PUBLIC POLICY CASE STUDY    PUBLIC POLICY AND ADMINISTRATION AS POLS 2610 6.0 Fall - Winter 2000-2001, Prof. J. Newton

 

Purpose:

 

The democratic organization of modern states poses perplexing and pressing questions.  Citizen movements from around the world are demanding that states become more open and responsive to public needs.  How have liberal democratic states historically controlled the administrative structure of the state?  Can modern bureaucracies and policy-making be made more democratic?  What will be the role of citizen movements in this democratic process?  Can the socio-economic outcomes of policy-making in modern capitalism be made more egalitarian? 

 

The purpose of this case study is to allow you an opportunity to engage in an in-depth examination of a specific area of public policy over the course of the year and to address some of these questions.  Through a series of pre-writing assignments and a final paper you will learn the various components of undertaking an independent research project, gain knowledge of research resources and the range of groups and actors that constitute the policy environment, and present the findings in a final research report.  In other words, the assignment involves the kinds of research processes and analysis that either a government research officer or an independent policy analyst might undertake (whether that analyst worked for a policy think-tank or a citizen's group).  

 

A research essay in a policy field requires a writer both to develop a cogent, defensible argument concerning a specific policy area and to present an empirical defence of that argument through policy documents and/or statistical research.  Arguments are defended through evidence, not merely descriptions of other people's opinions or unverified assertions.  A good research essay balances logical argument and research findings to support specific conclusions.  The staged pre-writing assignments will help you gather the research material necessary for developing such an argument in your essay. 

 

Overview of Pre-writing assignments:

 

1.  Resource Survey: This survey will familiarize you with some of the better sources for public policy research and hone your searching strategies.  It will also help you decide which policy topic you want to focus on for your case study.  A library workshop scheduled during tutorial hours will assist you in completing this project successfully.

2.  Mapping the Policy Area: You will identify key sources and policy actors for your policy and establish an initial research hypotheses and argument. 

3.  Policy Background Survey:  To know where we are now in a policy area involves knowing where we have been and determining what are some of the empirical measures appropriate for the chosen policy field.  You will locate and examine government policy documents, attain recent newspaper reports and find basic statistical information on your policy topic.  A library workshop scheduled during tutorial hours will assist you in completing this project successfully.

4.  Policy Community Views: Policy-making in a democracy involves many political actors who monitor government activity and advocate different policy directions.  You will get to know several groups in your policy community better. 

5.  Reference skills:  You will demonstrate your ability to reference the material needed for the case study, including any government documents or Internet sources, and resolve any outstanding concerns about referencing and avoiding plagiarism.  Must be completed successfully before handing in essay.  One lecture period will be devoted to preparing for this assignment.

 

Public Policy Case Study: The argument and findings are presented in a research essay so that others can assess and then agree or challenge the validity of the argument and research findings.  The research essay then plays a role in the wider disputes about policy that inevitably involve conflicts that ensue between interest groups and the social classes in a democracy.     

 

Grade Breakdown

 

Five pre-writing assignments:  Each pre-writing assignment contributes an important component to the final paper.  Tutorial time will be devoted to working on aspects of these assignments.  Each short assignment will be graded out of four:

     0 = no submission

1 = unsatisfactory

2 = satisfactory but requires revision

3 = satisfactory, minor revisions 

4 = good

A total of 20 points can be earned on these five assignments.  Though each assignment in itself is not worth much, successful completion of each is crucial for successful completion of the final project.  Therefore, students are strongly encouraged to revise pre-writing assignments, following the feedback from the tutor.  At the discretion of the tutorial leader, revised pre-writing assignments may be re-graded.

 

 

 

Late Policy:  Half a point per day will be taken off each late assignment.  This late policy is intended to encourage you to do your work throughout the year, and not leave research to the last minute.  For example, if you earned a three out of four for a pre-writing assignment, but were late two days you would receive two out of four.  If you received a B (22/30) on your final paper, but were late four days, your grade would drop to C+ (20/30).  No assignments will be accepted after 5 days without a medical note.  Notify your tutorial leader in advance if you anticipate a late assignment.

