policy analysis

POLICY ANALYSIS
AND DEVELOPMENT
Presented by : OLA ALOMOUSH
Supervised by : Prof HALA RAMZI

OUTLINE :
 Definition of policy analysis
 Importance of policy analysis
 Policy analysis process
 Approaches of policy analysis
 Policy analysis models
 Indicators and Outcomes
 Evaluation and Adaptation: Population
Indicators
 References

Policy analysis
 Policy analysis is comprised of a technique or
process used to determine what a policy will
achieve or has achieved relevant to an
aspiration or purpose.
 Policy analysis consists of a systematic
evaluation of the technical and political
implications of alternatives proposed to solve
public problems.

Policy analysis can be:
 descriptive : when the analysis is used in
explain existing policy and its development.
 Prescriptive : when the analysis is used in
formulating new policies and proposals.

Policies that have been developed and implemented
should be analyzed periodically.
Policy analysis refers to both the process of
assessing policies or programs and the product of
that analysis using qualitative and quantitative data.
Analysis can be done during all phases of
policymaking from agenda setting to policy
formulation to
implementation
Policy analysis

Importance of polices analysis:
 To assess the situation.
 To seek general acceptance and consistency
with the current political environment and
social and healthcare issues.
 Provide the opportunity for modifications.
 Results of analysis can facilitate discussion.
 Provide evidence for decision-making.
 Provide evidence for adaptations.

Policies analysis process
 through interpretative analysis of the policy and an
evaluation of the historical context of the policy.
This process may produce details regarding the
association between current policy along with past
and present political, social, and healthcare
contexts.
 If there is a disconnect between current policy and
the present context, either a further in-depth policy
evaluation may be warranted. The initial policy
analysis could simply lead to a recommendation
for policy modification.

According to Porche (2012), there
are two foci for policy analysis:
 • Analysis of policy
 • Analysis for policy

Analysis of policy
 can be viewed as a retrospective process that
explores the purpose of the policy and what
comprised and established the policy. This
analysis of policy studies how policy evolved
onto the policy agenda and the process of
formulation of the policy

analysis for policy
o is prospective and explores potential
outcomes if a specific policy is developed and
implemented.

Policy analysis dependent on:
o Upon access to data sources such as valid
and reliable documents, interviews, focus
groups, and government or agency reports.

Approaches of policy analysis:
 anecdotal evidence policy analysis.
 scientific policy analysis.
 Feedback policy analysis.

policy is based on anecdotal
evidence rather than scientific
policy analysis.
provides easily
understood
stories
Evidence may
contrast with
anecdotes or
“common wisdom
Anecdotal
evidence
policy
analysis based on factual
data and scientific
findings.
Scientific
policy
analysis
unpopular

Feedback policy analysis
 Policy feedback theory proposes to assess
how policies affect decisive aspects of
governance, such as whether policy promotes
public and citizen participation or deters it,
whether policy promotes development of
powerful interest groups, and how they affect
governing capacity.
 This approach attempts to clarify the impact of
policies and assist in avoiding unintended
consequences.

Policy Analysis Models
 Process Model
 Substantive Model
 Eightfold Path
 Logical-Positivist Model
 Participatory Policy Analysis (PPA)

Process Model
 identifies policymaking stages and analyzes
the factors associated with each of the stages
including stakeholders and policymakers.
 The person(s) conducting the analysis uses
any policymaking model as the framework to
conduct the policy analysis.
 This model is flexible when considering its use
but has been critiqued as being too simplistic,
failing to take into account the multiple factors
that influence the policy process.

Substantive Model
 analyzes the policy from the perspective of the
policy issue.
 Policy content experts typically conduct the
analysis and must be familiar not only with the
content but with political bodies and identified
strategies used in policymaking.

Eightfold Path
 This problem-solving process is used to clarify the policy issue
and determine policy solutions.
 The eight steps in this model are:
• Defining the problem
• Collecting the data
• Constructing policy options
• Selecting the criteria for a policy alternative
• Projecting the outcomes: anticipated and unanticipated
• Come to terms with any points of negotiation or compromise
• Deciding among the various options
• Communicating the narrative: redefining the issue, reconsidering
the criteria, rethinking the outcomes.

