Public Policy Analysis, the most widely cited book on the subject, provides intermediate and advanced students with a comprehensive methodology of public policy analysis.
Starting from the premise that policy analysis is an applied social science discipline designed for solving practical problems facing public and nonprofit organizations, the book bridges the gap between theory and practice. It provides practical skills for conducting policy analysis and communicating findings through memos, position papers, and other forms of structured analytical writing. The book emphasizes the development of critical thinking skills in examining arguments of policy practitioners as well as political scientists, economists, and political philosophers.
Features•Advanced argument mapping software takes critical thinking to a new level and enables students to develop and translate policy arguments into policy memos and other forms of structured analytical writing. •Inclusion of new cases in foreign policy and international security to achieve greater balance between domestic and international policy issues.•Incorporation of new graphic and tabular displays that promote structured analytical thinking. •Statistical and analytical methods presented with an “intuitive” learning strategy that requires only basic mathematical principles.•A “problem-oriented” or “applied” approach designed to convert students from passive spectators of public policy into active analysts. •Extensive coverage of methods for structuring complex problems in order to reduce the likelihood of type III errors—that is, formulating the wrong problem. •Coverage of how policy analysis may be used to improve the policy-making process by influencing changes inagenda setting, policy formulation, policy adoption, policy communication, policy implementation, and policy adaptation and termination. •"How-to" appendices guide students through the process of converting policy arguments into policy issue papers, policy memos, position papers, and other forms of structured analytical writing. Appendices also cover the planning and presentation of oral briefings.
New To This EditionThis broadly accessible 5th edition employs a simplified style of writing, cases based on real-world analytical practices, and visual displays that make complex ideas understandable. Examples and case materials now include issues in foreign policy and international security as well as domestic issues including environmental justice, urban economics, transportation, and public safety. Advanced graphics software for mapping and evaluating policy arguments cultivates critical thinking skills in areas ranging from qualitative forecasting and statistical analysis to theories of justice. The book also provides student with practical and marketable skills in communicating policy analysis through policy memos, position papers, and other forms of structured analytical writing. The author’s website, www.policyonline.org, has been updated for this new edition and includes PowerPoint slides, teaching notes, and sample data sets. New study suggestions and demonstration exercises emphasize active rather than passive learning.
Table of Contents
PART I METHODOLOGY OF POLICYANALYSIS
CHAPTER 1 The Process of Policy Analysis
CHAPTER 2 Policy Analysis in the Policy Process
PART II METHODS OF POLICY ANALYSIS
CHAPTER 3 Structuring Policy Problems
CHAPTER 4 Forecasting Expected Policy Outcomes
CHAPTER 5 Prescribing Preferred Policies
CHAPTER 6 Monitoring Observed Policy Outcomes
CHAPTER 7 Evaluating Policy Performance
PART III METHODS OF POLICY COMMUNICATION
CHAPTER 8 Developing Policy Arguments
CHAPTER 9 Communicating Policy Analysis
APPENDIX 1 The Policy Issue Paper
APPENDIX 2 The Executive Summary
APPENDIX 3 Policy Memorandum
APPENDIX 4 Planning Oral Briefings
Previous EditionsPublic Policy Analysis: An Introduction, 4/EDunnISBN-10: 0136155545 • ISBN-13: 9780136155546©2008 • Paper, 512 pp • Out of PrintMore info.