 

Pre-Writing Assignment #1 RESOURCES SURVEY   Due Date: Oct. 25, in tutorial                                    Grade:  4% of course.

Late Policy:  .5 per day late                                       Length: 1 page

 

Required Library Workshop:  To be announced in tutorial.

Required Reading: 

Scott and Garrison, “Information Resources: Library and Internet,” ch. 8 in Political Science Student Writer’s Manual.

Web Site: http://info.library.yorku.ca/depts/bg/govcollections.htm

 

Purpose:  This assignment will generate a class resource for some of the more useful public policy resources.  Part A is designed to familiarize you with some of the better sources for public policy research.  Part B is designed to improve your searching skills.  This project will also help you choose the policy that will be the focus of your case study.

 

Assignment:  Students will be assigned one of the resources from the Resource List (over) to present in tutorial.  Search for information about this resource on the Internet and/or in the York Library.  Write a one-page handout of the resource, including crucial information under the headings below from Part A and B.  Bring (26) copies of your handout to circulate it to the rest of the tutorial.

 

Part A: 

1.  Where is it published or located?

2.  Who is involved – as publisher, authors, members, producers, etc.?

3.  What policies govern it?  E.g.: publication policy, organizational policy, etc.

4.  What finding aids would you use to find this resource? 

5.  What kinds of policy topics has it covered in the last 10 years?  In what policy areas would this resource be useful? 

6.  What societal groups or viewpoints are well represented in this resource?

7.  Do you see any notable strengths, weaknesses, or biases of this resource?

 

Part B: Reverse Search – Searching Strategies

Select one particularly good source within your resource (for example, an article or a web page that focuses on a particular policy).  Pretend you are doing research on exactly this topic, and would like to locate this good source.  Without using an exact title, author or topic, try to locate that particular source using typical finding aids.  Briefly, discuss what searching strategies are helpful or unhelpful in locating this source. 

 

RESOURCE LIST

 

	Resource	Name of Student(s)
1.	Alberta Report
2.	Business Council on National Issues
3.	C. D. Howe Institute
4.	Canada West Foundation
5.	Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives
6.	Canadian Council on Social Development
7.	Canadian Institute for Economic Policy
8.	Canadian Journal of Political Science
9.	Canadian Journal of Women and the Law
10.	Canadian Labour Congress
11.	Canadian Policy Research Networks
12.	Canadian Public Administration
13.	Canadian Public Policy
14.	Canadian Research Institute for the Advancement of Women
15.	Conference Board of Canada
16.	Fraser Institute
17.	How Ottawa Spends
19.	Institute for Research on Public Policy
20.	National Action Committee on the Status of Women
21.	National Council of Welfare
22.	Ottawa Letter
23.	Optimum
24.	Policy Options
25.	Public Policy Forum
26.	Studies in Political Economy
27.	Women’s Legal Education and Action Fund (LEAF)

 

 

 

Pre-Writing Assignment #2 Mapping the Policy Area
Due: Nov. 15, in tutorial	Grade: 4%
Late Policy:  .5 points per day late	Length: 5 pages

 

Purpose:  This assignment is designed to help you develop an initial map of your chosen policy area.  You will identify key sources and policy actors and develop your initial research hypothesis and argument.

 

Required Reading: Scott and Garrison, ch. 4.

 

To begin:  Select a policy topic from the Suggested Policy Case Studies List (over) or select an alternative policy with the approval of the tutorial leader.

 

1.  Annotated Bibliography: This means a short three to four sentence summary of a source.  Provide a bibliography in proper format that includes 8-10 sources (only one being a textbook) and include books, journal articles (this should not include newspapers or popular magazines), and at least one reliable Internet source.  This is the basis for assessing what policy analysts have been arguing. 

2.  Policy Community:  Identify and discuss the activities of at least two research, interest, or citizen's groups active in the policy area.  Include consideration of race, gender and class in your choices.  Provide their addresses and list some of their publications if possible. 

