RESEARCH GUIDE 

Part 1 - Starting    |    Part 2-Researching      |     Part 3-Goal Statement     |     Part 4-Scope of the Problem     |     Part 5-Past Policy 

Part 6-Current Policy    |     Part 7-Policy Options     |     Part 8-Orgs & People     |     Part 9-Glossary      |     Part 10- Presenting

  

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Part 2 - Research Strategies

Who to Consult Community Partners & Experts Professors & Departments Government Agencies Sources of Information  Internet Searches Library Research  Government Sources Interviews of Issue Experts and Practitioners Telephone calls Bibliography on Policy Research and Analysis

 

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It is important to use a variety of research approaches and sources to produce a well-substantiated issue brief.

 

Who to Consult

 

Community Partners & Experts

 

Goal:  the researcher should include at least one strategy for local research, including garnering knowledge from relevant local agencies, community partners, community residents, or programs that work on the topic.  Ideally, several local ‘experts’ should be consulted in the development of policy or programmatic options.

 

Local research can start as early as the topic development process.  For example, at UC Berkeley, students in the local internship course went to local supervisors and solicited questions from them to begin the definition of topics.  Each student had a different agency, but they came back to class and compared notes in teams.  Then they grouped into teams based on common issues.  While not every internship site had a question addressed as a result, most did, and each student was able to return to the agency framing the topic in a way that suited their needs.  At the same time, working in teams gave the students some unique advantages on the research and producing papers.

 

Professors & Departments

 

Goal:  the researcher should include at least one meeting or correspondence with a relevant campus professor, department, institute or academic ‘expert.’

 

As a form of community-based research, the policy research process should include drawing on those resources on campus that may have knowledge to contribute.  This may include faculty, departments, related academic programs, and even those who work in student life or related civic or community service areas (depending on the topic).  Try to identify faculty members who may be good to consult; co-curricular staff can be helpful with this process by reviewing possibilities with students.  If researchers are already working within the context of a course setting, the professor may be able to recommend others on campus with whom to consult.

 

Government Agencies

 

Goal:  the researcher should include at least one meeting or correspondence with a relevant city, county, state or Federal governmental official or agency.

 

One of the most exciting things about this process is the opportunity to move beyond our conventional work with non-profit organizations to also consider the roles of governmental entities and legislation to affect an issue.  For example, someone working on an issue brief about homelessness could also learn important information from the city’s homelessness task force, the Mayor’s office and its initiative to reduce homelessness, and the school district and its programs to support success of homeless children.  Finding out what relevant programs exist, what dollars and resources are available, and how these efforts translate into related legislation, programs, and policies can be critical.  

 

See in particular the USA.gov ((http://www.usa.gov/index.shtml) website as a starting point to find information about relevant local and state agencies and offices.  This is contained in the next section (Research Sources). 

 

You might also want to review The Citizen Journalist's Guide to Open Government.This extensive e-learning module helps new media makers understand how to obtain public records and get into public meetings. Produced by Geanne Rosenberg, Baruch College.Check out the module.

 

 

Sources of Information 

 

Here, we delve into more detail about how to approach the research process to find the information you need. Your goal is to consult a variety of individuals (in person and over the phone), as well as conduct conventional research (online, at the library, in the newspaper, and through other networks).  

 

Let's review what may be some great baselines for your research.  Here, you can also find more details on how to conduct phone calls and interviews.  This is a good page for you to print! 

 

 

Internet Searches

 

Goal:  the researcher should include Internet research, especially as a way to get started and sketch out relevant data, governmental contacts, organizations (peers and examples), and public policy information.  However, Internet research should not be the sole source of information for a completed PolicyOptions.org brief; it should be complemented by library research, phone calls and visits on- and off-campus, and other relevant sources.

