Public Policy Key Terms: Chapters 4 and 5

Vocabulary flashcards covering concepts from Chapter 4 (Analyze) and Chapter 5 (Investigate), focusing on policy decision-making models, problem analysis, and option generation.

problem

An unsatisfactory set of conditions for which relief is sought, either privately or through government.

rational decision-making

A problem-solving model that defines the problem, identifies goals, considers alternatives, evaluates consequences, and selects the strongest option.

rational-comprehensive approach

A demanding form of analysis that attempts to consider nearly all relevant options, effects, and consequences.

incremental decision-making

A more limited approach that makes modest or gradual changes rather than attempting a fully comprehensive solution.

assessing alternatives

Judging policy options against relevant criteria, expected consequences, trade-offs, and uncertainty.

root causes

Underlying or fundamental causes of a public problem that may be difficult to change but are important for deep analysis.

proximate causes

Immediate or more direct causes of a public problem that may be more feasible targets for policy action.

democratic political processes

Citizen, political, and institutional processes through which public values and democratic choice shape policy decisions.

problem analysis

Process of describing a public problem by examining its nature, extent or magnitude, causes, and public-policy significance.

operational measures

Concrete indicators used to represent and measure a problem so analysis can move beyond vague concern.

issue framing

The way policy actors define and present a problem to shape attention, agenda setting, and preferred responses.

causes

Explanations for how a problem arose, why it continues, and what factors may be contributing to it.

public attitudes and habits

Long-standing beliefs, behaviors, and routines that may help sustain a problem or make policy change difficult.

solutions

Possible ways to reduce, manage, or address a problem through public or private action.

quick survey

A rapid scan of policy networks, hearings, meeting minutes, news accounts, or knowledgeable actors for ideas and evidence.

literature review

Examination of books, articles, reports, websites, and other sources to identify evidence and previously considered alternatives.

passive collection

Gathering ideas from clients, administrators, advocates, organizations, or others who have already suggested alternatives.

supply and demand perspectives

Ways of interpreting a problem as involving too little supply, too much demand, or a combination of both.

policy design

Careful consideration of policy agents, target populations, tools, and expected behavior change during formulation.

no-action analysis

Analysis that treats the status quo as a baseline and considers whether keeping present policy may be a viable option.

creative thinking

Intentional effort to expand the set of possible policy actions beyond familiar or conventional options.

parallel situation

Looking to another policy area or setting for an analogous problem or possible policy response.

brainstorming

Informal generation of many possible ideas with others before narrowing or evaluating alternatives.

ideal situation

Imagining a preferred future state and using it to generate possible paths for improvement.