3.  Government Agencies:  Identify the relevant Canadian government department at the federal and provincial levels involved in the policy area.  Identify an international agency that is involved in the policy area. 

4.  Political Parties: Policy always involves disputes amongst the parties and contending political philosophies.  Either directly or theoretically, briefly describe the approach typically taken to the policy area by the right (neoliberals/conservatives), the centre (liberals) and the left (socialists). 

5.  Question, Hypothesis and Argument:  Present your initial research question, hypothesis and argument in a paragraph (100-150 words).        

 

SUGGESTED POLICY CASE STUDIES

 

Cultural policy:

• Arts funding
• Culture protection of Canadian magazines/publishing 
• Film policy
• International promotion of Canadian culture
• Media ownership
• Museum or art gallery policies
• New communication technologies
• Public broadcasting

 

Environmental policy:

• Disaster prevention and relief
• Oceans and coastal shelf
• Ozone and carbon emissions/acid rain
• Reforestation and forestry policy
• Wilderness and/or national parks policy
• Wildlife protection/endangered species/biodiversity

 

Employment and labour market policy:

• Aboriginal/youth unemployment
• Domestic Workers Policy
• Employment insurance
• Employment/pay equity
• Health and safety
• Immigration policies
• Job creation
• Refugee policies
• Training and adjustment policies

 

Trade policy:

• The Atlantic Fishery
• Export promotion in Asia-Pacific markets
• Industrial policy
• The Pacific Fishery
• Science and technology policy/research and development
• Sectoral policy: autos, pulp and paper, forestry, textiles, agriculture/dairies/livestock, petroleum, mining, financial services
• Trade agreements
• Water & Energy under NAFTA

 

 

Economic Policy:

• GST 
• International aid and development
• Monetary policy
• Patents, for example drug patents

 

Social Policy:

• AIDS Policy
• Childcare
• Corrections Policy & Women
• Corrections and rehabilitation
• Divorce
• Drug Benefits for seniors
• Education policies
• Healthcare: specific aspects of it
• Homecare 
• New Reproductive Technologies
• Permanent Partial Disability & Workers Compensation
• Policies on restricted substances (e.g. cannabis)
• Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples
• Same-sex benefits
• Social security review process
• Student loans programmes
• Taxation Policies (RRSP) for retirement
• Taxation policies for higher education
• University Funding
• Workfare

 

 

  

PRE-WRITING ASSIGNMENT #3 POLICY BACKGROUND SURVEY   Due: Jan. 29, in tutorial                                                           Grade: 4%                     Late Policy: .5 points per day late                                   Length: 6-8 pages

 

Purpose:  To know where we are now in a policy area involves knowing where we have been and determining what are some of the appropriate empirical measures of our chosen policy field.  This assignment will involve locating and examining government policy documents, attaining recent newspaper reports and finding basic statistical information on the policy area.  You will include consideration of race, gender and class in your survey where relevant.  A basic component of any policy analysis report is the history of the policy field and some evaluation of aggregate activity levels.  The hypotheses that are developed must be consistent with and be able to explain the historical development, expenditure and activity patterns in the policy field. This data is typically presented in the background section of the policy analysis report, although some may also be included as appendices to the report.     

 

Required Library Tutorial: Time to be announced in tutorial.

Required Reading: 

Scott and Garrison, ch. 5-6.

Web Site: http://www.oag-bvg.gc.ca/domino/reports.nsf/html/00menu_e.html

Web Site: http://dsp-psd.pwgsc.gc.ca/dsp-psd/Pilot/Statcan/index-e.html

Web Site: http://dsp-psd.pwgsc.gc.ca/dsp-psd/Reference/fed-e.html

Web Site: From:  http://www.library.yorku.ca/   Go to Internet Resources, Cite Internet Sources, MLA Style

 

1.  Aggregate Spending: How have expenditure patterns changed over the last ten years in your policy area?  What impact have changes in the financing of federalism and government cutbacks had on the policy field?  You should provide summary tables or graphs for the overall departmental spending in your area and, as much as possible, for the specific programme.  You should also provide some analysis of the trends.  

