Deck 4: Analyzing and Researching Social Welfare Policies

Question 1

Incrementalism in social welfare policy development is:

A)major steps in creating new policy
B)major steps in amending existing policies
C)small changes in existing policies
D)no changes in existing policies
E)rational and fair

Answer 1

C

Question 2

What is the difference between the intended impact of a social welfare policy and the actual impact? Give an example to illustrate you answer.

Answer 2

Answers Will Vary

Question 3

Based on the window of opportunity theory, for an idea to become a public policy the following elements must be present:

A)cost analysis, policy alternatives and lack of consequences
B)small changes to existing policies and political support
C)a compelling public problem, timing, political support, and a solution
D)administrative direction and public interest
E)legislative imperative

Answer 3

C

Question 4

Street level bureaucracy focuses on:

A)what happens after social welfare policy is implemented
B)what happens before social welfare policy is implemented
C)what happens during social welfare policy development
D)administrators control of social welfare programs
E)policy-makers input in social welfare policy development

Question 5

Social welfare policies are not created and enacted through:

A)lobbying
B)executive orders
C)judicial decisions
D)agency regulations
E)presidential decree

Question 6

Social welfare policy often flows from the federal government.  Identify how other systems and groups are impacted by the implementation of federal social welfare policies.

Question 7

Social welfare policy analysis is the investigation and inquiry into the causes and consequences of social welfare programs.

Question 8

Discuss the differences between rationalism and incrementalism in the development of social welfare policy.  What do you think are the strengths and weaknesses of each approach?

Question 9

The number of Congressional Districts in the United States:

A)Changes with the decennial census
B)Stands at 435
C)Includes all Senators, and stands at 535
D)Represents about 5 million people in each
E)Varies from election to election

Question 10

The U.S. Census Bureau publishes data that are available only through on-line membership.

Question 11

The magnitude of a social event often influences the course of public policy.

Question 12

Reliable sources for policy research include:

A)government documents
B)brochures from constituent groups
C)internet blogs
D)political campaign commercials
E)People magazine

Question 13

Which of the following is not an example of how social welfare policy gets developed?

A)rationalism
B)incrementalism
C)window of opportunity
D)street-level bureaucrats
E)biological determinism

Question 14

The book presents the critical theory model for social welfare policy analysis.  Identify and explain the key steps in this model.

Question 15

Social welfare policy always follows a linear flow.

Question 16

Social welfare programs are a product of input from all concerned parties.

Question 17

The first step in any analysis of social welfare policies is:

A)identifying the key players
B)identifying the issue or problem of concern
C)assessing the actual impact
D)assessing the intended impact
E)assessing public reaction

Question 18

The critical theory model of analysis stresses:

A)the impact that race plays on social welfare policy development
B)whether an imbalance of power impacts social welfare policy development
C)who benefits and who does not benefit from social welfare policy
D)the impact that class plays on social welfare policy development
E)all of the choices listed

Question 19

Rational policy-making includes knowledge of all possible policy alternatives.

Question 20

Public policies are passed into law through the legislative, executive and:

A)regulatory branch
B)judicial branch
C)congressional caucus
D)constitutional commission
E)state lobbies

Question 21

What are the steps you might take to conduct thorough research on a policy issue?

Question 22

How can understanding and application of critical theory help in analyzing the impact of social welfare policies?