Deck 11: The Policy Process

Question 1

Which of the following is the major deficiency of the institutional approach to the policy process is that it fails to account for the fact that…

A) the policy process does not occur in a specific order.
B) sweeping change may be rare, but it sometimes does occur.
C) the policy process includes issues of power, conflict, and influence.
D) All of the above statements are major deficiencies of the institutional approach.
E) None of the above statements are major deficiencies of the institutional approach.

Answer 1

C

Question 2

Which of the following is not a stage in the policy cycle:

A) agenda setting
B) problem definition
C) policy design
D) program evaluation
E) risk analysis

Answer 2

E

Question 3

The theory that public policy occurs in a series of small steps is called…

A) Incrementalism
B) Policy subsystems
C) Rational choice
D) Policy streams
E) None of the above

Answer 3

A

Question 4

The window of opportunity for policy change stays open for a limited amount of time because…

A) public attention eventually moves elsewhere.
B) the problem may be solved.
C) realization dawns that the problem is complex.
D) All of the above are reasons why the window of opportunity for policy change stays open for a limited amount of time.
E) None of the above are reasons why the window of opportunity for policy change stays open for a limited amount time.

Question 5

Rational choice theory emphasizes which of the following?

A) organizational decision-making behavior as influenced by incentives and rules in an institutional setting.
B) the stable nature of the policy process over time.
C) there are many participants involved in the policy process, both inside and outside government.
D) All of the above.
E) None of the above.

Question 6

The Prisoner's Dilemma is an example of…

A) the policy cycle
B) game theory
C) policy streams
D) the garbage can model
E) policy subsystems

Question 7

The key element in the advocacy coalition framework is…

A) the availability or unavailability of resources
B) the policy subsystem where interested parties organize into a number of identifiable coalitions.
C) rules and patterns of interaction.
D) All of the above.
E) None of the above.

Question 8

The stage of the policy process that is concerned with the way policies are carried out by public agencies is called…

A) agenda setting
B) authoritative decision-making
C) implementation
D) problem definition
E) alternative selection

Question 9

Which of the following is not one of the common approaches to evaluation?

A) efficiency assessments
B) impact assessments
C) process evaluations
D) program theory
E) action research

Question 10

Which of the following gained prominence after the Great Society initiatives of the 1960s as questions arose over whether expensive and expansive programs were accomplishing their intended effects?

A) Stakeholder analysis
B) Needs assessments
C) Qualitative research
D) Evaluation research
E) None of the above.

Question 11

Agenda setting refers to the process by which interventions are considered and defined as potential solutions.

Question 12

Program evaluation is the means of determining what actually happens after a policy has been implemented.

Question 13

The policy streams theory focuses on the agenda setting and alternative selection stages of the policy cycle.

Question 14

Rational choice emphasizes policy subsystems rather than official institutions of government.

Question 15

The advocacy coalition framework focuses on official institutions of government rather than policy subsystems and their interactions.

Question 16

The larger the number of participants involved, the greater the chance that a program will be implemented as planned.

Question 17

According to Wildavsky, if planning were judged by whether life followed the dictates of the plan, then planning has failed everywhere it has been tried.

Question 18

Process evaluations are oriented to the agenda setting stage of the policy cycle.

Question 19

Alternative selection involves the means by which some actions, and not others, are presented to policy makers for decision-making.

Question 20

The garbage can model reflects a fluid and somewhat random process as people, problems, and solutions flow together.

Question 21

Matching Exercise
Match the concepts in the left-hand column to their counterparts in the right-hand column.
-Public policy

A) The concept of public policy as a series of stages.
B) The theory that focuses on subsystems and the importance of core beliefs or values that drive groups to compete for influence.
C) The means of determining what actually happens after policy approval; an assessment of program processes and impacts focusing on aspect that are observable or measurable.
D) The theory that public policy occurs in a series of small, incremental steps or changes and not all at once.
E) Decision-making done on behalf of or affecting the public, especially that which is done by government.
F) The theory that the policy process is marked by fluidity and a certain degree of randomness.
G) The theory that individuals attempt to maximize their interests in the policy process.
H) The means by which some solutions, and not others, are presented to policy makers for decision.
I) An example of the use of game theory in a simple decision-making situation.
J) Groups of people with a common interest in an issue, including experts,advocates, and officials.