 

2.   Activity Measures: What other statistical measures are used to monitor policy outputs and performance in your policy area?  Summarize and present some of what you find.   

 

3.  Government Policy: What has been the basic chronology of policy events and key policy documents in your field?  As the history and present structure of most policy fields is still influenced by the postwar development of the welfare state, the chronology should attempt to cover from the 1940s on (although, of course, not in overwhelming detail).  Summarize at least two key government reports on the policy field and how they helped shape the specific ways the policy is delivered in Canada. 

 

4.  Political Debates: How has this policy been discussed in Parliamentary Debates?  Summarize and properly reference a key discussion of the policy field in either Parliamentary debate or Committee hearings.    

 

5.  Newspaper Accounts: Why has this policy area been in the news recently?  Locate and summarize at least two newspaper or popular news-magazines articles on the field. 

 

6.  Internet Resources: What Internet resources are available?  Identify at least two Internet sites that supply information on your policy field and the kinds of policy information and monitoring that are available there. 

 

Note:  In referencing Internet sites, be sure to consult the York Library website for how to reference these sources.  Note that with government websites, the “author” is the highest level of government, followed by the next level down.  For example:  Canada.  Elections Canada, or Ontario.  Legislative Assembly.  Followed by the “Title of Web site”… etc.  Please be sure to include the URL address, and print out any Internet sources to include as an appendix for your paper. 

 

7. Situating Canadian Policies: How does Canadian policy compare to other countries?  Briefly identify another country's policy (and properly cite the relevant reference) and compare it to Canada's.  

 

8.  Refining Arguments and Hypotheses: What were your initial question, hypothesis and argument?  How would you modify them to account for the additional historical, aggregate, contemporary and comparative data you have gathered and surveyed?

PRE-WRITING ASSIGNMENT #4 POLICY COMMUNITY VIEWS   Due: Feb. 19, in tutorial                                                           Grade: 4% Late Policy:  Half a point per day will be taken off each late assignment.

    

Review: Sources from pre-writing assignment #1 and #2.

 

Purpose:  Policy-making in a democracy involves many political actors who monitor government activity and advocate different policy directions.  This assignment entails getting to know several groups in your policy community better and assessing their views and arguments against government policy.  The groups you look at must be Non-Governmental Organizations, or business or labour associations.  They cannot be a think-tank or a government department.  Focus on two or three groups that have opposing views of the policy.  This data is typically presented in the body of the policy analysis report as part of the evaluation of the policy, or to substantiate specific claims being made in your analysis. 

 

1.  The nature of each group:  In one or two paragraphs, outline the basic facts about each NGO:  How it is organized, who supports it, who funds it, etc.

 

2.  Each group’s stance on the policy issue:  Summarize the position that each of group takes in relation to the policy.  (Limit this to 4-5 pages maximum.)  

 

3.  Analysis of Policy Stance: From the groups’ policy documents or statements, compare their views to government policy as discussed in one of the documents you found in the previous assignments.  (Limit this to 2-3 pages maximum.)  

 

4.  Refining Arguments and Hypothesis: Which group has had the most influence in shaping government policy?  How do the views of these groups, policy actors that represent particular interests and user groups of government services, challenge, affirm or provide a complimentary argument to your initial hypothesis?  (Limit this to 1 or 2 paragraphs.)  

 

 

PRE-WRITING ASSIGNMENT #5 REFERENCE SKILLS   Due: Feb. 26, * In Lecture                                                                  Grade: 4% Late Policy:  Half a point per day will be taken off each late assignment.

 

Required Reading: 

Scott and Garrison, ch. 7; (review ch. 4).

Course outline – Departmental Guidelines for Avoiding Plagiarism.

 

1.  Which method you plan to use for the reference notes and bibliography in your final paper:  APSA Author-Date; MLA parenthetical; MLA numbered footnotes/endnotes; other?

