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Crawford School of Public Policy · ANU College of Law, Governance and Policy
Course is available for on-campus & remote (online) learning. Students participate in interactive, real-time classes. 2026 dates: 19, 20 & 23 February This course introduces Master of Philosophy (MPhil) Higher Degree Research (HDR) students to the main paradigms, concepts, and approaches to researching public policy, and establishes the present and potential role of applied public policy interventions in effectively responding to key problems in the contemporary world. The course offers training and knowledge in the production, assessment and communication of research in public policy. The course provides a common introductory grounding in public policy as a multi-disciplinary field of research. Fostering Public Policy Research orients students to the meaning of research excellence in public policy, from a variety of disciplinary and methodological perspectives. The course critically engages with public policy research methodologies and practices across key sub-disciplines. Student engagement will be promoted through a series of sessions led by Crawford School scholars across the four programs in the Crawford School. The course will feature plenaries or roundtables with public policy experts and practitioners. Case studies of public policy interventions and outcomes will be presented and discussed. Students will reflect on how their MPhil HDR program will align with and engage with the concerns and methodologies of public policy research in Australia and/or internationally. This is a compulsory course for all Crawford School MPhil students.
Critical reflection paper (1) (500 words)
Learning outcomes 1, 2, 3
Short Class Presentation (10 mins)
Learning outcomes 1, 2, 3, 4
Student research statement on public policy (800 words)
Learning outcomes 4
This is an intensive course. Total contact time is 15 hours, 2.5 hours x 6 meetings. Outside of contact hours: Preparation time of no less than 3 hours for every 2.5 hour session.
Will be flexible based on specific sessional conveners Preliminary Reading - Weimar, David L. (2008). Theories of and in the Policy Process, The Policy Studies Journal, Vol. 36, No. 4. - Meier, Kenneth J. (2009). Policy Theory, Policy Theory Everywhere: Ravings of a Deranged Policy Scholar, The Policy Studies Journal, Vol. 37, No. 1. - Lea, Tess. (2020). Wild Policy: Indigeneity and the Unruly Logics of Intervention, Stanford University Press. - Patton, C. D. Sawicki, and J. Clark (2013). Basic Methods of Policy Analysis and Planning. London: Routledge. Read Chapter 2 The Policy Analysis Process & Chapter 3 Cross-cutting Methods. (pp. 21-133) - Evans, D. (2015). Bridge the Gap between Research and Policy, One Panel Discussion (and 145 Studies) at a Time. - https://blogs.worldbank.org/impactevaluations/bridge-gap-between-research-and-policy-one-panel-discussion-and-145-studies-time - Connelly, S. and C. Anderson (2007). Studying water: reflections on the problems and possibilities of interdisciplinary working. Interdisciplinary Science Reviews. 32(3): 213-220. - Faustino, J. and R. Fabella (2011). Engendering Reform. In The Asia Foundation. Built on Dreams, Grounded in Reality: Economic Policy Reform in the Philippines. Makati City: The Asia Foundation (pp1-16). - Russell-Smith, J. et al. (2015). Moving Beyond Evidence-Free Environmental Policy. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment. 13(8) (pp. 441-448). - Sutton, Rebecca (1999). The Policy Process: An Overview. Working Paper No. 118. Overseas Development Institute: London. - Wedel, J. et al. (2005). Toward an Anthropology of Public Policy. Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science. 600 (pp. 30-51). - World Bank (2008). The Political Economy of Policy Reform: Issues and Implications for Policy Dialogue and Development Operations. Social Development Department. November.