone with a specialism relevant to the topic. 

MPhil students write a 30,000-word thesis and you are required to develop your topic area during the first two terms of the course. During the third term, you will work up an outline of your proposal with your supervisor, which would include background reading and other preparation. By the middle of the third term, you are expected to present an outline of your proposal for final approval. During the summer, you will undertake fieldwork, data analysis, etc. depending on the topic. 

Past theses have led to high-quality publications, for example: 

• van Urk (2014) 

• Grant (2013) 

• Knerr (2013)  

• Vlahovicova (2017)  

Requirements/Support 

Your thesis writing process is closely supported, but you will also need to follow steps involved in real-world academic research. Throughout the year you will: 

• develop and submit a research question;

• submit a full research-proposal; 

• attend a thesis proposal panel, where two members of staff discuss the proposal with the student; and

• apply for ethical approval of the thesis proposal by the departmental ethics review board. 

Most importantly, you will discuss each of the steps and share your draft with your supervisor during regular meetings. 

For the MSc, three components of the course (the Research Methods course, the pathway course, and the option paper) all have equal weight (22% each). As the thesis is more substantial, it carries a greater weight (34%). 

For the MPhil, four components of the course (the research methods course, the pathway course, and the two option papers) each carry the same weight (15% each), and the thesis 40%. 

All components are double-blind marked using a numerical scale. You need to achieve 50% to pass (a mark below 50% represents a fail). You need to achieve 50% or more in all four components of the programme to pass the examination. The examiners may award a distinction for excellence in the whole examination. To obtain a distinction, you will need to achieve an overall (weighted) mark of 70% or more. 

For students commencing from 2018, to obtain a merit you will need to achieve an overall (weighted) mark between 65% and 69%. 

The University of Oxford has three teaching terms of 8 weeks: 

• Michaelmas term (MT) 

• Hilary term (HT) 

• Trinity term (TT) 

The term dates vary each year and can be found on the University website.

Note: you will need to arrive the latest in Week 0 (one week before the start of term) and usually stay until Week 9 (MT & HT). 

The submission date for your thesis (the last aspect of the course) is usually mid-August.