POLI 359 Public Policy Making

Transcription

1 POLI 359 Public Policy Making Session 1-Introduction to Public Policy Making Lecturer: Dr. Kuyini Abdulai Mohammed, Dept. of Political Science Contact Information: College of Education School of Continuing and Distance Education 2016/2017 godsonug.wordpress.com/blog

2 EVOLUTION OF POLICY SCIENCES There was a gap between the theory and practice of politics. The gap widened during the Post-World War II period. The gap existed because political studies failed to solve problems. Colonization and the World wars raised issues relating to: Justice Equity Social, economic and political development Slide 2

3 Evolution of Policy Sciences Approaches adopted in response to these issues included: Study of micro level of human behaviour Study of the psychology of citizens Study of electors and voters Study of the characteristics of national societies and culture Studies of national and global systems Slide 3

4 EǀolutioŶ of PolicLJ ScieŶces ;coŷt d: These approaches were discarded for their weaknesses. One approach that survived is public policy making. Unlike previous studies, public policy making focused on what governments actually do. Public policy making was expected to replace traditional political studies. It was expected to synthesise the study of political practice. Slide 4

5 Original Ambition of Policy Sciences Multidisciplinary Problem solving Explicitly normative Slide 5

6 Evolution of Policy Sciences Have the three original ambitions changed? Multidisciplinary has remained largely intact because: Concepts and terminologies continue to be borrowed Although the borrowed concepts have distinct meaning The problem-solving ambition has waned because: Recommendations have not automatically solved problems Governments sometimes are not receptive to expert advice Policy problems are complex and sometimes wicked There are Implementation challenges like lack of money. Slide 6

7 Public Policy as a Social Science Science denotes tan organized body of knowledge. It is an objective investigation of empirical phenomena Public policy is a science because: The scientific approach is used in the study of policy issues. The scientific is systematic and objective. It involves analysis of information relevant to the ideŷtificatioŷ aŷd solutioŷ of societlj s problems. It uses a carefully designed research plan with each stage of the work specified. Slide 7

8 Characteristics of the Scientific Method It translates personal prejudices, notions and opinions into explicit hypotheses. The hypotheses are tested empirically to either uphold or reject them. Analysis of data are done in order to draw inferences These characteristics of science mean that: The data must be interpreted in terms of what it means in solving policy problems. Conclusions are drawn by first defining assumptions on which the analysis are made. Slide 8

9 Scientific Approach to the Study of Public Policy Policy analysts collect data and analyze them. They then describe causes of events through theories. The theories become the basis for developing models. The models are then used to test hypotheses. On the basis of the tests results conclusions are drawn. Slide 9

10 What is a theory? Any conceptualization may be regarded as a theory CoŶcepts like poǁer, deǀiaŷce aŷd deŵocraclj caŷ be termed theories. They become theories when they are defined and used in the interpretation of empirical phenomena. Broadly then, any conceptualization as opposed to observation, is a theory. Narrowly, a theory is logical deductive system consisting of a set of interrelated concepts from which testable propositions can be deductively derived. Slide 10

11 What is a theorlj? ;coŷt d: In a simplest sense, a theory is small set of ideas that is meant to explain why something happens or exists. For example, in public policy the Rational Comprehensive Theory explains the objective, logical and systematic fashion in which government policy decisions ought to be made. Another example is, the Complexity of Joint Action Theory draws attention to the difficulties encountered in executing projects where multiple actors with different interests in, and commitment to a program are involved. Slide 11

12 What is a model? Theorists provide conceptual organization by using models. A model is a likeness of something. For example, an architect might have a model of a mansion including a scale representation of some of its features. Because the model serves as a physical, visual representation of the structure and features of the mason, it can be used in place of the real mansion for demonstration and testing. In the social sciences, models usually consist of symbols rather than physical matter. Slide 12

13 What is a ŵodel ;coŷt d: This means the characteristics of some empirical phenomena including their components and the relationship between the components, are represented as logical arrangements among concepts. Thus, for social scientists, a model is an abstraction from reality that orders and simplifies our view of reality. It does by representing its essential features It is a simple description of a system or approach used to explain how something works or calculating and predicting what might happen in the future. Slide 13

14 What is a hypothesis? A hypothesis is a tentative answer to a research problem. It is expressed in the form of a clearly stated relation between the independent variable and the dependent variable Hypotheses are tentative because they can be verified only after they have been tested empirically A hypothesis refers to an idea or explanation of something that is based on a few known facts but that has not been proven to be true or correct Slide 14

15 What is a hljpothesis? ;coŷt d: When a suggested way of explaining something is made without a definite knowledge about it, we refer to the proposition as a hypothesis. For example, in policy research the investigator may start with the following hypothesis: The GoǀerŶŵeŶt of GhaŶa s Values Added Tadž policy will enjoy broad public support during implementation For every hypothesis there is a null hypothesis (alternative hypothesis). The alternative hypothesis to the one set earlier will be: The GoǀerŶŵeŶt of GhaŶa s Value Added Tadž PolicLJ ǁill not enjoy broad public support during implementation. Slide 15

16 Testing Theories and Hypothesis Policies are built on theories of the world. They are built on models of cause and effect. They must make assumptions about behaviour. They offer incentives that encourage certain behaviour over others. They also present disincentives that discourage particular actions They must contain guesses and compliance and mechanisms to deal with shirking and encourage compliance. Slide 16

17 TestiŶg Theories aŷd HLJpothesis ;coŷt d However, public policy activities or phenomena cannot be studied in the way the pure sciences investigate problems. Public policy does not study phenomena in a controlled laboratory environment For this reason, it is difficult to test behavioural assumptions to the implementation of a policy. For example, cabinet might gauge that a package of taxation measures will bring about a desired response from the citizens Slide 17

18 TestiŶg Theories aŷd HLJpothesis ;coŷt d: This assumption will be upheld or rejected only when the government announces the tax, implements it and evaluates its impact. Until that is done, ministers will remain unsure whether they have correctly identified cause and effect in the tax system. Policy is developed in the midst of uncertainty. It is tested in the most demanding and trying situations. Policy makers learn by finding and correcting errors in policy assumptions and design. Slide 18

19 Relevance of Theories and Models Theories and models are used for the analysis of policies. They facilitate communication. They suggest possible explanations for policy actions. They provide guidelines and criteria of relevance to focus our efforts on. They prevent aimless search through infinite data. They give direction to our inquiry into policy problems and ways of solving them. Slide 19

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