Studying Educational and Social Policy : Theoretical Concepts and Research Methods

ISBN-13: 9780805844603 / Angielski / Twarda / 2004 / 280 str.

Ronald H. Heck;Heck

Opis

The overall purpose of this text is to introduce beginning researchers to the study of educational and social policy, how it has been examined from a scholarly perspective, and the salient issues to consider in conceptualizing and conducting policy research. The emphasis is on introduce, as the various policy fields within the public sector (for example, education, energy, health, labor) are much too diverse to include in depth in a single volume on theoretical concepts and research methods. The focus is not so much on the substance of policymaking as on understanding the interplay between how policy is made and implemented and the various conceptual approaches and methods researchers can use to frame and conduct policy studies. The underlying assumption is that a critique of the substantive, theoretical, and methodological issues involved in studying policy can help researchers conduct policy studies that are more informative in guiding policy development and more effective in assessing the impact of policy reforms. Part I acquaints readers with substantive issues and challenges related to the study of the policy process, and includes chapters on federalism and policymaking, and

Recenzje

"...a necessary book for introductory doctoral and master's students who are studying educational policymaking. It provides a unique approach to understanding how educational policies are conceptualized and then studied....The book is well conceptualized to flow logically from theoretical perspectives to research methods to data analyses techniques....It is unique in that it is the only book that addresses the conceptual nature of policymaking AND the research methods needed to examine such policies....Without any hesitation, I highly recommend this book as required reading for educational policy studies programs across the country....It should be required reading for all doctoral students in educational leadership programs."
—Alan R. Shoho
University of Texas at San Antonio

Spis treści

Contents: Foreword. Preface. Introduction. Part I: An Overview of the Policy Process. An Introduction to Policymaking and Its Study. Federalism and Policymaking. Studying Policy Development, Implementation, and Impact. Part II: Conceptual Frameworks and Theories. Political Culture and Policymaking. Punctuated-Equilibrium Theory and the Advocacy Coalition Framework. Economic and Organizational Perspectives. Going Against the Grain: New Approaches. Part III: Policy Research Methods. An Overview of Method in Policy Research. Qualitative Methods in Policy Research. Multilevel Methods for Conducting Policy Research. Growth Modeling Methods for Examining Policy Change. Part IV: Epilogue. Further Thoughts. Appendix.

O autorze

Ronald H. Heck