1(Bulgarian Version)

1. Introduction

a. Identify web page
b. Goals of course

i. Introduction to the American approach to program and policy research.
ii. Develop proficiency in reading and analyzing research done by others
iii Develop and design a research plan for a local government effort

c. Structure of the course

i. Provide readings on-line. (PRIOR TO CLASS)
ii. Briefly discuss core ideas (IN CLASS)
iii. Opportunity to try out some American methods and technology (IN CLASS)
iv. Apply skills to particular effort. as time permits.

2. What is research in public administration?

a. Research is a process of describing, explaining, and predicting what a program or policy will do based on observations about

i. Other programs
ii. Human behavior or theories of human behavior and/or
iii. Current program actions and consequences

b. Policy and program research uses the "scientific" method for determining how the researcher will behave, analyze data and report findings.

3. Why do research?

a. The process makes sense in the context of a republic with competing interests, formal oversight of executives, where economic resources are scarce, conflict is the norm and the public demands elected officials be accountable and responsible for public programs and policies.

b. Oversight is also done by competing political parties, the media, and non-governmental organizations.

c. Evaluation is also done by the agencies and organizations themselves to be used as a basis for asking for public money, expanding efforts, curtailing projects or changing existing program.

4. What is the process?

a. The short answer is that it is like any scientific research process. There are some very distinct sections.

b. What is the evaluation process? See Program Process by scrolling down to B. 2.

5. What types of research in public policy and evaluations are there? (What evaluation is not)

a. Needs assessment- A "need" is defined a discrepancy between what is and what should be. The "should" could be an ideal, a norm, a minimum or a desired state. An assessment is an attempt to describe and explain the relationship between what is and what is sought and identify what obstacles there are to getting what people want.

b. Process Evaluations- what needs to be added changed or deleted from the current effort.

c. Outcome Evaluation-what does the program produce and should it be continued.
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d. What is NOT program/policy evaluation?

i. Program audits by accountants
ii. Basic research- research to advance knowledge in a discipline
iii. Policing agency behavior.

6. What is a research/evaluation question?

a. Could be anything. Typical questions are:

i. Does the program/policy do what we thought it should do?  Is it effective?
ii. Does the program/policy use resources sparingly? Is it efficient?
iii. Does the program/policy make a difference in ways we did not anticipate?

7. What criteria are appropriate to evaluate public efforts?

a. Could be anything. Criterion are what the stakeholders says it is. A stakeholder is anyone who is personally involved with the program
b. Criteria are usually program specific. See MAUT
c. See Green Line - Introduction to Criteria

 

FIRST STUDENT TASK Student submits a brief statement of a policy, program or innovation to be studied at the local level. Respond fully to each question below. Organize your responses by key question with bolded words. 1 What is the program, policy or innovation you want to understand? a. What are the goals of the program, policy and/or innovation? b. How is progress toward those goals observed and/or measured? c..What is the legal/political context for the program? 2. Where is it (be specific. Bulgaria is not specific. Elementary grades 1 to 3 in Krasno Selo is an example of a specific answer) 3. Who is primarily responsible for the effort? (Name and/or administrative title, address, phone, email, etc.) a) Is more than one person responsible for the program? If so, who are the responsible people? b) What skills and abilities do they bring to the program to assure its success? c) What has been the history of the leadership of the program? d) What are the areas of agreement among the people involved in the program? What areas are still being discussed? 4. How long has the effort existed in the community? What is the history of the program? What have been its successes and challenges? 5. Briefly state how the program, innovation, initiative or policy operates and/or is thought to operate. a) What are the inputs? What does it require in terms of land, labor, funding, equipment, technology and/or information? b) What specifically does it do with these inputs? What are the tasks and activities of the effort? c) What are the outputs, products or services provided? d) What are the outcomes? What increases or decreases because these goods or services exist? 6. Identify 3 or more available sources for understanding the clients, operations, providers, etc. of this policy, program, innovation. 7. Cite your sources. If you received information from a book, magazine article, or internet cite the reference. Also cite information received from conversations and/or observations. Submit paper with your name and date at the next class meeting. Ideas?