Policy Analysis and Related Professions Academic social science research Policy research Classical planning Public administration Journalism

Academic Social Science Research Objective: construct theories. Client: “Truth” Style: Hard Science-methodological – Retrospective Time Constraints: Usually none. Weakness: Relevance

Policy Research Objective: Predict impact of policy decisions. Client: Actors in policy arena, other scholars. Style: Applied Science Time Constraints: Some. Weakness: “Difficulty translating findings into governmental action.”

Classical Planning Objective: Planning (designing and achieving “good” society.) Client: “Public interest” Style: Normative Time Constraints: Some. Weakness: May become merely “wishful thinking.”

Public Administration Objective: Execute Policy Objectives Client: “Public interest” Style: Managerial Time Constraints: Tied to policy and management. Weakness: “Exclusion of alternatives external to program.”

Public Administration Old PA views politics and administration as separate. New PA influences policy decisions. – Public management.

Journalism Objective: Focus public attention Client: Public Style: Descriptive Time Constraints: Deadlines! Weakness: “lack of analytic depth.”

Policy Advocate Objective: Narrow Policy Interest Client: Public/Private Style: Varies Time Constraints: Legislative cycle Weakness: “Biased/Interpretation.”

Policy Analysis Objective: Evaluate alternatives Client: Policy-makers Style: Synthetic (applied) Time Constraints: Deadlines! (decision specific) Weakness: Client-oriented bias

Skills Put together relevant information. in a and useful manner Put problems in context. Evaluate the consequences of policy Understanding of political organization. Have an ethical framework.

Ethics Analytical Integrity Responsibility to Client Adherence to One’s Personal Conception of the Good Society

Three Roles of the Analyst Objective Technician (the process is important, quantifiable) Client Advocate (loyalty, confidentiality, shared world view) Issue Advocate (focus on policy outcomes, issue-oriented, i.e. the environment or abortion rights)

Dealing with Value Conflict Voice (working to make change from within) Exit (leave the organization or job) Disloyalty (undercut the political position or policy preference of the client)

Resulting in these combinations Protest (Voice) Resign (Exit) Sabotage (Disloyalty) Issue Ultimatum (Voice & Exit) Leak (Voice and Disloyalty) Resign and Disclose (Exit & Disloyalty) Speak out until silenced (Voice, Disloyalty and Exit)

Some basic guidelines : Resignation rather than contribute to the realization of goals with which they fundamentally disagree or goals that contradict basic human rights and values Clients deserve complete honesty Analysts should not use their access to information and influence with clients to further their own private interests

Tools of the Analyst : Model of human behavior Systematic method of data collection Appropriate Technique for analysis of data Objective interpretation of findings/results Positivist rather than normative