read and answer due 2/18

Completing Research and Finding Information/Data for Policy Research

Student Name: Date:

Chapter 5 discusses several ways in which to find reliable information on a variety of policy issues. In this exercise, you will use two statistical sites to evaluate policy issues.

1. You have read the immigration articles for today. What do they say regarding U.S. immigration?

FacTank:

Number & Types of Immigrants:

Refugee Status:

Education level:

Where immigrants live in the U.S.:

Employment Status:

English Speaking:

Number of Deportations:

View of Americans regarding Immigrants:

The Hill

What does the author say are the economic benefits of immigrants?

What data is used to support this claim?

Wall Street Journal

What does the author say are the economic impacts of immigrants? Positive and negative.

How are low-skilled/low-wage citizens impacted?

How are employers/business owners impacted?

How are real estate markets impacted?

How did reduction in immigrants’ impact/affect the recession in AZ?

How has the AZ workforce and GDP changed in AZ since 2008?

2. Go to the U.S. Census website http://census.gov that offers state-level statistics on a range of topics. First, choose a state and review the demographic characteristics. Next go to https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/US/POP645218 that provides information about foreign born residents by state.

What state did you choose?

What is the ethnic breakdown of the state?

Is the population of the state growing or declining?

What is the number of foreign-born residents? Is this number growing or declining?

Why do you think this is important?

3. Based on the information you have read and using critical thinking skills of policy analysis and evaluation:

What is your problem definition regarding immigration?

What is the scope of the issue (size, incidence, effects, perceptions, political reality)?

Who are the stakeholders in this issue?

What policy options/alternatives?

What are possible criteria for evaluating these alternatives?

Recommend a policy alternative and explain your reasoning for the choice.