Overview
Assessment Description You will conduct a review of the published evidence about your research problem to answer a revised version of the research questions you generated for Assessment 1. You will do this using the evidence review methodologies covered in the course. Your review should cover evidence about both the nature of the problem and available/possible solutions to it. You will be assessed on your ability to: a) identify relevant and high-quality sources of evidence about a policy problem and available solutions, and clearly explain your method for doing so; b) synthesise this evidence to provide a coherent understanding of the nature of the problem and the suitability and effectiveness of available solutions; and c) provide answers to your research questions based on this evidence. Course Learning Outcomes addressed in this task: • CLO 2: Apply evidence to policy problems • CLO 3: Evaluate and interpret published research/data to assess policy problems and identify solutions • CLO 4: Identify implications of how evidence is generated and used in policy making for specific groups in society, including First Nations and international communities Relevance The ability to identify, evaluate and synthesise research evidence relating to policy problems is a valued skill across a range of sectors that employ social science graduates, including government/policy making, research bodies and think tanks, and advocacy and even some service delivery organisations. COURSE CODE Course Name Last Modified: 30 June 2025 How to complete the assessment: 1. Revise your research questions based on feedback provided on A1. 2. Review and synthesise relevant research evidence related to your problem/questions, following the review methodologies covered in the course. 3. Write up the findings of your review in a 2,000-word report (including a summary of your method and answers to your research questions). Resources Lectures and readings from weeks three and four outline the concepts and skills relevant to this task. Ensure you review these before completing this assignment. Materials from weeks five and seven will also be useful, in that they will help you understand some of the different ways that policy-relevant research evidence is produced. Generative AI Permission Planning/Design Assistance You are permitted to use generative AI tools, software or services to generate initial ideas, structures, or outlines. However, you must develop or edit those ideas to such a significant extent that what is submitted is your own work, i.e., what is generated by the tool, software or service should not be a significant part of your final submission. You should keep copies of your iterations to show your Course Authority if there is any uncertainty about the originality of your work. If your Convenor has concerns that your answer contains passages of AI-generated text or media that have not been sufficiently modified you may be asked to explain your work, but we recognise that you are permitted to use AI generated text and media as a starting point and some traces may remain. If you are unable to satisfactorily demonstrate your understanding of your submission you may be referred to UNSW Conduct & Integrity Office for investigation for academic misconduct and possible penalties. N.B. Generative AI is not a reliable source of information about social/policy issues and will often make up information that looks correct but is actually erroneous. Any assessment ideas gleaned from generative AI should be checked against reliable sources and expanded upon/developed by you using traditional research methods (i.e. identifying and reading relevant sources). In line with the professional practices for scientific publication by Elsevier, you must disclose the use of generative AI and AI-assisted technologies in the writing process by adding a statement at the end of your assessment before the References list. The statement should be entitled ‘Declaration of Generative AI and AI-assisted technologies in the writing process’. Statement: During the preparation of this work the author(s) used [NAME TOOL / SERVICE] in order to [REASON]. After using this tool/service, the author(s) reviewed and edited the content as needed and take(s) full responsibility for the content of the publication. This declaration does not apply to the use of basic tools for checking grammar, spelling, references etc. If there is nothing to disclose, there is no need to add a statement.