Below are the details for this assignment.
I strongly recommend you read related passages or chapters in the Kraft and Furlong text and Bardach for insight and understanding into how to prepare to outline, research, and write a policy analysis paper. More details are below.
This is the main assignment for the course. A policy analysis case study is a valuable learning tool enabling the student to critically and comprehensively analyze a public policy problem or issue, and develop a policy alternative or initiative to address the problem. A case study is a vehicle for exercising creative talents and for presenting a solution to a policy problem. An effective case study is specific and concise because many public policy issues are extremely broad and it is easy to bog down. Students should note that policy analysis is not advocacy for partisan ideological solutions or pet theories. Your task is not to push a preferred policy alternative. Instead, you will apply rigorous economic and non-economic criteria to evaluate three policy solutions and recommend the most viable alternative based on the objective assessment.
A typical policy analysis case study is composed of four basic parts:
1) Background of the public problem,
2) Significance of the public problem,
3) Analysis of policy alternatives to address the public problem, and
4) Conclusion and recommendations.
For the purposes of this course, the policy analysis case study requirement will divide the four basic parts into two sections.
Paper One: Background and Significance of the Problem
It is comprised of the first two parts of the case study methodology: Parts 1 (background of the problem) and 2 (significance of the problem). The parts are described below;
Part 1: Introduction and background of the public problem (Approximately 3-4 double-spaced pages).
a) Provide a description, brief overview, and background of the specific public problem. [The problem should be one that is related to the student’s vocation, employment, or area of professional interest. Policy problems must be directed to a state or local policy problem area. National and international issues (e.g. combating the threat of radical Islamic terrorism, such as promoted by ISIS; or confronting world climate change), although interesting and certainly important, are simply too large and complex to deal with in the limited space and time available.]
b) Explain why the problem is imminently important that it requires government attention and cannot be left solely to civil society, including private and non-profit organizations, to address.
c) Briefly review the literature, explaining relevant theoretical, historical, and conceptual ideas. (I strongly recommend you read related passages or chapters in the Kraft and Furlong text and Bardach for insight to the contextualization of a policy problem.)
Part 2: Significance of the public problem (Approximately 3-4 double-spaced pages)
a) Describe the major stakeholders associated with the public problem and the roles they play in contributing to a policy solution.
c) Evaluate past policy performance for the problem (i.e., how well has the problem been addressed in the past, whether through legislation, court cases, elected executive action, administrative and management attention, and even for-profit and non-profit involvement )
d) Assess the scope and severity of the problem (i.e., how wide and deep is the problem; how many people does it affect; how is it affecting governance structures, etc.?)
e) Determine the need for systematic policy analysis of the public problem (is there political, cultural, public etc. backing for attention and analysis of the problem? Is it costly? Or can the problem wait for a better opportunity to be addressed by the government?)
For both parts reference approximately 10-12 outside academic or intellectual references, including books, peer-reviewed journal articles, intellectual essays and articles, surveys, government documents, court cases, laws, bureaucratic rules and regulations, expert testimonies, etc. No more than four legitimate non-academic web sites may be referenced (avoid Wikipedia, random blogs, and non-reputable media sources). Use APA format for citations and references.
Paper Two: Policy Alternatives and Conclusion
It comprises the last two parts of the case study methodology: Parts 3 (development and analysis of policy alternatives) and 4 (conclusion and recommendation). The parts are described below;
Part 3: Analysis of policy alternatives (Approximately 4-6 double-spaced pages).
- Identify and define the particular policy goals for trying to solve or at least manage the problem.
- Outline and discuss the merits of a minimum of THREE viable policy alternatives that have the potential of addressing or solving the public problem. Demonstrate how each alternative attempts to meet or at least address the specific goals listed above.
- Forecast the intended (and potential unintended) consequences of adopting each alternative.
- Assess the political and policy constraints of each alternative.