 

The Internet can be an excellent source for research, including tracking down relevant information on governmental activities, departments, proposed legislation, programs, non-profit organizations, and more.  Students have noted that sometimes this is more difficult on a local or regional level than it is on a national level.  Use these quicklinks or click here to learn more about these websites and why they may be good sources to consult as you begin:

  

• Almanac of Policy Issues (http://www.policyalmanac.org/)

• US Census Data (http://www.census.gov)

• Center for Policy Alternatives (http://www.cfpa.org/)

• Committee on Ways and Means (http://waysandmeans.house.gov/Links.asp?section=29)

• Congress.org (http://www.congress.org/congressorg/home/)

• Governing.com (http://www.governing.com/)

• GovSpot (http://www.govspot.com/)

• Govtrack.us (http://www.govtrack.us/)

• National Conference of State Legislatures (http://www.ncsl.org/public/ncsl/nav_aboutNCSL.htm)

• Simmons Library (journalism index, online at http://libfs2.simmons.edu/research_guides/index.php/Public_Policy)

• State and Local Governments on the Net (http://www.statelocalgov.net/index.cfm)

• Stateline.org (http://www.stateline.org/)

• USA.gov (http://www.usa.gov/index.shtml): The U.S. Government’s Official Web Portal 

 

 

Library Research 

 

 

Government Sources

 

• The Citizen Journalist's Guide to Open Government: This extensive, multimedia e-learning module helps new media makers understand how to obtain public records and get into public meetings. The guide features a unique, interactive map that tells citizens how they can locate open-government information on each of the 50 state Web sites. Produced by Geanne Rosenberg, founding chair of Baruch College's new undergraduate Department of Journalism and the Writing Professions.

 

Interviews of Issue Experts and Practitioners

 

You definitely will want to make some phone calls to set up meetings, conduct interviews, or find out information as you map the public policy landscape. This may be particularly true for local or state-level briefs.  While Internet or library research may yield lots of information, you may want to selectively choose some individuals or organizations to contact by phone and review a set of questions.  This can be a fun and rewarding part of the process, especially as you make new relationships, network, and learn to negotiate the real political landscape around an issue.  Phone conversations may be best for setting up meetings, for brief conversations to gather information, or when you cannot meet a person face-to-face.  

 

• Click here for more advice on phone calls.
• ReportingOn: ReportingOn 2.0 is a place for journalists of all stripes to find peers with experience dealing with a particular topic, story, or source.

 

Telephone calls

 

You definitely will want to make some phone calls to set up meetings or find out information as you map the public policy landscape. This may be particularly true for local or state-level briefs.  While Internet or library research may yield lots of information, you may want to selectively choose some individuals or organizations to contact by phone and/or in person.  This can be a fun and rewarding part of the process, especially as you make new relationships, network, and learn to negotiate the real political landscape around an issue.  Phone conversations may be best for setting up meetings, for brief conversations to gather information, or when you cannot meet a person face-to-face. 

 

Example: call to set up a meeting

 

Hi.  My name is Maria Thomas, and I am an undergraduate student at the University of the State.  I am currently in a class with Professor Paul, and we are working on public policy research to help serve the local school district.  My professor and the partner agency I’m working with, Parents for Change, recommended that I meet with you.  I was hoping to set up some time, perhaps just 20-30 minutes, to meet with you in person.  Would that be possible?  

 

Example: call to get information

 

Hi.  My name is Maria Thomas, and I am an undergraduate student at the University of the State.  I am currently involved in some public policy research to help serve the local school district.  We are trying to find out ways to improve the education of kids in our district.  I am trying to find out how our district allocated the money for special programs and initiatives, especially for kids involved in bilingual education.  How might I find out? Who I could talk to from the school finance committee?  Is there someone on staff who works on this?  What would you recommend?

 

Example: longer phone interview

 

Tips:

•  Send some questions or information to the person in advance that allows them to prepare or know what to expect.

• Start with conversation to establish rapport and trust.  Make sure that the person has a sense of what your purpose is.  Leave out conversation or commentary that reveals a biased point-of-view.

• Make sure you know how long the person has to speak with you and gauge your questioning accordingly.

• Build the questions from the simple to the more complex.  This will also allow you to know when to stop or where to ask more.

• Don’t use jargon.  When you have to, try to define your terms.

• You may want to use a combination of open-ended and close-ended questions.  Open-ended questions are best to get a person talking and to generate more information.  Close-ended questions allow you to check your facts, compare points-of-view, and get specific responses. 

•  Keep detailed notes.  If you are going to type notes, you may want to let the person know (so as not to bother them with typing sound).

