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Public Policy Analysis and Evaluation - POLS 6204Thursday 5:30 8:00, Pafford 111

Spring 2007

Department of Political Science and Planning

University of West Georgia

Instructor:

Dr. Sooho Lee

Phone: 678-839-4991 Office: 125 Pafford

Email: slee@westga.edu Office Hours: W 1-5 pm, R 1-5 pm or by appointment

Course Objectives:

The objective of this course is to introduce you to the basic concepts in policy analysis and

program evaluation. Policy analysis is an interdisciplinary problem solving activity, usually

beginning with the identification and definition of a problem in the public realm, the development

of policy alternatives and options to address the problem, the delineation of objectives and

criteria, the evaluation of impacts of the options, the estimation of future effects, and

recommendations for action. The fundamental goal of policy analysis and evaluation is to help

policy makers arrive at viable, informed policy choices with a credible expectation of what the

expected outcomes of those policy choices will be.

This course intends to train you to grasp the nature of policy analysis and evaluation as a

discipline and to practically apply analytical techniques to evaluating problems in the real world.

Some major foci are on policy analysis as a discipline (meaning and nature of policy analysis and

evaluation), structuring policy problems (rationales for public policy, market failure, efficiency,

effectiveness, and values), forecasting policy outcomes (modeling), evaluating policy

performance (cost-benefit analysis and cost effectiveness analysis), utilizing policy analysis, and

roles of policy analysts (ethical issues).

Required Texts:

Dunn, William (2004) Public Policy Analysis: An Introduction. 3rd Edition. Upper Saddle River,

NJ: Prentice Hall

Bardach, Eugene (2005) A Practical Guide for Policy Analysis: The Eightfold Path to More

Effective Problem Solving, 2ndEdition, Washington, D.C.: CQ Press

Radin, B. A. (2000). Beyond Machiavelli: Policy Analysis Comes of Age. Washington, D.C.:

Georgetown University Press

Various journal articles, book chapters, and government reports will be selected for the readings[See the course schedule for detail information].

Recommended Texts:

There are many good texts in the study of policy analysis/program evaluation. You may choose

any of the recommended texts for your additional study. Throughout the semester, we will read

some of the important chapters of the recommended texts.

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Weimer, David L. and Aidan R. Vining (2005) Policy Analysis: Concepts and Practice 4th ed.

Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall

Munger, Michael C. (2000) Analyzing Policy: Choices, Conflicts and Practices, New York:

W.W. Norton & Company

Fitzpatrick, J., Sanders, J., & Worthen, B. (2004) Program Evaluation: Alternative

Approaches and Practical Guidelines 3rd ed. Boston: Allyn & Bacon.

Carl V. Patton and David S. Sawicki (1993) Basic Methods of Policy Analysis and Planning, 2nd

edition. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall

Wholey, Joseph, Harry Hatry, and Kathryn Newcomer (ed) (1994) Handbook of Practical

Program Evaluation. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass Publishers

Wildavsky, Aaron (2000) Speaking Truth To Power: The Art and Craft of Policy Analysis.

Transaction Publishers

Heineman, Robert, William Bluhm, Steven Peterson, and Edward Kearny (1997) The World ofthe Policy Analyst: Rationality, Values, and Politics. Chatham, NJ: Chtham House Publishers, Inc

Stone, Deborah (2001) Policy Paradox: The Art of Political Decision Making. W. W. Norton &

Company

Prerequisites:

Although this course has no specific prerequisite, it normally requires students to have basic

understanding of micro economics, public finance, analytical research methods, and policy

making & implementation. In addition, appropriate oral presentation and writing skills are

essential elements in this course.

Course requirements and evaluation:

1. Exams (40%)There will be two take-home exams: mid-term (15%) and final exam (25%). The exams

cover all the class discussions and the texts. The final exam will be comprehensive,

including not only all the materials and discussions but also analytical and evaluative

ability in public policy.

2. Policy Memorandum (30%)This requirement makes you to practice the role of policy analyst in a not-for-profit

organization. Given a social and governmental issue, policy analysts should provide

appropriate and timely alternatives or solutions for decision-making. I will assign you an

issue or significant questions; you will provide succinct analysis and recommendation withpersuasive reasons (More requirements will be explained for each assignment later. Please

read Dunns Appendix 3 for the similar requirements and sample writing). The

memorandum should be typed and two-page long (double-spaced) with the font size of 12

in New Roman.

3. Policy Analysis/Program Evaluation Paper (25%)You should choose a policy or program to analyze or evaluate for this course. Any policy

or program in not-for-profit organizations will be fine. However, your choice should be

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approved by the instructor before Feb 1. In brief, the content should have executive

summary, problem background/significance, literature review, analysis framework,

methods, findings, recommendations, and conclusion (More information about the

requirement will be provided in class later. Also read Dunns Appendix 1 4). It is strongly

recommended that you take a familiar topic (for example, programs or policy in your

organization) that allows you sufficient information and resources. It should be 15 page

long without references and cover/title page, with double-spaced in 12 font of New TimeRoman. The due date for this assignment is April 19. You will orally present your paper in

class (Please read Dunns Appendix 4).

4. Participation (5%)Your quality participation is required and evaluated throughout the semester. You should

be ready to discuss the issues in each class. This is not a lecture-only class but an

interactive seminar. One absence deducts three percent from the total grade point. Morethan three absences without the instructors approval will be dropped from the course for

excessive absence.

