Using Theory to Understand
Policy Processes
SLIDES
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pub∙lic pol∙i∙cy
a deliberate decision by government or an equivalent authority
to take action or non-action toward specific objectives
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LEGISLATIVE BRANCH
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EXECUTIVE BRANCH
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PUBLIC ADMINISTRATORS
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pol∙i∙cy pro∙cess
the interactions that occur over time between public policies
and surrounding actors, events, contexts, and outcomes.
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THE POLICY STAGES
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PROBLEM
RECOGNITION
PROBLEM
DEFINITION
IDENTIFICATION
OF POLICY
OPTIONS
POLICY
SELECTION/
ADOPTION
IMPLEMENTATION
EVALUATION
THE POLICY CYCLE
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THE POLICY CYCLE
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social problems are
complex
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Knowing things about the world is
hard
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human cognition is
imperfect
limited information
capacity
selective attention
confirmation bias
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the∙o∙ry
a system of ideas intended to explain something based on
general principles independent of the thing to be explained
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X Y
independent variable
dependent variable
policy change
policy design/content
causal/explanatory
relationship
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X Y
dependent variable
policy change
policy design/content
X
X
X
X
X
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X Y
dependent variable
policy change
policy design/content
X
X
X
X
X
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Identify the factors that help explain why policy change occurs
(or doesn’t) and/or the nature of the policy change.
Determine how those factors contribute to the policy change
(or lack thereof).
Understand how those factors can be leveraged in practice to
advocate for desirable policy changes.
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PUBLIC POLICY
THEORY & APPLICATION
P A D M N 6 3 2 0