Question 22

Matching Exercise
Match the concepts in the left-hand column to their counterparts in the right-hand column.
-Alternative selection

A) The concept of public policy as a series of stages.
B) The theory that focuses on subsystems and the importance of core beliefs or values that drive groups to compete for influence.
C) The means of determining what actually happens after policy approval; an assessment of program processes and impacts focusing on aspect that are observable or measurable.
D) The theory that public policy occurs in a series of small, incremental steps or changes and not all at once.
E) Decision-making done on behalf of or affecting the public, especially that which is done by government.
F) The theory that the policy process is marked by fluidity and a certain degree of randomness.
G) The theory that individuals attempt to maximize their interests in the policy process.
H) The means by which some solutions, and not others, are presented to policy makers for decision.
I) An example of the use of game theory in a simple decision-making situation.
J) Groups of people with a common interest in an issue, including experts,advocates, and officials.

Question 23

Matching Exercise
Match the concepts in the left-hand column to their counterparts in the right-hand column.
-Policy Cycle

A) The concept of public policy as a series of stages.
B) The theory that focuses on subsystems and the importance of core beliefs or values that drive groups to compete for influence.
C) The means of determining what actually happens after policy approval; an assessment of program processes and impacts focusing on aspect that are observable or measurable.
D) The theory that public policy occurs in a series of small, incremental steps or changes and not all at once.
E) Decision-making done on behalf of or affecting the public, especially that which is done by government.
F) The theory that the policy process is marked by fluidity and a certain degree of randomness.
G) The theory that individuals attempt to maximize their interests in the policy process.
H) The means by which some solutions, and not others, are presented to policy makers for decision.
I) An example of the use of game theory in a simple decision-making situation.
J) Groups of people with a common interest in an issue, including experts,advocates, and officials.

Question 24

Matching Exercise
Match the concepts in the left-hand column to their counterparts in the right-hand column.
-Incrementalism

A) The concept of public policy as a series of stages.
B) The theory that focuses on subsystems and the importance of core beliefs or values that drive groups to compete for influence.
C) The means of determining what actually happens after policy approval; an assessment of program processes and impacts focusing on aspect that are observable or measurable.
D) The theory that public policy occurs in a series of small, incremental steps or changes and not all at once.
E) Decision-making done on behalf of or affecting the public, especially that which is done by government.
F) The theory that the policy process is marked by fluidity and a certain degree of randomness.
G) The theory that individuals attempt to maximize their interests in the policy process.
H) The means by which some solutions, and not others, are presented to policy makers for decision.
I) An example of the use of game theory in a simple decision-making situation.
J) Groups of people with a common interest in an issue, including experts,advocates, and officials.

Question 25

Matching Exercise
Match the concepts in the left-hand column to their counterparts in the right-hand column.
-Policy subsystems

A) The concept of public policy as a series of stages.
B) The theory that focuses on subsystems and the importance of core beliefs or values that drive groups to compete for influence.
C) The means of determining what actually happens after policy approval; an assessment of program processes and impacts focusing on aspect that are observable or measurable.
D) The theory that public policy occurs in a series of small, incremental steps or changes and not all at once.
E) Decision-making done on behalf of or affecting the public, especially that which is done by government.
F) The theory that the policy process is marked by fluidity and a certain degree of randomness.
G) The theory that individuals attempt to maximize their interests in the policy process.
H) The means by which some solutions, and not others, are presented to policy makers for decision.
I) An example of the use of game theory in a simple decision-making situation.
J) Groups of people with a common interest in an issue, including experts,advocates, and officials.

