Assessment will be via two written assignments of 2000 words, each worth 50 per
cent of the final mark. There will be an opportunity to discuss the first assignment in
week 5 of the teaching, and the second assignment in week 9. Submission is based on
the standard requirements for PG courses in Urban Studies – please see Moodle page
for guidelines.
Assignment 1: Evidence
Please answer ONE of the following questions.
1. Evidence based/informed policy has grown in prominence over the last 20
years, discuss with reference to the literature, the competing pressures for
evidence in the policy process. The essay should include discussion of the
complexity, issues, barriers and bias in the process
2. The process of appraising and synthesising evidence is seen as a crucial
element of Evidence Based Policy. Discuss the current debates in this area
and, with reference to the literature, outline the main issues that different
approaches to synthesising evidence generate for those engaged in policymaking.
Marking criteria
A strong assignment will demonstrate a high standard of achievement in each of the
following areas. The overall grade will reflect attainment across these elements but
there is no explicit weighting.
 Evidence of engagement with the research literature: does the student demonstrate
that they have read and understood the main literature (as signposted in the
lectures and reading list)?
 Analysis and application:
o Option 1: Is there a critical analysis of the issues and barriers for
evidence-based policy, drawing on appropriate literature?
Is there evidence of the complexity of the relationship between evidence
and policy and different forms of bias?
o Option 2: Is there a critical analysis of the debates on synthesis and the
issues arising from the main approaches, drawing on appropriate
literature?