"Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?"
"That depends a good deal on where you want to get to," said the cat.
"I don't much care where," said Alice.
"Then it doesn't matter which way you go," said the cat.
- Alice in Wonderland
About the relationship of resources to objectives,"...where one wishes to go depends on whether one is able to get there." - Aaron Wildavsky
"...power lies not in the ability to choose, but in the ability to set the options.
Everything else is a consequence." -
CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, BAKERSFIELD
Department of Public Policy and Administration
PPA 691: Seminar in Public Policy Analysis
Summer 2008
Thomas R. Martinez, Ph.D.
(Revised 6-18-08)
TMartinez@CSUB.edu
Phone: (661) 654-3406
Office: BDC Rm #112/#110 (PPA Departmental Office) http://www.csub.edu/~tmartinez/
Preferably By Appointment: Most Convenient Advising Hours are before class M, W, Th 3-6pm.
Course Description
This course represents an integrating capstone seminar focusing on the formulation, implementation and evaluation of public policies. The course explores public policy analysis theory, decision-making models and methodology. These will be explored within the context of selected contemporary public policy areas such as health care, energy, the environment, crime/criminal justice, poverty/welfare, water, education, immigration, taxation/budgeting, and intergovernmental policy. The interplay between political, legal, economic and social institutions and their impact on public policy patterns will be emphasized, particularly as they affect the definition and analysis of public policy problems.
Relationship to Masters Paper (PPA 698)
PPA 691 should be completed before enrolling in PPA 698 since the discussion of public policy analysis will deal heavily with issues and skills in analyzing public policy (and organizational) problems. Understanding the nature of public problems and methods for problem analysis are essential first steps necessary for generating the Masters Paper "proposal" and initial "statement of the problem."
PPA 691 is primarily useful in development of Chapter 1 (Intro. and Statement of the Problem) as well as initial development of Chapter 2 & 3 of the Culminating Activity.
Departmental Learning Goals & Objectives fore the Course:
The Department of Public Policy & Administration has developed a set of learning objectives for courses in its graduate curriculum. By the time PPA 680 is completed, the student should be able to:
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THEME 1. COMMUNICATION.
Objective 1a. Oral Communication: Students will be able to present opinions, theories, and research findings orally.
Objective 1b. Writing: Students will be able to produce focused, coherent, and grammatically correct written communications applicable to government and nonprofit management.
Objective 1c. Teamwork: Students will be able to collaborate effectively in team processes.
THEME 2. THE CONTEXT OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION.
Objective 2b. Politics: Students will be able to explain how the political processes of the United States influence public management.
Objective 2d. Diversity: Students will demonstrate awareness and sensitivity to a diverse public.
THEME 3. CRITICAL THINKING.
Objective 3a. Theory Application: Students will be able to apply theories to practical policy and administrative situations.
Objective 3c. Problem Solving: Students will be able to structure problems and apply a systematic problem solving approach.
Objective 3d. Ethical Reasoning: Students will be able to describe and apply a range of ethical perspectives to ethical dilemmas inherent in Public Administration.
Objective 3e. Data analysis: Students will demonstrate ability to analyze qualitative and quantitative data.
Objective 3f. Argumentation: Students will be able to organize and defend an argument.
Objective 3g. Reporting: Students will integrate the elements of theory, methods, problem structuring, ethics, analysis, and argumentation to generate reports usable in government and nonprofit management.
THEME 4. CORE PUBLIC MANAGEMENT COMPETENCIES.
Objective 4a. Policy Process: Students will understand the stages and processes of policy making.
Objective 4b. Policy Analysis: Students will demonstrate the ability to formally structure problems, forecast expected policy outcomes, recommend preferred policies, monitor observed policy outcomes, and evaluate policy performance.
Objective 4g. Information Technology: Students will be able to effectively use information technology to accomplish administrative and policy tasks.
Class Format
The course will be conducted as a seminar, i.e., seeking/requiring “ meaningful class participation ” in the form of full engagement in-class discussions, sharing of professional knowledge, with discussions used to help focus, reflect on, and draw relevant conceptual meaning from the students' experiences with public institutions, the policy-making process and public policy problems. These discussions will be closely integrated with class lectures, assigned readings and written assignments. Thus, in view of the interactive nature of the class format and assignments (and, attendance being a prerequisite to meaningful participation), students shall be expected to attend all class sessions.
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
EMAIL: Students are encouraged to check their Runner email account at several times a week for messages from the professor. When sending email to the professor, please begin the Subject-Line with the identifier, “PPA 671.” Then, identify the nature of the Message, e.g. “Question;” “Here is Assignment
#X;” etc.
Assignments/Credit Breakdown
All Assignments are to be submitted via email as attachments before class of the due date.
Assignment #1: Defining & Explaining Public Policy (& Public Policy Analysis) : Due week 2, will require library research and serves to organize our introduction to:

