Contrast the three major approaches to or types of policy analysis. What are the objectives of each? What are their limitations? Give an example of the kind of organization that would implement each approach.

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Students need to discuss scientific, professional, and political policy analysis. Scientific analysis seeks to build theory and can be limited by being too theoretical, too comprehensive, and not practical; it is done by academics. Professional analysis will analyze policy alternatives for solving problems and can be limited by the narrowness of the research or neglect to study all of the factors; it is done by think tanks. Political analysis seeks to advocate/support preferred positions and is sometimes limited by its ideological biases that may raise issues of credibility. Sometimes, these studies lack analytical depth; they are done by interest groups.