In the action on poverty sector, consultation, research, evaluation and consultancy is conducted in multiple ways to influence positive changes to policy and/or practice. Before initiating anti-poverty work, consulting and co-creating solutions with people with lived experience is valuable. When organisations innovate and test out a new approach, there is a theory of change that is developed to ascertain whether the approach has made a difference. Measuring change and impact on anti-poverty work is important and this module provides students with knowledge and understanding of the research, evaluation and consultancy process, theory of change, methodologies, and evidence-based practice. Anti-poverty projects require research evaluation to attract further funding and produce an evidence base for approaches being used. Action-research can also be employed, whereby you evaluate on the go of project delivery. This module will aid students in considering how to collect an evidence base and to present evidence to others for change influencing. Consideration to internal staff within organisations undertaking evaluation and research versus external research consultancy will be discussed in relation to researcher skills and competencies. Indicative content will include traditional research approaches, alongside the value and practices of co-production and co-investigation in collaboration with lived experience experts. Research ethics and bias will be discussed with strategies for addressing moral and ethical dilemmas. Methods for producing and interpreting qualitative evidence and descriptive statistics will be explored. There will be a practical focus on how to bid for project with evaluation or research money and how to commission research. As such, consultation, research and evaluation resource implications will be discussed, including ensuring adequate quality assurances and supervision is in place. The module will act as a foundation to students undertaking their final research project.

The Consultation/Research/Project with Evaluation Written Funding Bid is weighted at 100% and is to address learning outcomes 1 to 4 within a 3,000 word limit. The funding bid must contain context to the issue, information on the expertise of the individual/team involved, the aims and objectives of the piece of work, the research/evaluation/consultation approach proposed with justifications from the literature, and the resources required to undertake the work alongside a Harvard referencing.

This module will be delivered by a series of lectures and online research-related activities to hone your knowledge and skills.

The Blackboard Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) will be utilised to provide learning materials and set appropriate tasks for students to complete. Opportunities to receive feedback and apply this before final submission of the summative assessment will be built into the module with live online sessions hosted via the VLE or Microsoft Teams.

1 Demonstrate ability to critically identify an area of work or an issue that requires consultation/research/evaluation/consultancy

Enquiry;

Problem Solving


2. Demonstrate a practical understanding of how established techniques of consultation/research/evaluation/consultancy and enquiry are used to create and interpret knowledge in the discipline

Knowledge and understanding;

Application


3. Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of resources and processes needed to undertake a piece of consultation/research/evaluation/consultancy work

Application


4. Demonstrate the ability to clearly communicate your ideas in writing

Communication

Access to PC

Access to Internet

Microsoft 360 (Free download for students)

Aidley, D. and Fearon, C. (2021) Doing Accessible Social Research: A practical guide. Policy Press, Bristol.

Boudon, R. (1991) Theories of social change: a critical appraisal. Cambridge: Polity.

Braun, V., and Clarke, V. (2021) Thematic Analysis: A Practical Guide. Sage, London.

Bryman, A., (2012). Social Research Methods. Fourth edition. Oxford. Oxford University Press.

Bell, J., (2014). Doing your research project: a guide for first-time researchers. Sixth edition. Open University.

Kara, H., (2018) Research Ethics In the Real World. Policy Press, Bristol

Kara, H., (2020) Creative Research Methods: A Practical Guide. 2nd Ed. Policy Press, Bristol.

May, T., (2011). Social Research, issues, methods and process. fourth edition. Buckingham. Open University Press.

Muthle, C. (2021) Theory of Change: A Practical Guide To Social Impact. Amazon Digital Services LLC - KDP Print US

Nickson, D. (2012) Bids, Proposals and Tenders: Succeeding with effective writing. 1st edn. Swindon: BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT.

O’Leary, Z., (2014). The Essential Guide to doing your Research Project. Second edition. London. Sage

Ritchie, J., Lewis, J., McNaughton Nicholls, C., Ormston, R., (2014) (eds). Qualitative Research Practice. A Guide for Social Science Students and Researchers. Second Edition. London. Sage.

Thomas, G., (2013). How to do your Research Project. A Guide for Students in Education and Applied Social Sciences. Second Edition. London. Sage.

Warwick-Booth, L., Bagnall, A-M., and Coan, S. (2021) Creating Participatory Research: principals, practice and reality. Policy Press, Bristol.

Wendt. K., (2021) Theories of Change: Change Leadership Tools, Models and Applications for Investing in Sustainable Development. 1st ed. Cham: Springer International Publishing. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-52275-9.

Wanting to evidence impacts and change from the anti-poverty work you are doing? Confused about what strategy for gaining the evidence base would be the most effective? Needing to bid or commission research and evaluation? Fear not! This module is designed to inform you of the different research methodologies and evaluation strategies that can be employed to the anti-poverty agenda. You will learn about ethical and moral considerations and approvals, research competencies, quality assurance and the supervision process. Practically, you will learn how to apply this information to bidding for action-research or commissioning research and evaluation. This information will aid you in the workplace to accelerate your professional practice and provide the foundations for your final research project module.