What is public policy (descriptive)?;

How is it used (behavioral/operational)?; and,

Why? / What purpose does it serve (evaluative)?
Also, “what are some critical policy issues or questions in your professional arena (application)?”
Format will be discussed during the first class session (approx. 3-5 pages). 10pts.
Assignment #2 & #3: Analysis, Application, & Critique: From nightly assigned Required Readings*, each student will be expected to analyze and critique at least “2” article or chapter from the weekly readings, and to be prepared (if called upon) to do a 5 minute presentation, or assist in leading class discussion on such (approx. 2 pages). This paper should make use of applications or examples from the student's professional setting. 2@10 =20 pts.
Assignment #4: Exploring Public Policy Data Sites, Policy Research Centers, and/or Policy Journals.
5pts
Assignment #5: Team Projects on Benefit-Cost & Cost Effectiveness Analysis 10 pts.
Assignment #6: Individual Policy Study (policy analysis or program evaluation): Each student shall prepare a detailed study (approx. 8-10 single-spaced pages, including: your key data tables & figures;;
PLUS, a 1-2 pages Executive Summary/Policy Memo) on a substantive policy issue in their immediate professional context. Special attention should be placed on a well articulated Introduction: Statement of the Problem (Problem Definition); Pur[pose of the Study; and, Importance of the Study as this may serve as a basis for Chapter 1 of the student’s PPA 698 Masters Paper.* The Individual Policy Study will be presented in class during the last class meetings. Hard copies of the Executive Summary/ Policy Memo shall be made available to the entire class at time of presentation. References and other source literature may well serve as the basis for 698 Chapter 2: Review of Literature. 20 pts.
*NOTE: The connection and value of PPA 691 to PPA 698 will be heavily discussed. In addition, those students needing to interact with CSUB’s IRB should start by reviewing the IRB Link at: http://www.csub.edu/gradstudies/irbhsr/
Pop Quizzes (and/or KOAN Question): generally drawn directly from the night’s assigned readings.
10pts.
Final Exam: 10pts.
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Meaningful Class Participation: (including contributing to class discussion, participation and completion of short in-class analytical exercises and attendance). Due to the interactive nature of the course, students should plan to attend all class sessions as it is assumed that, ATTENDANCE is a prerequisite to meaningful participation. Also, all assignments shall be completed on time. To insure that students not “miss-out” on the course learning, “any student missing a night’s class is expected to, upon return, submit a -page single-spaced
‘MISSED-CLASS ASSIGNMENT’
consisting of an Analysis,
Application & Critique of the night’s readings.” Be sure to include “date” of class missed.
15pts.
_____________________________________________________
Total = 100pts.
NOTE: Since all assignments will be used to organize class discussion, it is essential that all assignments be completed on schedule and that students are prepared to discuss their papers. Late
Assignments shall be deducted one letter grade.
Grading
94 - 100% = A 84 - 87% = B
90 - 93% = A- 80 - 83% = B-
74 - 77% = C
70 - 73% = C-
88 - 89% = B+ 78 - 79% = C+ 0 - 69% = F
Office Hours/Assistance
Individual assistance for students in meeting course requirements or enhancing learning is available to all students upon request.
Required Readings:
Readings on Public Policy Analysis: a required reader has been prepared for the class and will be available for purchase during the first week of class. Some will be available for access on the faculty web page and/or on-line. These include:

Public Administration Dictionary

Public Policy Data Sources;

Public Policy Centers and Institutes
All assigned readings shall be completed prior to the respective class session with students prepared to discuss, critique and explore the applicability of theories and concepts to their personal work setting.
Other supplemental Readings may additionally be assigned.
Course Outline and Reading Schedule: Week (Date)
PART I: INTRODUCTION & THEMATIC ISSUES
1 (June 19) Introduction to the Course, Format, Assignments and Readings
Three Perspectives on Public Policy & Administration (PPA)
Critical Themes in PPA
Parameters of the PPA
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Some essential questions for discussion:
1. What is (public) policy? (Descriptive)
What is it used for? / How is it used? (Behavioral/Operational)
What purpose does it serve? Why? (Evaluative)
2.
What are some critical policy issues or questions in your professional arena?
[Review Instructions for Assignment #1: Defining & Explaining Public Policy
With Application (i.e. Denonative Definition)]
PART II: PUBLIC POLICY & PUBLIC POLICY ANALYSIS THEORY
2 (June 26) Analytical Frameworks for Defining & Understanding:
[Assignment #1 Due: Defining & Explaining Public Policy (& Pub Policy Analysis)]
Public Policy;
Policy Analysis (Policy Formation / Policy Implementation / Policy Evaluation);
Theories of Decision-Making (Models); and,
Role(s) of Policy Analysts.
Public Administration Dictionary:

