Question 1

Which of the following states wanted to enact a law that would entail requiring proof of immigration status?

Accepted Answer

A)  Alabama 
B)  California 
C)  Nebraska 
D)  Colorado

Question 2

When developing policy alternatives to address a problem, the policymaker should examine ______, which refer(s) to how well the policy has worked in a state, pilot test, or other smaller scale attempt to implement it.

Accepted Answer

A)  real-world or parallel situations 
B)  literature reviews 
C)  forecasting 
D)  implementation

Question 3

What does a no-action analysis begin with?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What does a no-action analysis begin with?...

Question 4

What is involved in problem analysis? Explain how trying to define a simple problem is often political. Give your own example of analyzing a problem (such as illegal immigration).

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is involved in problem analysis? Explain...

Question 5

The policy design tools that rely on the premise that most people will behave because they have been told to do so are known as ______.

Accepted Answer

A)  learning tools 
B)  capacity-building tools 
C)  hortatory tools 
D)  authority tools

Question 6

What does the term policy design mean?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What does the term policy design mean?...

Question 7

Which of the following information sources would provide an initial overview of a subject or problem and would be a good place to begin the process of policy analysis?

Accepted Answer

A)  a specialized journal on the topic 
B)  The American Statistical Index 
C)  The New York Times 
D)  an interview with a key policymaker

Question 8

Policy analysts study the nature of the problem. Which statement below best defines what this refers to?

Accepted Answer

A)  the extent, magnitude, and causes of the problem 
B)  the operational measures of the problem 
C)  primary data collection 
D)  the evaluative criteria that should be applied to the problem

Question 9

Statistical information can be displayed in which of the following ways?

Accepted Answer

A)  pie charts 
B)  line figures 
C)  bar charts 
D)  all of these

Question 10

What does the beginning of a policy study involve?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What does the beginning of a policy...

Question 11

Why is contextual data considered essential?

Accepted Answer

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Question 12

Indicators of sustainability refer to ______ data that attempt to measure a community's progress toward the goal of sustainability.

Accepted Answer

A)  capacity 
B)  quantitative 
C)  interview 
D)  estimated

Question 13

Governments may invest in training programs for their own staff or for the public. This policy design tool is referred to as ______.

Accepted Answer

A)  capacity-building tools 
B)  authority tools 
C)  creative thinking 
D)  inducements

Question 14

Toll roads require motorists to pay for the use of the roads. Local or state governments that have toll roads are using which policy tool?

Accepted Answer

A)  privatizing 
B)  rationing 
C)  subsidizing 
D)  charging fees

Question 15

What is issue framing?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is issue framing?...

Question 16

Which of the following illustrates an operational measure of school quality?

Accepted Answer

A)  parental comments 
B)  the number of courses offered at the school 
C)  the taxes available for education 
D)  standardized test scores

Question 17

What is the purpose of a literature review?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is the purpose of a literature...

Question 18

Based on your study of policy tools in Chapter 5, choose an example policy issue to work with (such as illegal immigration, cell phone use while driving, reforming health care, reduction of carbon emissions, or your own). Discuss different policy tools available and how they could be applied to this problem, explaining what they are and how they work.

Accepted Answer

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Question 19

The Affordable Care Act (Obama's health-care law) included funding for many pilot projects and special studies that will be used to select future policy options to use on a more widespread basis. The funding of these efforts is an example of the policy tools called ______.

Accepted Answer

A)  ration 
B)  hortatory tools 
C)  conduct research 
D)  use of market incentives

Question 20

Local governments often hire nonprofit organizations to provide some of the services government provides, such as treatment for drug addiction or maintenance of trails. These are examples of ______.

Accepted Answer

A)  contracting out 
B)  subsidizing 
C)  regulating 
D)  educating

Exam 5: Public Problems and Policy Alternatives