Dr Babken Babajanian SAR.G.03

This course is available on the MPA Dual Degree (LSE and Columbia), MPA Dual Degree (LSE and Hertie), MPA Dual Degree (LSE and NUS), MPA Dual Degree (LSE and Sciences Po), MPA Dual Degree (LSE and Tokyo), MPA in International Development, MPA in Public Policy and Management, MPA in Public and Economic Policy, MPA in Public and Social Policy, MPA in Social Impact and Master of Public Administration. This course is not available as an outside option.

Students may not take this course and an MPA Policy Paper. This course is only available to MPA students in Year 2 of their programme.

The aim of this course is to enable students to plan, design and conduct independent substantial research and/or analysis in an area of public policy.  MPA students will write a dissertation of no more than 10,000 words on a topic of their choice to be agreed with their Academic Mentor  The dissertation must be concerned with the goal of policy improvement and, at the same time, it must contribute to a broader objective of knowledge- and theory-building.  The main body of the dissertation should include literature review, method of investigation, results of the analysis, discussion of findings, conclusions and theoretical and policy implications.  Dissertations can utilise quantitative and/or qualitative data and draw on primary and/or secondary research. 

4 hours and 30 minutes of seminars in the MT. 1 hour and 30 minutes of seminars in the LT.

Teaching comprises four seminars in the MT and LT.  These seminars provide academic and practical guidance on developing a research topic and question; designing an analytical framework; structuring and presenting policy analysis; and writing policy recommendations.  The student's Academic Mentor will provide advice and guidance on this piece of work.

David L. Weimer and Aidan R. Vining, Policy Analysis: Concepts and Practice, 5th ed. (Prentice Hall, 2010); Lisa Anderson ed., Pursuing Truth, Exercising Power: Social Science and Public Policy in the Twenty-first Century (Columbia University Press, 2005); Edith Stokey and Richard Zeckhauser, A Primer for Policy Analysis (Norton, 1978); Anthony E. Boardman et al., Cost-Benefit Analysis, 4th ed. (Prentice Hall, 2010); William N. Dunn, Public Policy Analysis: An Introduction, 4th ed. (Pearson, 2008); Eugene Bardach, Practical Guide for Policy Analysis, 4th ed. (CQ Press, 2011); Alec Fisher, The Logic of Real Arguments (Cambridge University Press, 1988); Charles Lindblom and David K. Cohen, Usable Knowledge: Social Science and Social Problem Solving (Yale University Press, 1979); Edward T. Jackson, Interrogating the Theory of Change: Evaluating Impact Investing where it Matters Most (Journal of Sustainable Finance and Investment, Vol 3, No 2, 95-110, 2013); Catherine Hakim, Research Design: Strategies and Choices in the Design of Social Policy, 2nd ed. (Routledge, 2000); Alan Bryman, Social Research Methods, 4th ed. (Oxford University Press, 2012); David Partington, Essential Skills for Management Research (Sage Publications, 2002); Diana Ridley, The Literature Review: A Step-by-Step Guide for Students (SAGE Study Skills Series, 2008); Christopher Hart, Doing Your Masters Dissertation (SAGE Study Skills Series, 2004); Patrick Dunleavy, Authoring a PhD (Palgrave Macmillan, 2003)

Dissertation (90%, 10000 words) in the ST.
Other (10%) in the MT.

1) A 1,500 word dissertation proposal consisting of the title, abstract, research question and hypothesis, justification for research, feasibility of the dissertation topic, an explanation of sources, provisional structure and analytical framework will count for 10% of the overall dissertation mark. Students may only change their topic thereafter with the agreement of their Academic Mentor. Students will be given feedback on their proposal.

2) The full dissertation of no more than 10,000 words will account for the remaining 90% of the overall mark.