Decision Making: Incremental

Decision Making: Mixed Scanning

Decision Making: Rational-Comprehensive

Lindblom, Charles E. (1917- )

Policy
Stokey: Ch. 1, Thinking About Policy Choices (pp. 1-7)
J. Anderson: Table 1.3, p. 37, "The Policy Process"
Dye: Ch. 2, Models of Politics
Handouts/email attachments from PPA 698:

698 Masters Paper Outline (i.e. Intro to Chapter 1, Introduction: Statement of the
Problem, Purpose of the Study; and, Importance of The Study.)

698 Types of Papers
3 (July 3) Public Policy Making: Agendas, Alternatives, and the Policy Making Process
Social & Public Policy Problems: Problem-Solving and Conflict Analysis
Kingdon: Ch. 1, How Does an Idea's Time Come?
Ch. 4, Processes: Origins, Rationality, Incrementalism & Garbage Cans
Ch. 5, Problems
Spector: 1, Introduction - Constructing Social Problems
C. Anderson: The Place of Principles in Policy Analysis
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Martinez: Problem Analysis in Public Policy & Administration
GUEST SPEAKER: TBA
Individual Policy Study: (1 Page Proposal Due)
4 (July 10) PART III: PUBLIC POLICY ANALYSIS METHODS & MEMOS
Public Policy Research: Data Sites; Policy Centers & Agencies; and, Journals:

Public Policy Data Sites

Pubic Policy Research Centers

Public Policy & Public Policy Analysis Journals
[Assignment Due: Exploring Public Policy Data Sites & Centers]
SUBSTANTIIVE PUBLIC POLICY ISSUES - California’s Policy Context:
Required Readings:
 “California’s San Joaquin Valley: A Region in Transition” Congressional
Research Service Report, 2005 (Summary, and Chapter 1, Introduction, pp. 13-30)

Paradise Lost: California’s Experience, American’s Future, Peter Schrag, 1998,
(Part I)

Baldassare, Mark, “California's Future: In Your Hands,” Public Policy Institute of
California, October 2006 (Infrastructure). http://www.ppic.org/main/publication.asp?i=715
 “Opportunities and Challenges for the California Economy,”
California
Economic Growth-2006 Edition, Chapter 2, Center for the Continuing Study of the California Economy. Pgs. 1-38 http://www.ccsce.com/whatsnew.html
5 (July 17) Public Policy Research (continued): Doing Policy Analysis:
Intro to Benefit-Cost & Cost Effectiveness Analysis of Government Programs
Public Administration Dictionary:

Benefit-Cost Analysis

Cost-Effectiveness Analysis

Cost-Effectiveness Analysis: Fixed Utility

Cost-Effectiveness Analysis: Fixed Budget

Planning, Programming, Budgeting, Systems (PPBS)
Benefit-Cost Analysis:
Stokey: Ch. 9, Program Evaluation: B-C Analysis
(Excerpt, pp. 134-153)
Gramlich: Ch. 1 Introduction
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Ch. 5, Excerpt (pp 66 - 73) on Valuations of Benefits and Costs When
Markets Do Not Exist - Loss of Life
Cost Effectiveness Analysis:
Stokey: Ch. 9, Cost Effectiveness, (Excerpt, pp. 153-158)
Poister: Excerpt (pp. 421 - 427) on Cost Effectiveness Analysis
Assignment #5: Team Project Presentations Due
[For PPA 698: Review CSUB Institutional Review Board (IRB) Process.]
6 (July 24) Policy Analysts & Doing Policy Analysis: Framing Public Policy Debates
Lakoff, George, Thinking Points: Communicating Our American Values and Vision.
Rockridge Institute, 2006 (SELECTED CHAPTERS). Available on-line at: http://www.rockridgeinstitute.org/thinkingpoints
Writing and Evaluating Policy Memos and Reports:
Radin: “Evolution of the Policy Analysis Field: From Conversation to Conversations,”
Journal of Policy Analysis & Management, Spr. ‘97
Enthoven Ch. 22, Ten Practical Principles of Policy Analysis
Biller: Some Key Points in Drafting Policy and Administrative Recommendations
Policy Analysis & Evaluation Method: “The Sequential Purchase of Information”
*Shafritz: 43, Purposes of Evaluation, by Weiss
7 (July 31) PART IV: SUBSTANTIVE POLICY AREAS: APPLYING THEORY AND
PRINCIPLES OF PUBLIC POLICY ANALYSIS TO YOUR PERSONAL CONTEXT
Individual Policy Studies: Student Presentations
Final Exam Schedule To Be Announced
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