Policy Analysis (ESM 243)
Bren School of Environmental Science and Management
University of California, Santa Barbara
Matthew Cahn
Winter Quarter 2001
Office: 1301D bldg 570
Phone: 893-7296
email: cahn@bren.ucsb.edu
Course Website:
http://www.bren.ucsb.edu/fac_staff/fac/cahn/esm243.htm
Course Overview
Public policy is the
intersection of social, cultural, political, and economic demands. This course examines methods for analyzing
environmental policy, beginning with problem identification, formation of
alternative policy responses, and methods of selecting the most appropriate
policy response, including quantitative and qualitative assessments.
Course requirements include
class participation, presentation of policy brief, and a formal policy analysis
paper. All class meetings are, of
course, mandatory. If you must miss a
class, please meet with me to arrange an alternative assignment. Readings are critical. It is expected that students will complete
all reading assignments prior to class for which they are assigned. Students are expected to be prepared to
summarize and discuss the readings, and to integrate the readings into the
ongoing discussion. Since verbal
communication is the keystone to policy competency, students are required to
complete the formal policy analysis paper (18 - 25 pages). Finally, students will present brief
summaries of their papers for the entire class.
The Policy Analysis should
include the following:
1. The problem statement is clear,
"up-front," and concise.
2. The research design is appropriate to address the problems defined
and
supports stated findings/recommendations.
3. An adequate range of relevant evaluation criteria is generated.
4. The quantitative and/or qualitative data collected is adequate and
appropriate,
with obvious biases and/or
missing data acknowledged and explained.
5. An adequate range of options is evaluated.
6. There is an obvious logical link between the problem as defined and
the concrete
solutions proposed.
7. The recommendations take into account the client's economic,
administrative, and
political constraints.
8. The Policy Analysis demonstrates common sense in addition to professional-level
analysis.
9. The writing style is simple, clear, and concise.
10. The formatting is creative and professional.
11. The structure of the paper highlights the logical flow of its main ideas.
12. Effective
graphic displays illustrate important data and/or summarize key findings.
Remember to cite all sources
of ideas and information to avoid even the appearance of plagiarism.
Participation: 25% Policy Brief: 25% Policy Analysis Paper: 50%
Required
Texts
Bardach: A Practical Guide for Policy
Analysis : The Eightfold Path to More Effective Problem Solving (Chatham House, 2000)
Weimer & Vining: Policy
Analysis: Concepts and Practice
(Prentice Hall, 1999, 3rd Edition)
Course Outline (reading must
be done prior to day assigned)
Week I (1/9-11): Introduction
What is Policy Analysis
The Eightfold Path
Readings:
Weimer & Vining Ch. 2; Bardach
pp. xi - 46
Week II (1/16-18): Problem Identification
What is the problem/ issue to
resolve?