Part 4: Conclusions and recommendations (Approximately 3-4 double-spaced pages).
a) Select and discuss the criteria for how you chose the specific policy alternative (What are the specific criteria—political, economic, ethical, etc.— for deciding what policy alternative you believe is best to address the policy problem? How and why did you choose the criteria?)
b) Describe the preferred policy alternative. (Why did you choose this alternative? How is it better than the other alternatives you examined? In other words, what are the benefits? What method did you use to determine this? Explain.)
c) Outline how you would implement this preferred policy alternative (Consider how it might be implemented; what agency or agencies would be involved in the implementation; and what are some problems that may need to be overcome when implementing it.)
d) Provide a brief overview of a plan for monitoring and evaluating the policy alternative (In other words, how would you evaluate whether or not the alternative is meeting the stated goals and objectives?)
e) Provide conclusion and recommendations for future action.
For both parts reference approximately 10-15 outside academic or intellectual references, including books, peer-reviewed journal articles, intellectual essays and articles, surveys, government documents, court cases, laws, bureaucratic rules and regulations, expert testimonies, etc. No more four legitimate web sites may be referenced (avoid Wikipedia, random blogs, and non-reputable media sources). Use APA format for citations and references.
Christian Worldview Integration: Critical to the development and completion of this policy analysis case study is the integration of the Christian worldview throughout the various parts described above. The primary question to consider throughout this project is: “How does the Christian worldview provide not only a foundation for understanding the crux of the policy problem, but in what ways does the CWV provide impetus for development of solutions to the problem and highlight recommendations for future action?”Practically, students should address the CWV in one of two ways (or utilize some combination of both):
- First, examine each part through the lens of the CWV, whether through the use of guiding principles (i.e. “justice,” “peace,” “reconciliation and redemption,” “ethical and moral behavior,” etc.), scriptural evidence, theological foundation, or some combination of all three.
- Or, second, examine each part through the lens of the CWV in your concluding paragraph—again whether through guiding principles, scriptural evidence, theological foundation, or some combination of all three.
- However you choose to integrate the CWV it should be done seamlessly, logically, and analytically. It should critically examine the problem.
Additional instructions for the Policy Analysis Paper:
- Your paper should be cohesive, organized, clear, and well researched and well-written.
- Basic format for the paper includes the following:
- Title page with the basic information (e.g. assignment title, course number and name, instructor title and name, student name, and due date); executive summary or abstract, appendices (if necessary), and references page (follow the APA citation and reference style)
- Paper #1 should be 6-8 double-spaced pages long— excluding title page, abstract/executive summary, appendices, and references page (s).
- Paper #2 should be 7-10 double-spaced pages long— excluding title page, abstract/executive summary, appendices, and references page (s).
- For a basic review on research, writing, and citation methodology, see Lisa A. Baglione (2016). Writing a research paper in political science: A practical guide to inquiry, structure, and methods. 3rd edition. CQ Press, Los Angeles, CA: ISBN: 978-1-4833-7616-5
Examples of policy analysis topics/questions:
- Use of Common Core educational requirements for states and localities;
- Promotion of environmental sustainability by local government through such projects as recycling, pollution control, proper use of zoning and planning;
- Implementation of “green power” and local community reaction;
- States and cities combating the increase in legal, i.e. prescription, and illegal drug abuse;
- The costs and benefits of running city 311, 411, and/or 911 systems;
- The costs and benefits of illegal immigration (perhaps now refugees) on state and localities’ social service capacity;
- Alleviate overcrowding prisons in states such as California;
- State and local responses to improve the quality of health care and costs cut in the wake of the deteriorating fiscal, management, and organizational components of the Affordable Care Act;
- Federal, State, local responses to the coronavirus pandemic;
- Cooperation between the feds and states on improving infrastructure investment;
- Use of social media by governments to enhance transparency and citizen engagement (e.g. how apps are getting citizens engaged; how social networking helps cops fight gangs);
- Use of public-private partnerships to finance public transportation projects;
- Use of outsourcing and privatization of government law enforcement services;
- Others? Contact me to discuss other topics before completing the proposal.
