Order 778593: Policy Analysis of Don′t Ask Don′t Tell

Research Paper Guidance

GUIDANCE ON THE RESEARCH PAPER

Selecting the Topic The research paper for this course is a minimum of 12 written pages, double spaced. Select a public policy issue and evaluate it in terms of the concepts in the class. This will include policy models, formulation, implementation and evaluation. Select a policy that that has been legislated and implemented. This will allow you to use the concepts discussed in all four modules. Some of the policies mentioned in the first few sessions are suitable for the research paper. Topics need to be approved by me so send me an email once you make your selection. Off limits for the research paper are policies passed by initiative, the Obama Healthcare policy, No Child Left Behind and Welfare Reform (1996) legislation. In addition, in a class this size I will limit the papers on a specific policy to two. So get your choice in early. Once you get my approval, post your selection in the Research Paper topic in WEEK 3. The selection of local policies is encouraged.

In writing your paper it is important to cite the literature found in this course. Good sources of information on various policies can be found in Proquest (from the online library), the web, and the public policy institutes. Once you have selected the policy the most important thing is to follow the outline provided below. Your paper is used to reinforce the reading in the class and to demonstrate your ability to apply course concepts covered during this course. I want you to analyze the policy using the concepts presented and discussed in the class. Many of your cites will be the authors we covered in the class. Your research will consist of finding articles that provide information on the formulation, implementation and evaluation of the policy. For example, if you are researching the 1996 Welfare Reform Act, you can find a lot of information in search engines like Google. It is much easier if your select a policy that has been fully implemented and subject to evaluation. In some situations it will be difficult to be specific on how a policy was formulated if passed for example, in 1977. It is all right to speculate based on theory presented in class .

The outline is as follows: I. Overview of the policy issue - 1 page. II. Literature section - 2 pages (cite literature from your research) Ill. Policy Formulation - 4 pages (Gersten, Kingdon, Dye, Rushefsky Benveniste). IV. Policy Implementation - 2 pages (Brewer, Gersten, Birkland and Sabatier). V. Policy Evaluation - 3 pages.(Smith, Rossi, Dye and Gersten). VI. Conclusion - 1/2 page. This is where you can give your opinion on the policy issue.

The literature review requires that you find articles, web sites, analysis, opinions, etc. that discuss the policy. Summarize the key articles in a paragraph or two and cite them as appropriate in your paper.

The policy formulation section is a critical section. Use Kingdon, Gerston, Benveniste and Dye theories plus the analysis of the policy from your lit. review. Topics such as the national mood, policy windows, bandwagons, coalitions, networks, media interest groups, triggering mechanisms and any part of Kingdon Chapter 6. Kingdon's revised model and Dye's Process model should help. Benveniste has some excellent concepts on coalition building and networking. Answer the question of why and how this policy was formulated. Include a discussion of the policy actors in this section. Use as many cites as possible in this section.

The implementation section lends itself to subheadings. I suggest that you take six or seven of the most applicable of the Brewer, Gerston and Sabatier conditions and factors for effective implementation and use them as headings. Conduct your analysis under the headings such as, Clarity of Policy, Complexity of Administration, Managerial and Political Skills of Implementing Agency, etc. Document as much as you can but you might have to assume in some instances. Some narrative might be required for the Birkland and Gerston material.

The Evaluation Section asks that you look at how effective the policy has been. Has it achieved the desired results? Talk about customers, benchmarking, stakeholders, outcomes, etc. Dye Chapter 15 and the Rossi readings should help guide you in this area but bring in the other theorists from the evaluation section. Included in the evaluation section should be a program impact theory that you will learn about in Session #7 (Rossi 211) The conclusion is your space to assess the policy.

Due Date: February 28, at 9 PM

Please contact me if you have questions. A "sample" research paper has been posted in DocSharing.