 

Here are some tips for making telephone calls:

 

• Timing:  think about what time it is when placing a call. Most offices have a 9:00 am to 5:00 pm schedule, with lunch around noon. Give people time to settle in, and realize they will want to leave if you call near the day’s end.  It’s often helpful to call to set up a time for a conversation.

• Give your name and your college when the telephone is answered, before asking for the person you are requesting:  “Hi this is Joanna Lang from the University of New Jersey calling for Mrs. Dover.”

• When speaking, think of the way you sound; you want to sound confident and calm. Make sure you enunciate you words clearly and precisely. Your voice reflects your courtesy, since that person on the other end of the line cannot see your facial expressions, your "tone of voice" will need to express this. According to John Robertson of EZINE @rticles, within 60 seconds people will make assumptions about your education, background, ability and personality based on your voice alone.  What reputation do you want to build?  What impression do you want to make?

• Have a basic script or set of bullet points written out that you can  refer to. Have a place to take notes.  Pay attention to: what you want to say and how you want to say it. Your voice is very important to your career and your personal life.  When you are talking 87% of the listener’s opinion of you is based on how you say it according to Robertson.  That means that only 13% remains to make a positive impression about what we are saying. Project a tone that conveys enthusiasm, confidence, friendliness and attentiveness.  Did you know, when you smile while you are talking it comes across in your voice?  Let your personality shine through on the phone.

 

 

Bibliography on Policy Research and Analysis 

 

Below are some recommended sources that faculty and students who have been involved in public policy analysis and creating issue briefs have noted to be helpful.  These are not on specific topics, but rather for the analytical process.   Feel free to suggest others to add to the list. 

 

•  A Practical Guide for Policy Analysis, by Euguene Bardach (more on this below): US and international students consistently give this perspicacious presentation of policy analysis fundamentals high marks for its clarity and insight.  Bardach’s text accomplishes what many amay not: it provides students and practitioners with usable suggestions about how to conduct policy analysis, drawing on the author’s forty years of experience in teaching and coaching students in real public policy projects. CQPress, 2005. 149 pages.   
• Public Policy Analysis: A Political Economy Approach by Kenneth N. Bickers and John T. Williams: Prentice Hall 2007 (4^th edition). 512 pages.   
• Policy Analysis: Concepts and Practice by David Weimer and Aidan R. Vining: This book both introduces and explores the hows and whys of the practices of public policy. It provides reality-based practical advice about how to actually conduct policy analysis and demonstrate the application of advanced analytic techniques. A five-part organization emphasizes that policy analysis is client-oriented and raises ethical issues; provides rationales for public policy— describing the limitations to effective public policy and generic policy solutions; gives practical advice about implementing policy analysis; presents several examples illustrating how analysts have approached policy problems and the differences that their efforts have made; and summarizes the role and work of the analyst and challenges the analyst to both “do-well and do-good.” CQ Press, 2006.  459 pages.   
• Public Policy Analysis: An Introduction (4th Edition) by William N. Dunn: Public Policy Analysis:  An Introductory, 4/e,  introduces students to the process and methodology of public policy analysis. Using a problems-oriented and a multidisciplinary synthesis approach, this text bridges the gap between theory and practice. The text draws from political science, public administration, economics, decision analysis, and social and political theory to achieve the only integrated, multidisciplinary text on policy analysis currently available.   
• Public Policy: Politics, Analysis, And Alternatives by Michael E. Kraft and Scott R. Furlong:  The book starts with the basics and concisely describes government institutions, identifies primary policy actors, and reviews major theoretical models. The authors then discuss the nature of policy analysis and its practice, and show students how to employ evaluative criteria in six substantive policy areas. At its core, Public Policy guides students through policy alternatives, arming them with the analytic tools to understand how the interests and motivations of policy actors--both within and outside of government--impact a complex, yet comprehensible, policy agenda. 
• Public Policy: Politics, Analysis, And Alternatives by Michael E. Kraft and Scott R. Furlong:  The book starts with the basics and concisely describes government institutions, identifies primary policy actors, and reviews major theoretical models. The authors then discuss the nature of policy analysis and its practice, and show students how to employ evaluative criteria in six substantive policy areas. At its core, Public Policy guides students through policy alternatives, arming them with the analytic tools to understand how the interests and motivations of policy actors--both within and outside of government--impact a complex, yet comprehensible, policy agenda.