PLS 313 Lecture Notes - Lecture 18: Linear Programming, Postpositivism, Deliberative Democracy
Document Summary
Policy analysis is prospective, not retrospective, very practical type of job. Qualifications for career: qualitative and quantitative methods, but it"s increasingly quantitative now (regression & modeling) As program evaluator you"re usually hired on per project basis. Two general approaches to study of policy: rationalist approach, post-positivist approach. Policy is viewed as linear problem solving (one step after another) method. Tends to be quantitative, assessing causal relationships (what causes what) Tend to think analyst should propose one reasonable answer, a single policy solution to a problem based on sound, objective reasoning (rational) Values aren"t interwoven with the rationalist approach, which is hard when they are asking for one single solution bc values affect the decision making process. Some rationalists say it"s not analyst job to use values when doing policy analysis, say they should be given values by politicians. Base your policies on facts and technical expertise. This is open to a lot of incorrect or bad measurement/rankings.