Logical-Positivist Model
 This model is also identified as the behavioral
or scientific approach.
 The logical-positivist model starts with a
theory or theoretical framework using
deductive reasoning to guide the policy
analysis process.
 Data is collected and analyzed using either
comparative or correlative measures resulting
in a final report.

Participatory Policy Analysis (PPA)
 This model seeks input from additional
participants to ensure that principles valued by
the public are included in the formulation of
policy alternatives.
 aims to directly engage citizens of the country
or locale in the policymaking and analysis
processes.

Indicators and Outcomes
 Indicators provide evidence that a certain condition exists or
certain results have or have not been achieved and therefore
can enable decision-makers to assess progress toward the
achievement of intended outcomes, goals, and objectives.
 Outcome indicators associated with healthcare tend to
measure the broader results achieved through the provision
of services.
 These indicators can exist at various levels: population,
agency, and program.
 An aspect of policy evaluation is to measure the overall
effectiveness and extent to which a policy has achieved its
objectives, paying attention to impact and outcome.

 Indicators are most often seen as quantitative
measures that express the status and trends
of complex phenomena based on monitoring
data and that resonate with the interests of
relevant audiences.

 Consider the following assumptions (Hezri 2003):
• Indicators will provide clear answers to questions
about environmental change and sustainability
• Indicators will help to explain how decisions and
decision outcomes are linked
• Having the right indicators will result in better
decisions.

 These assumptions tend to be widely accepted;
however, examination and review of the use of
indicators reveal that these assumptions cannot
be taken for granted.
 Ideally, indicators should inform decision-making
by helping to understand an issue and to make a
direct relationship between indicators and
decision outcomes.
 For example, indicators can be used to measure
the impact of specific decisions or to measure
effectiveness.

 indicators are often used for ulterior motives
such as (Hezri 2003):
• To support a predetermined position
• To give Performa assurance about appropriate
decisions
• As a delaying tactic or substitute for action by
stating a decision can be taken once there are
demonstrated indicators

Evaluation and Adaptation:
Population Indicators
 Population-level indicators measure
changes in the condition or well-being of
children , families, or communities (i.e., teen
pregnancy rate, infant mortality rate).
 Changes in population-level indicators are
often long-term results of the efforts of a
number of different programs, agencies, and
initiatives.

Evaluation and Adaptation:
Population Indicators
 In some cases, rather than providing information
about the results achieved by interventions
population-level indicators may provide
information about the context in or assumptions
under which these interventions operate.
 For example, the overall level of unemployment
provides important contextual information for job
placement programs. In this case, monitoring the
unemployment rate allows stakeholders to
correctly interpret program results.

Agency- and program-level
outcome indicators
 Agency-level indicators measure results for
which an agency is responsible.
 program-level indicators measure the results
for which a program or subprogram is
responsible.
 Agency- and program-level outcome
indicators are often defined more narrowly
than those pertaining to the population as a
whole.

Agency- and program-level
outcome indicators
 for example, they may measure pregnancy
rates among teenage girls in a given county or
among girls receiving a given set of services.
 Identification of appropriate indicator levels
ensures that expectations are not set
unrealistically high

Determining the Correct
Path to Follow
 the need for nurses and proponents of advanced
nursing practice to develop an interactive process
between knowledge conducive to policymaking
and the policy process. This emphasis includes:
• Developing a shared understanding of what
questions to ask
• How to go about answering them
• How best to interpret responses

Determining the Correct Path
to Follow
 Defining, selecting, and promoting knowledge
relevant to the policy process and strategic
thinking are highly variable, based as much on
matters of politics and power as with rational
discussion and problem-solving.
 The complex nature of interactions between
decision-makers will depend on the nature and
timing of interventions by various
stakeholders, “creating windows of opportunity
or tipping points”

to Follow
 The challenge when nurses trying to identify the
correct path for developing policy is to:
1) Think pragmatically about theoretical principles in
light of what can be gained to promote better
understanding as it relates to policy and
developing strategies for ANP.
2) Think about The ability to do this requires
3) Think systematically about the context in which
they work.

to Follow
4) Think about The dynamics of the processes they
face.
5) Think about the array of decision-makers who
influence policy
6) Think about how any of the issues are currently
being addressed (or not).
7) Think about the strategies that might be linked
more effectively to the policy processes.

References:
 Strategic planning for advanced nursing
practice, international council of nursing :
springer nature

policy analysis

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