Public Policy Analysis and Evaluation - POLS 6204

Thursday 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 Email: slee@westga.edu

Office: 125 Pafford 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, 2nd Edition, 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.

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 of the 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 with persuasive 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

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 Time Roman. 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. More than 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/Evaluation Paper (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)

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 problems Problem structuring Types of policy models Methods of problems structuring Dunn, Chapter 3. Structuring policy problems Dunn, 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 methods Case 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 I Analytical techniques Evaluating the criteria Dunn, Chapter 6. Monitoring observed policy outcomes Dunn, Chapter 7. Evaluating policy performance

Mar 1. Mid-term Exam

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 Analysis Journal 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 Professionalim Values 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?

Apr 19. Paper Presentation ** Due: Policy Analysis/Program Evaluation Paper Apr 26. Paper Presentation and Final Exam Distribution