Final grade

Final grade point (100%) = Exams (40%) + Policy memorandum (30%) + Analysis/EvaluationPaper (25%) + Participation (5%)

A (90% or higher), B (80-89%), C (70-79%), D (60-69%), and F (59% or lower)

Plagiarism

Plagiarism will not be tolerated. Any student who plagiarizes another's work will automatically

fail this course [Read the University Honor Code and the Student Handbook].

Class Schedule

Jan 11. Introduction

Course introduction

What is policy analysis? I

Dunn, Chapter 1. The Process of Policy Analysis

Dunn, Appendix 1 & 2

Radin, Chapter 1. A Portrait of the Past

Heineman et al. Chapter 1. The Emergence of a Field

Assignment: Searching your policy analysis paper topic (due Feb 1)

Jan 18. Policy Analysis as a Discipline and Practice

What is policy analysis? II

Dunn, Chapter 2. Policy Analysis in the Policy-Making Process

Radin, Chapter 2. Policy Analysis Today: Dueling Swords

Weimer & Vining, Chapter 2. What is Policy Analysis?

Heineman et al. Chapter 2. Rationality and Decision Making

Assignment: Please read Bardachs book carefully (due Jan 25)

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Jan 25. The practicalities of policy analysis craft

A practical guide for policy analysis [Eightfold Path]

Bardach, A Practical Guide for Policy Analysis

Assignment: Policy Memorandum 1 (due Feb 1)

Feb 1. Framing Policy Problems

Nature of policy problemsProblem structuring

Types of policy models

Methods of problems structuring

Dunn, Chapter 3. Structuring policy problemsDunn, Chapter 4. Forecasting expected policy outcomes

** Due: Policy Analysis Paper Topic

Assignment: Policy Memorandum 2 (due Feb 8)

Feb 8. Identifying Alternatives and Setting Evaluatative Criteria

Policy alternatives and evaluation criteria

Patton & Sawicki, Chapter 5. Establishing Evaluation Criteria

Patton & Sawicki, Chapter 6. Identifying alternatives

Patton & Sawicki, Chapter 7. Evaluating alternatives

Assignment: Policy Memorandum 3 (due Feb 15)

Feb 15. Information Collection

Survey methodsCase study

Interviews

Weimer & Vining, Chapter 13. Gathering Information for Policy Analysis

Wholey et al. Chapter 11. Designing and Conducting Surveys (Thomas Miller)

Wholey et al, Chapter 12. The Systematic Use of Expert Judgment (Harvey Averch)

Wholey et al, Chapter 14. How to Use Focus Groups (Debra Dean)

Wholey et al, Chapter 10. Use of Ratings by Trained Observers (John Greiner)

Assignment: Policy Memorandum 4 (due Feb 22)

Feb 22. Analyzing Data and Evaluating the Policy Outcomes IAnalytical techniques

Evaluating the criteria

Dunn, Chapter 6. Monitoring observed policy outcomes

Dunn, Chapter 7. Evaluating policy performance

Mar 1. Mid-term Exam

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Mar 8. Analyzing Data and Evaluating the Policy Outcomes II

Cost benefit analysis

Cost effectiveness analysis

Weimer & Vining, Chapter 16. Cost-Benefit Analysis

Wholey et al, Chapter 19. Benefit Cost Analysis in Program Evaluation

Gupta, Chapter 14. Choosing the Best Alterantive: Cost-Benefit Analysis

Assignment: Policy Memorandum 5 (due Mar 15)

Mar 15. Analyzing Data and Evaluating the Policy Outcomes III

Linear modeling

Causation and Validity Issues

Posavac & Carey, Chapter 8. Single Group Nonexperimental Outcome Evalutions

Posavac & Carey, Chapter 9. Quasi-experimental Approaches to Outcome Evaluations

Gupta, Chapter 12. Models of Causal Prediction: Multiple Regression

Assignment: Policy Memorandum 6 (due Mar 29)

Mar 29. Developing Policy Arguments

Policy arguments

Dunn, Chapter 8. Developing policy arguments

Stone, Chapter 1. The market and the polis

Assignment: Policy Memorandum 7 (due Apr 5)

Apr 5. Utilization and Dissemination of Evaluation Results

Use and credibility of policy analysis

Dunn, Chapter 9. Communicating Policy Analysis

Wholey et al, Chapter 24. Maximizing the Use of Evaluation Results

Bozeman, Barry and D. Landsbergen, "Truth and Credibility in Sincere Policy Analysis",

Evaluation Review 1989 August; 13 (4): 355-79

N. Shulock, The Paradox of Policy AnalysisJournal of Policy Analysis and

Management, 18, 2, 1999.

Assignment: Policy Memorandum 8 (due Apr 12)

Apr 12. Ethical Issues, the Roles of Policy Analysts, and the Future

Speaking truth to power

ProfessionalimValues

Wildavsky, Chapter 16. Analysis as Craft

Weimer & Vining, Chapter 3. Toward Professional Ethics

Radin, Chapter 4. Dealing with Two Cultures: Politics and Analysis

Radin, Chapter 7. The Policy Task

Radin, Chapter 8. Where Are We and Where Are We Going?

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Apr 19. Paper Presentation

** Due: Policy Analysis/Program Evaluation Paper

Apr 26. Paper Presentation and Final Exam Distribution