Analyzing Social Policy
Multiple Perspectives for Critically Understanding and Evaluating Policy
Published on 9. February 2011
336 pages
978-1-118-04417-9 (ISBN)
Description
From formulation to implementation, an approach to the analysisof social policy through the lens of research
Analyzing Social Policy prepares professionals andstudents to make better informed decisions related to identifyingand understanding the intricacies and potential impact of socialpolicymaking and enactment on their organization as well as theirindividual responsibilities, goals, and objectives.
Authors Mary Katherine O'Connor and F. Ellen Netting thoroughlyexamine various approaches to the analysis of social policies andhow these approaches provide the knowledge, multiple perspectives,and other resources to understand and grasp the nuances of socialpolicy in all its complexity.
Comprehensive and based on research, Analyzing Social Policyexplores:
* An overview of the practice of social policy analysis
* The role of research in guiding policy analysis
* The idea of policy analyses as research
* Themes, assumptions, and major theories that undergird rationalmodels of policy analysis
* Nonrational themes, assumptions, and major theories informingnontraditional interpretive and critical approaches to policyanalysis
* Strategies for applying selected models and approaches whenengaging in policy analysis as research
Providing practitioners and students with a set of tools thatcan be used to enhance an understanding of what constitutes policyas well as acceptable standards for critical analysis of policy,this resource enables policy advocates--regardless of theirlevel--to be political, strategic, and critical in theirwork.
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Mary Katherine O'Connor | F. Ellen Netting
Analyzing Social Policy
Multiple Perspectives for Critically Understanding and Evaluating Policy
Book
11/2010
1st Edition
Wiley
€76.00
Article not available at the moment
Persons
Mary Katherine O'Connor, MSW, PhD, is a Professor in theSchool of Social Work at Virginia Commonwealth University where shehas taught in the MSW and PhD programs for over twenty years. Shehas authored or coauthored numerous books, chapters, and journalarticles in the areas of public child welfare practice, services tostreet children, and qualitative research method development.
F. Ellen Netting, MSSW, PhD, is a Professor of SocialWork and Samuel S. Wurtzel Chair at Virginia CommonwealthUniversity where she teaches in the BSW, MSW, and PhD programs. Shehas authored or coauthored numerous books, chapters, and journalarticles in the areas of health and human service delivery issuesfor frail elders, as well as nonprofit management concerns.
Content
Foreword.
Preface.
Acknowledgments xxiii
1 An Overview of Social Policy Analysis.
Necessary Groundwork.
Identifying Definitions and Forms of Policy.
Recognizing Levels and Scope of Social Policies.
Conceptualizing Policy Analysis.
Conclusion.
Discussion Questions.
2 Thinking of Policy Analysis as Research.
The Role of Research in Guiding Policy Analysis.
What Constitutes Research?
Focusing the Policy Analysis.
An Expansive View of Policy Analysis Research.
Conclusion.
Discussion Questions.
Case Study.
Service, Engagement, and Volunteerism: What's the PolicyAll About?
3 Rational Policy Analysis.
Reason and Rationality.
Rational Assumptions of the Positivist/PostpositivistParadigm.
Rational Models of Policy Analysis.
How to Assess the Degree to Which an Analysis Approach IsRational.
Conclusion.
Discussion Questions.
4 Applications of Rational Policy Analysis.
Using the Chambers and Wedel Policy/Program AnalyticalFramework.
Using Jansson's Six-Step Policy Analysis Framework.
Using Huttman's Policy Analysis Model.
Using Holcomb and Nightingale's Implementation AnalysisModel.
Using Segal and Bruzuzy's Questions for Social Welfare PolicyAnalysis.
Discussion.
Concluding Remarks About Rational Policy Analysis.
Discussion Questions.
5 Nonrational Policy Analysis.
Reason and Nonrationality.
Nonrational Assumptions of the Interpretivist/ConstructivistParadigm.
Nonrational Approaches to Policy Analysis.
How to Assess the Degree to Which an Analysis Approach IsNonrational.
Conclusion.
Discussion Questions.
6 Applications in Nonrational Policy Analysis.
Using Stone's Policy Paradox Approach.
Using Kingdon's Policy Primeval Soup or Garbage CanApproach.
Using Prigmore and Atherton's Policy Analysis Approach.
Using Guba's Policy-in-Action Approach.
Using an Impact-Analysis Approach.
Discussion.
Conclusion.
Discussion Questions.
7 Critical Policy Analysis.
Reason in Radicality.
Assumptions of the Critical Paradigm.
Critical Approaches to Policy Analysis.
How to Assess the Degree to Which an Analysis Approach IsCritical.
Conclusion.
Discussion Questions.
8 Applications in Critical Policy Analysis.
Using Marx's Historical or Dialectical Method.
Analyzing Cultural Responsiveness in Policy Formulation at theOrganizational Level.
Using Lejano's Normative Policy Analysis.
Using Moser.s Approach to Gender Policy Implementation.
Using Schiele.s Afrocentric Framework of Policy Analysis.
Discussion.
Conclusion.
Discussion Questions.
Epilogue.
References.
About the Authors.
Author Index.
Subject Index.