(Specificity is critical)
Inventory Sources of Problem &
Assemble Evidence
Market Failures
Government Failures
Socio-Cultural Failures
Distributive
Issues
Regulatory
Issues
Readings: Weimer & Vining Chapters
4-9
Week III (1/23-25): Identify Alternatives
(Responses that link to Problems)
Examine
Existing Alternatives
(what are other agencies doing?);
Over the
horizon alternatives;
Existing, emerging, and over
the horizon approaches
Innovate: Start broad, then narrow;
Create
Matrix of alternatives;
Readings:
Weimer & Vining Ch. 10; Bardach
pp. 47-101
Week IV (1/30-2/1): Selecting Criteria for Evaluating Alternatives
Agency Mandates;
Social,
economic, and political constraints;
Implementability;
Apply
Criteria to Matrix of Alternatives;
Public
Participation & Policy Legitimation
(stakeholder groups);
Readings:
Weimer & Vining Ch. 11
Week V (2/6-8):
Policy
Analysis: Projecting Outcomes/
Tradeoffs: Economic and Socio-Political Costs
&
Benefits
Internal Resources & External Resources:
Science Advisory Panels
Readings:
Weimer & Vining Ch. 12-13
Week VI (2/13-15): Applied Research for Policy Analysis
Quantitative Measures & Qualitative Measures ;
Statistical Analysis
Readings:
Weimer & Vining Ch. 14-15
Week VII (2/20-22): Presentation of Policy Briefs (see sign-up in class)
Week VIII (2/27-3/1): Communicating Analysis:
The Policy Brief vs. The Policy Analysis Paper
The Policy Brief/ The Policy Paper
Reading: JFK Policy Analysis
Exercise
& Writing Guide
http://www.bren.ucsb.edu/fac_staff/fac/cahn/pae_guide.doc
Resources: Sample PAEs
http://www.ksg.harvard.edu/PAE/ (PAE homepage)
http://www.ksg.harvard.edu/PAE/pastpaes.htm (papers)
Week IX (3/6-3/8): Professional Ethics
Analysis vs. Advocacy
Readings:
Weimer & Vining Ch. 1, 3,
& 6
Week X (3/13-3/15):
Presentations
Concluding
Discussion
Brief
Presentations of Work
Analysis Papers Due 3/15 at beginning of Class.
Additional Resources For
Policy Analysis
General Texts on
Policy Analysis
Weimer &
Vining: Policy Analysis: Concepts and Practice. Prentice Hall, 1999, 3rd Edition
Bardach:
A Practical Guide for Policy Analysis : The Eightfold Path to More Effective
Problem Solving Chatham House, 2000.
Stokey, Edith and Richard
Zeckhauser. 1978. A Primer for Policy Analysis. New York: W.W. Norton.
General Texts on Research Design
King, Keohane, and Verba.
1994. Designing Social Inquiry. Princeton University Press.
Judd, Charles M. 1991. Research
Methods in Social Relations. Holt,
Rinehart, and Winston.
Lewis, George H. editor. Fist-Fights
in the Kitchen: Manners and Methods in Social Research. Santa Monica, CA: Goodyear Publishing Company.
Problem Definition
Bardach, Eugene. 2000.
Chapter 1: Define the Problem.
Robert D. Behn, "Policy
analysts, clients, and social scientists," Journal of Policy Analysis
and Management,
Vol. 4, No. 3 (spring 1985), pp. 428-432.
Client Relations and Professional Ethics
Master, David H.
"Quality Work Doesn’t Mean Quality Service" and "A Service
Quality Program" in Managing
the Professional Service Firm, Free
Press Paperbacks, 1993, pp. 69-96.
Weimer, David L. and Aidan R.
Vining, "Toward Professional Ethics," in Policy Analysis:
Concepts and Practice, Prentice Hall, 1992, pp. 15-29.
Research Design
Singleton, Royce A. Jr. et
al., "Elements of Research Design," in Approaches to Social
Research, Second Edition, Oxford University Press, 1993, pp.
67-99.
King, et al. 1994. Chapter 1:
The Science in Social Science.
Interview Skills
Stecher, Brian M. and W. Alan
Davis, "How to Gather Information" in How to Focus an
Evaluation,
Sage Publications 1987, pp. 43-61.
Judd, Charles M., et al.
"Questionnaires and Interviews: Asking Questions Effectively," in
Research Methods in Social Relations, Sixth
Edition, Holt Rinehart and Winston, 1991.
Sampling and Case Selection
Kuzel, Anton, J.,
"Sampling in Qualitative Inquiry" in Benjamin Crabtree and William L.
Miller, Doing Qualitative
Research, Research Methods for Primary Care, Volume 3. Sage Pub., 1992.
King et al. 1994. Chapter 4:
Determining What to Observe.
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Management California Studies
Matthew Cahn
Department of Political Science
California State University Northridge
18111 Nordhoff Street
Northridge, CA 91330-8254
(818) 677-3488
matthew.cahn@csun.edu