Transcript Research Paper: Public Policy

Research Paper
Choose a policy problem/issue
Examples: crime, pollution, poverty, traffic,
day care, discrimination, morality issues,
declining quality of education, drug abuse,
etc.
From there Discuss the following
• Explanation of the Research Topic:
• Definition of the Problem: society,
personal, media, etc.
• Literature Review: previous studies
• Policy History: past policies
• Qualitative Research: interviews
• Conclusion: summary, policy
recommendations
Social Problem: Local Teen
Pregnancy
Department of Political Science
Kenneth E. Fernandez
Definition of the Policy Problem
• 1. How does society view this policy
issue? (general public opinion/media)
• 2. How do you view this policy issue?
• 3. How does the academic community see
this problem?
• 4. Is this a Federal, state or local problem
(or all three)
Example: Definition of the Problem
• How society sees the problem:
– Socioeconomic problem
– Moral Problem
– Health Problem
• How I see the problem
– Quality of Life Issue
Academic Perspective
Teen Pregnancy Rates
800
700
600
500
400
San Diego
Cleveland
300
Las Vegas
200
100
0
1990
1995
2000
2002
The Literature Review
The formal literature review is a very
specific piece of writing designed to:
– inform your readers of your topic
– establish your credibility as a researcher
– argue the need for, and relevance of, your
work
Writing your Literature Review
Writing a good review requires you to:
– read a few good reviews
– develop a structure
– write purposefully (rather than randomly)
– use the literature to back up your arguments
(especially in your conclusion)
Academic Sources
• Your literature review section should use
only academic sources.
• What is an academic source?
• You can use anything else in any other
section (Time magazine, internet source,
newspaper, etc.), but in the literature
review section use only academic sources.
Literature Review Example
• Causes: Why don’t teens use contraception?
• Causes: What Factors are associated with
Teen Pregnancy?
– Parents Married/Unmarried
– Lived in same home since age 6
– Family Income
– Race / Culture
• Solutions: Contraceptive use v. abstinence
Policy History
What has been
considered
What has been
Implemented
What has been
rejected
Examples
• Increased Information
– In-School presentations (school board decisions)
– Advertisement (state & county public health dept.
programs)
• Promoting Family Values (Federal Govt./Private
Sector)
• Increased access to services (Planned
Parenthood/State &County Public Health
Department)
• New Technology (RU-486; emergency
contraception)
Qualitative Research
• Identify the local experts and political
actors that are addressing this issue
• Interview at least 2 policy experts
• What is an expert?
If in doubt email me who you will interview
Conclusion:
• What caused this problem?
• What should be done about it (what
policies)?
• How would one begin to accomplish this
(policy implementation)?
• Back up with evidence from lit review and
what the policy experts you identified said
Example
• Causes:
• Two parents working
• Mixed messages – elites saying sex is
bad, media – sex is good
• Lack of access to birth control.
• Alcohol and drugs
Recommendations
• High-risk vs. low risk / Street contact vs.
School contact
• After-care referrals
• Access to emergency contraception
• Limitations?