Welcome to the Impact Assessment module. We hope you find this module informative stimulating and practical. It has been designed to enable you to learn new concepts theories and policies and test out the principles of impact assessment and research through carefully designed activities during the module.

Welcome to the Impact Assessment module. We hope you find this module informative stimulating and practical. It has been designed to enable you to learn new concepts theories and policies and test out the principles of impact assessment and research through carefully designed activities during the module. This module is appropriate for those who will be working in teams and or alongside the public sector social care community nursing youth work and youth studies primary care and those working in community sector organisations third sector and social enterprises. You will be expected to draw upon your learning and skills developed here and be able to apply them to your own practice.
Module Aim
This module will allow students to explore the concept of impact assessment drawing on theory practice and evidence base using case studies and group activities. Using a variety of techniques and tools that are common practice e.g. community profiling data analysis literature review social science/qualitative research techniques lobbying political awareness partnership working project management and a team approachstudents will learn to assess the distribution of effects of different interventions on population groups.
The module provides opportunities for students to critique the concepts and elements within impact assessment and to evaluate the different methodologies used. Key aspects will be consideration of stakeholder involvement and contextual factors in order to help students to learn about combinations of procedures methods and tools by which a policy programme or project may be judged as to its potential effects on the population and the distribution of those effects within the population.
The module will develop understanding and skills underpinning methods and methodology used for social research and impact assessment the theoretical construction of data research concepts and operationalization of research. It will develop skills for project design and management as well as understanding of the multifaceted approach to impact of any intervention. The module will cover understanding different interests and agendas of wide range of stakeholders and their involvement of analysing the impacts of interventions.
Learning outcomes
On successful completion of this module you will be able to:
Understand the purpose principles and practice of impact assessment (LO 1)
Evaluate current research data sources and advanced methods used for collection of evidence for impact assessment (LO 2)
Discuss the integration of concerns into all policies at stakeholder community member state and regional levels including use of impact assessment and evaluation tools (LO 3)
Apply methods and techniques appropriate to their own research or advanced scholarship in impact assessment (LO 4)
Content
The syllabus will cover theory policy practice and ethical issues related to data collection interpretation and use of evidence for assessment of impact. Definitions of impact assessment and techniques used will be explored alongside students own reflections on past experiences. Different models of impact assessment social values and professional issues stakeholders cultures and users rights and needs will be discussed. Further the use of findings/evidence to influence the policy and organisational issues will be explored in relation to service users and carers together with some feasibility aspects of organisation of services. Research skills such as surveying interviewing conducting focus groups and observations and underpinning ethical values will be addressed throughout. As part of the process students will consider team dynamics: this will be important for developing yourself awareness identify your strengths and weaknesses in regard to your own development assess and map your analytical skills.
You cannot read everything but you must ensure you cover sufficient breadth as well as depth to help you develop your knowledge base for the assessment. You ought to aim to read a minimum of 2 texts from the monthly reading. However you cannot pass this module without undertaking wide reading!!! It is expected you will use the resources given you. Many of the sources are available electronically so make sure you know how to access via our library. The library runs fantastic drop- in sessions so dont miss out!
Assessment Strategy
The extended report will require students to devise a methodology to assess the impact on a defined population or community. The report will provide summative feedback at the end of the course.
This component will be assessed by the completion of extended report (4000 words) to test the modules learning outcomes (LO1 LO2 LO3 and LO4). The report must include comprehensive analysis of the development (the same development re which you did your presentation) its impact on the specific target populations development of the adequate method and methodology for the implementation of IA describing the stages of IA and main activities. The report should be concluded with recommendations to a target audience.
The report should have the following structure:
1. Title Page The topic of the report
2. Introduction A clear statement of the issue/development to be discussed and
brief outline of the issue.
3. Evidence This includes any definitions of the development key points
discussion and analysis of the development based on evidence and relevant scholar knowledge about the issue. Also the comprehensive network of actors/stakeholders and participants should be discussed.
4. Impact Assessment This part should suggest the IA stages you propose to implement
and methods/methodology to be used for assessing the impact particular reference to different target populations affected/involved in the development. You have to provide strong justification of your suggested actions and methods to be implemented.
5. Method You should develop your own research protocol for data collection
and provide detailed account how the data will be collected
managed and analysed. You need to provide general information about the information to be collected and discuss ethical aspects of your research.
6. Conclusions and This should be a conclusion of your findings and should
Recommendation suggest actions to be taken for addressing the issue
7. References list This should include all written material that has been
used in the report for the reference list presented in Harvard style.
MARKING CRITERIA FOR ASSESSMENT 2: Extended Report
Levels Problem identification (problem definition magnitude and rationale)
(20%) Argument and analysis for implementation of IA stages (appropriate use of relevant theories)
(25%) Structure accuracy of writing use of academic language clarity of thoughts
(20%) Appropriateness of the Identified Methods/methodology used
(25%) Relevant literature and referencing
(10%)
70 100%
(Grade A)
6 Excellent ability to critically apply underlying principles and concepts in a factually relevant manner. Excellent ability to:
-order thoughts discuss and analyse information;
develop a line of argument and support it with evidence.
Excellent ability to apply self to written communication using correct punctuation/spelling/grammar structuring material in a clearly ordered manner. Excellent ability to describe the project implementation details to address the issue. Excellent ability to use of scholar literature and accuracy of using the Harvard referencing system correctly.
60-69.99% (Grade B)
5 Very good
ability to critically apply underlying principles and concepts in a factually relevant manner. Very good
ability to: