Deck 7: Analyzing Problems in the First Step of Policy Analysis

Question 1

Welfare reform demonstrates that:

A) The perception of problems and solutions are shaped by culture and values.
B) Social workers must not let non-rational factors such as culture interfere in problem solving.
C) Policy makers from all political ideologies agree on welfare issues.
D) Politicians are more worried about funding than about people.

Answer 1

A

Question 2

Legislators are more likely to invest funds in:

A) Programs that address widespread problems.
B) Problems with a low incidence.
C) Issues that do not have much data to support them.
D) All of the choices are correct.

Answer 2

A

Question 3

The chronicity of a problem refers to:

A) How much job experience a person has.
B) The geographical place where the problem is.
C) Outward behavior or characteristics of a person with the problem.
D) How often the problem occurs or how long it has lasted.

Answer 3

D

Question 4

Which of the following is a community factor that can cause welfare problems?

A) A person who is a single parent.
B) A parent of a child with disabilities.
C) The availability of public transport.
D) Dyslexia.

Question 5

Primary prevention is sometimes difficult to achieve because of:

A) The expense of preventive programs .
B) The difficulty of accurate prediction.
C) Too many people want to participate.
D) No one wants to develop programs.

Question 6

When beginning to analyze a problem, advocates must consider:

A) Which political issues led to this problem?
B) Which solutions currently exist for this problem?
C) How much money is being spent tackling this problem?
D) All of the choices are correct.

Question 7

In order to effectively analyze the relative merits of two options, policy analysts must first:

A) Judge each option on the basis of the same specific criteria.
B) Consider to what extent each option meets a social justice criteria.
C) Decide if an option will be cost effective.
D) Choose which option they prefer.

Question 8

It is useful to diagram social problems in order to:

A) Develop solutions in context.
B) Identify all populations affected by a problem.
C) Support empirical data.
D) Identify which geographical areas need change.

Question 9

A researcher with ___________ perspectives will emphasize economic and social inequalities as the cause of a problem.

A) Ecological.
B) Radical.
C) Medical.
D) Intraphysic.

Question 10

People do not seek the assistance of organized programs because:

A) They are able to solve their own problems.
B) They do not know about these services.
C) Use of the service will penalize them.
D) They prefer to continue without help.

Question 11

Once a policy advocate has established a typology and analyzed the causation of a problem, the next step is:

A) To devise an intervention to solve the problem.
B) To fund raise.
C) To provide a direct-service approach to assisting client population.
D) To enlist the aid of local politicians.

Question 12

In order to develop and defend a policy proposal, a policy advocate must go through ____ steps.

A) Four.
B) Six.
C) Seven.
D) Eight.

Question 13

Preventive strategies often require:

A) More funding than problem solving.
B) The active involvement of people.
C) The isolation of people from their social or cultural group.
D) Trial and error.

Question 14

Why must policy advocates analyze proposals?

A) To identify the sources of adequate funding.
B) To choose which legislators to approach.
C) To ensure that the proposal has substance and is politically viable.
D) To ensure it is based on professional wisdom.

Question 15

Giving assistance to a person as soon as a problem arises is known as

A) Primary prevention.
B) Secondary prevention.
C) Tertiary prevention.
D) Preventative strategy.

Question 16

When is a social condition considered to be a problem that requires a solution?

A) When it is supported by data from a census.
B) When it is supported by medical evidence.
C) When society decides it is a problem.
D) The distinction between a condition and a problem changes based on the time, place and people.

Question 17

What is an example of a successful outcome?

A) A person who is reliant on an organized service to meet their needs.
B) A person who has identified an organization that can provide the help they need.
C) A person who has overcome the challenge of a physical disability.
D) A person who has found some informal support.

Question 18

Which of the following is NOT one of the ambiguities or philosophical issues confronted by policy advocates?

A) That people favor complex solutions to simple problems.
B) The difficulty in determining when social problems are real and when they are invented.
C) The fact that priorities are often not chosen rationally.
D) That solving one problem sometimes creates another problem.

Question 19

The first step of policy analysis is:

A) Identify a selection of opinions.
B) Seek support and funding.
C) Familiarize yourself with a specific social problem.
D) Prepare a key presentation.

Question 20

Which of the following is an example of a constructive approach?

A) Day care for children.
B) Housing subsidies.
C) Job training.
D) All of the choices are correct.