Question 26

Matching Exercise
Match the concepts in the left-hand column to their counterparts in the right-hand column.
-Evaluation

A) The concept of public policy as a series of stages.
B) The theory that focuses on subsystems and the importance of core beliefs or values that drive groups to compete for influence.
C) The means of determining what actually happens after policy approval; an assessment of program processes and impacts focusing on aspect that are observable or measurable.
D) The theory that public policy occurs in a series of small, incremental steps or changes and not all at once.
E) Decision-making done on behalf of or affecting the public, especially that which is done by government.
F) The theory that the policy process is marked by fluidity and a certain degree of randomness.
G) The theory that individuals attempt to maximize their interests in the policy process.
H) The means by which some solutions, and not others, are presented to policy makers for decision.
I) An example of the use of game theory in a simple decision-making situation.
J) Groups of people with a common interest in an issue, including experts,advocates, and officials.

Question 27

Matching Exercise
Match the concepts in the left-hand column to their counterparts in the right-hand column.
-Advocacy coalition framework

A) The concept of public policy as a series of stages.
B) The theory that focuses on subsystems and the importance of core beliefs or values that drive groups to compete for influence.
C) The means of determining what actually happens after policy approval; an assessment of program processes and impacts focusing on aspect that are observable or measurable.
D) The theory that public policy occurs in a series of small, incremental steps or changes and not all at once.
E) Decision-making done on behalf of or affecting the public, especially that which is done by government.
F) The theory that the policy process is marked by fluidity and a certain degree of randomness.
G) The theory that individuals attempt to maximize their interests in the policy process.
H) The means by which some solutions, and not others, are presented to policy makers for decision.
I) An example of the use of game theory in a simple decision-making situation.
J) Groups of people with a common interest in an issue, including experts,advocates, and officials.

Question 28

Matching Exercise
Match the concepts in the left-hand column to their counterparts in the right-hand column.
-Prisoner's dilemma

A) The concept of public policy as a series of stages.
B) The theory that focuses on subsystems and the importance of core beliefs or values that drive groups to compete for influence.
C) The means of determining what actually happens after policy approval; an assessment of program processes and impacts focusing on aspect that are observable or measurable.
D) The theory that public policy occurs in a series of small, incremental steps or changes and not all at once.
E) Decision-making done on behalf of or affecting the public, especially that which is done by government.
F) The theory that the policy process is marked by fluidity and a certain degree of randomness.
G) The theory that individuals attempt to maximize their interests in the policy process.
H) The means by which some solutions, and not others, are presented to policy makers for decision.
I) An example of the use of game theory in a simple decision-making situation.
J) Groups of people with a common interest in an issue, including experts,advocates, and officials.

Question 29

Matching Exercise
Match the concepts in the left-hand column to their counterparts in the right-hand column.
-Rational choice

A) The concept of public policy as a series of stages.
B) The theory that focuses on subsystems and the importance of core beliefs or values that drive groups to compete for influence.
C) The means of determining what actually happens after policy approval; an assessment of program processes and impacts focusing on aspect that are observable or measurable.
D) The theory that public policy occurs in a series of small, incremental steps or changes and not all at once.
E) Decision-making done on behalf of or affecting the public, especially that which is done by government.
F) The theory that the policy process is marked by fluidity and a certain degree of randomness.
G) The theory that individuals attempt to maximize their interests in the policy process.
H) The means by which some solutions, and not others, are presented to policy makers for decision.
I) An example of the use of game theory in a simple decision-making situation.
J) Groups of people with a common interest in an issue, including experts,advocates, and officials.

Question 30

Matching Exercise
Match the concepts in the left-hand column to their counterparts in the right-hand column.
-Garbage can model

A) The concept of public policy as a series of stages.
B) The theory that focuses on subsystems and the importance of core beliefs or values that drive groups to compete for influence.
C) The means of determining what actually happens after policy approval; an assessment of program processes and impacts focusing on aspect that are observable or measurable.
D) The theory that public policy occurs in a series of small, incremental steps or changes and not all at once.
E) Decision-making done on behalf of or affecting the public, especially that which is done by government.
F) The theory that the policy process is marked by fluidity and a certain degree of randomness.
G) The theory that individuals attempt to maximize their interests in the policy process.
H) The means by which some solutions, and not others, are presented to policy makers for decision.
I) An example of the use of game theory in a simple decision-making situation.
J) Groups of people with a common interest in an issue, including experts,advocates, and officials.