What does policy analysis mean

A policy might be more feasible in one city or at a certain time, but not others. You might find that as circumstances change, what is considered affordable or publicly acceptable may change with them. Compare the policy options for health impact, economic and budgetary impact, and feasibility.

Next, rank each one based on those criteria. Stakeholders can provide guidance on how to do this. Your rankings will always be partially subjective, so it helps to systematically document your rationale. In some cases, your review may reveal a clear winner—a policy that is a feasible, b has a strong, positive impact on public health, and c is economically and fiscally viable.

In other cases, ranking the options may be more complicated and involve assessing trade-offs. For example, when considering policies for reducing smoking, there are trade-offs related to feasibility and impact between options.

Feasibility and impact depends on your context, like your location. You may have to have choose between a more feasible policy like an indoor smoking ban for restaurants and one with more widespread impact like raising prices on tobacco products in your state. This kind of review may help you identify what is already known about the policy options as well as any gaps in the current research. Policy Analysis: Key Questions pdf icon : This worksheet provides questions that form a framework for your policy analysis.

Policy Analysis Table pdf icon : This organizational table can help you assess each policy option against set criteria and then to compare policy options.

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Who should you involve in your policy analysis? People affected by the policy Who they are: People whose jobs or lives might be affected by the policy Community members Community partners Local decision makers How they can contribute: Provide contextual knowledge, such as potential social, educational, and cultural perspectives.

They can also help you understand the legal landscape around the potential policies. Failing to update these policies can put businesses at risk of legal action. While the public policy in its development stage is theoretical, its implementation is tangible and has a real-world impact. As such policy analysts should involve key stakeholders throughout the process. When the policy process involves stakeholders before implementation, policymakers can avoid misunderstandings and increase the likelihood of success, according to the World Health Organization WHO.

Effective policy analysis relies heavily on empirical research, pulling from both qualitative and quantitative sources. Personal interviews with policymakers and community partners constitute the former and provide valuable context. These firsthand accounts can explain how the proposed policy would affect members of the community, its potential economic and budgetary impact, as well as the legal and political landscape that surrounds the policy. Qualitative research may also involve a literature review that examines the existing body of research on a particular policy issue.

Analysts can identify current policy options as well as gaps in existing research to further narrow options and solutions. This type of research empowers policy analysts to learn important lessons from past policy attempts, both successful and unsuccessful.

A proposed policy may seem innovative and cost-effective, but a literature review of past attempts may illuminate potential pitfalls. Different from qualitative research, the quantitative study involves statistical data review and cost-benefit analysis, comparing the potential benefits of a policy with its expected or known costs.

While conducted in monetary terms, many aspects of public policy may not be easily measured in dollars and cents. A human element is involved in the creation of any policy. Cost-benefit analyses can fail to capture those nuances, which is why personal interviews a form of qualitative research also are an important part of the process.

Environmental scans are another aspect of forecasting policy options. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC defines an environmental scan as the collection of information about events, trends, and expectations that have the potential to influence the policy process.

Health care organizations frequently use environmental scans. For example, Public Health Ontario performed an environmental scan as part of its policy analysis when examining how to safely reopen schools during the COVID pandemic.

Based on the results, the health care institution was able to identify how other jurisdictions approached reopening schools, examine variables, and make an informed policy decision about the safest way to reopen schools.

The curriculum provides the opportunity to analyze data, build decision-making skills, and use real-world software for data analysis through the following core and concentration-specific courses:. This core course focuses on governance, intergovernmental relationships, policies, and strategic planning, plus the influence of variables such as politics, social change, and fiscal constraints.

It also introduces fundamental concepts including the role of leadership and the need for ethics and accountability in public administration. Students in this course will hone their skills in critical analysis, research, and writing.

Students learn the methodologies of public administration research—including surveys, case studies, and interviews — and their application to policy development and evaluation. The course also highlights quantitative and qualitative statistical techniques commonly used in public administration and social science research.

This concentration course explores various policy analysis methodologies and how they can help individuals better understand complex policy issues.

The curriculum examines multidisciplinary research strategies, data collection and analysis, establishing evaluation criteria, and identifying policy alternatives. Students in this concentration examine the tools and techniques associated with policy analysis, such as scientific research, design, implementation, and evaluation.

This course instructs participants on analyzing policies and making recommendations at all levels of government as well as the nonprofit sector. It also teaches various software applications used in data collection and analysis. The ability to conduct effective policy analysis is one of the most fundamental skills policymakers need and critical to success in any public administration role. The Policy Analysis and Analytics concentration offered through the Norwich University online MPA program teaches the skills to master policy analysis and its many facets.

Learn more about how Norwich University provides students with the foundation to pursue a rewarding career in public administration. Skip to main content. Norwich University Online. Search form. Request Info Apply Contact Us. Apply Request Info Click to Call.

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