 

2.  Which reference text will you be using to format your reference notes and bibliography? (include full bibliographic information)

 

3.  Present a direct quotation from the Inwood book. 

·        Include a minor change of text and a minor omission in this quotation (see Scott and Garrison 166).

·        Reference it as you would in your essay, using a parenthetical or numbered note. 

·        Include a full citation for the bibliography or Works Cited. 

·        Attach a Xerox of the page you quoted with the passage highlighted. 

 

4.  Demonstrate how to paraphrase from one of the articles in How Ottawa Spends. 

·        Reference it as you would in an essay, using a parenthetical or numbered note (see Scott and Garrison 167). 

·        Include a full citation for the bibliography or Works Cited. 

·        Attach a Xerox of the page you quoted with the passage highlighted. 

 

5.  Demonstrate how to write a bibliographic reference for each of the following.  Attach a Xerox of the title page(s) (or web-site page) for each source, and include a Xerox of any additional pages providing the complete information for the bibliographic reference.

a) A printed government document.

b) A document by a non-governmental agency.

c) An Internet source.

 

6.  What outstanding questions do you have about how to document the information you will use in this paper – handling quotations, paraphrases, reference format, unusual sources, etc.? 

PUBLIC POLICY CASE STUDY FINAL PAPER   Due: March 13, In tutorial

 

Required Reading:

Scott and Garrison, ch. 1-3; 14.

 

Purpose:  The argument and findings you have collected in the pre-writing assignments are presented in a research essay so that others can assess and then agree or challenge the validity of the argument and research findings.  The research essay then plays a role in the wider disputes about policy, that inevitably involve conflicts between interest groups and the social classes that ensue in a democracy. 

 

Assignment:  The core questions to be addressed by the essay are presented on page one of this assignment. 

 

Format: The length of this paper should be a maximum of twelve to fifteen typed pages (3000 to 3500 words), properly referenced and with a formal bibliography.  The elements of the pre-writing assignments should be re-presented and integrated within the paper; you should also include appendices at the end of the essay as part of a larger research report.  Since Internet sources are often ephemeral, crucial Internet resources should be printed out an attached as appendices.

 

Late penalty:  Late essays will lose .5 points out of 30 for each late day.  Essays late over five days will not be accepted without a medical note.

 

Tips for completing the Final Paper

 

The goal of your paper is to effectively present and synthesize the data from your pre-writing assignments to support your thesis.  This does not mean that you can ignore information that contradicts your thesis.  For an effective argument, you must acknowledge contrary information, and refute it by providing arguments why this contrary thesis is inadequate, and why your thesis still stands.  Review Scott and Garrison, ch. 5 and 6 to help develop a persuasive argument.

 

Every essay should have the following:

 

Introduction:  Begin with a brief introductory paragraph.  Provide a provocative statistic; ask a rhetorical question; or otherwise present information to catch the reader's attention.  EXPLICITLY state your thesis/hypothesis that you will defend throughout the paper.  (Eg. "In this paper I will argue that").  This should be the last sentence of your introduction.  Your thesis should NOT be merely descriptive.  It should be normative.  In other words, it should make some judgement and evaluation of the policy.  In some cases, it is easiest to write the introduction after you have completed the body of the paper.

 

Government Policy:  Present your data from assignment #3 dealing with the history of your policy.  This may be written in paragraph form, or as a brief chronology with dates and corresponding policy developments, whatever your preference.  Pay particular attention to the current state of your policy, and those aspects most important to your thesis.  In this section, you will also discuss the relevant government reports and agencies.  In many cases, these agencies have published the reports in question.  Restate your thesis in light of the government policy, as it currently exists.

 

Conclusion:  BRIEFLY summarize your findings.  You might provide a one-sentence summary of each section that you discussed above.  Explain how all of these sections have supported your thesis.  Restate your thesis.

 

Bibliography and Referencing:  Follow a recognized bibliographic and referencing style.  Many students believe that parenthetical referencing is the easiest, but you can use any recognized method with which you feel comfortable.  Marks will be deducted for each instance of improper referencing. 

 

Ten marks (out of 100%) will be set aside for the bibliography and referencing.  This can be an easy way to get ten marks, or a needless loss of ten marks.  You decide!

 

Failure to properly reference materials that results in plagiarism may result in formal charges and will be dealt with according to the University policy.  See the sheet attached to your course outline.

 

Additional Topics to be Covered:  The following list of topics should be covered in your essay and will integrate the work you have done in the previous assignments. 

 

Aggregate Spending and Other Activity Measures:  Provide concrete statistical evidence to support your thesis.  (Assignment # 3).  This can be presented in paragraph form, with attached appendix.  You could also put some graphical data in the body of the assignment, but keep in mind that you only have 12-15 pages, and will need to conserve space!  The changes in federalism and government cutbacks are essential here. 

 

Political Parties:  What are the stances of each of the political parties on your policy?  This can be information you have gathered in both assignment #2 and #3, from Parliamentary debates, and other sources.  Which (if any) party do you agree with?  Why are the positions of other parties unacceptable?  How does this data support your thesis?

 

Non-Governmental Organizations:  What are non-governmental agencies saying about your policy?  Assignments #2 and #4 are important here.  Explain how certain NGO's positions support or contradict your thesis.  If NGOs differ, you must account for this and offer a plausible reason for the reader to accept one position over another, and your argument over that of an NGO.  Which NGOs are more influential?  What implications does this have for democracy?

 

Media:  What is being said about your policy in the popular print media (newspaper, magazines)?  How does this relate to your thesis?  (Assignment #3.)

 

Canada in Comparative Perspective:  How is Canada situated in comparison to other countries?  Is there another country that more closely matches the type of policy you would support?  (Assignment #3.)

 

Internet Resources:  Depending on the information gathered Internet sources should be integrated into the above sections where relevant.

 

 

CRITERIA FOR EVALUATION

 

A – EXCELLENT (80-100) A markedly exceptional performance

• Original, creative and insightful; paper goes beyond repeating what others have said; contributes new ideas
• Comprehensive, in-depth grasp of the policy and relevant issues
• Excellent use of relevant sources; good breadth of sources
• Awareness of different viewpoints; rigorous assessment of these
• Critical thinking demonstrated in the analysis, synthesis and evaluation of the policy
• Thoughtful argument presented, supported by evidence and defended logically
• Clear, fluent, concise writing style; logically structured paper
• Virtually flawless mastery of mechanics: grammar, structure, style and referencing

 

B – B+ - SUPERIOR (70-79) Clearly above Average Performance

• Thorough grasp of subject matter of policy and course material
• Awareness of differing viewpoints demonstrated and assessed
• Good use of relevant sources
• Paper goes beyond description to analysis, interpretation, synthesis and evaluation
• An argument presented and logically argued; appropriate supporting evidence is presented
• Clear writing style which communicates well and presents a logical, reasonable argument; may have occasional minor flaws in mechanics

 

C – C+ - SATISFACTORY (60-69) – A Fully Competent Paper

 

• Basic grasp of subject matter of policy and course material
• Accurate information incorporating relevant sources is conveyed
• Use of relevant sources; adequate breadth of sources
• An argument is adopted and logically argued
• An adequate analysis, interpretation, synthesis and evaluation
• An acceptable writing style demonstrates and awareness of and attention to the principles of paragraph development, sentence structure, grammar and spelling

 

D – POOR (50-59) A marginally acceptable paper

• Lack of familiarity with the policy or course material is demonstrated through omission of key material or through misinterpretation of key concepts or issues.
• Limited or poor use of sources
• Lack of critical thinking demonstrated: describes rather than analyses; asserts without supporting evidence; relevance of supporting evidence questionable
• An argument is not adopted, is hard to determine, or is inconsistent with the information presented in the paper
• Written expression requires improvement in basic mechanics
• Serious problems in referencing: quotations not properly presented