Professional Developments in Policy Studies

This is an insightful overview of what is happening at the cutting edge of professional public policy analysis. Written by a well-known expert, the survey assesses the many and varied aspects of the policy studies discipline. Stuart Nagel has provided an analysis of the profession that will be useful to practitioners and academics, as well as students and teachers, at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. This survey begins by suggesting ways for professionals to become more effective and interdisciplinary in their approaches to dealing with public policy. The author also analyzes cross-cutting governmental activities and different theoretical perspectives. He points to means for achieving policy goals, for selecting among alternative policies, and to the organizations and institutions that are concerned with public policy. A bibliography notes the most important recent publications dealing with professional developments in the field.

Table of Contents:
Introduction Professionalism Elements Developing a Policy Curriculum and a Policy Evaluation Course Ideas on Obtaining Policy Analysis Jobs in Washington Suggestions for Grant-Getting and Publishing Professional Ethics in Policy Evaluation: Ends and Methods International, Interdisciplinary, and Impact-Oriented Interaction Improving Developmental Policy Policy Studies across Social Science Substance Research Utilization in Public Policy Making Policy Studies Methods Diverse Methodologies for Policy Analysis Generating Creative Policy Ideas Decision-Aiding Software and Policy Studies Dispute Resolution, Sensitivity Analysis, and Policy Studies Super-Optimizing Analysis and Policy Studies Cross-Cutting Governmental Activities Policy Studies and Government Structures The Public-Private Controversy across All Fields of Public Policy Incentives, Growth, and Policy Studies Socialization and Public Policy The SOS Process: Generating, Adopting, and Implementing Theoretical Perspectives Policy Theory and Policy Studies Higher Goals for Public Policy Trends in Policy Analysis Broadening Our Horizons The Need for Improved Policy Analysis Improving Policy Analysis Institutions Global Policy Studies and International Economic Communities References Index

About the Author :
STUART S. NAGEL, a Professor of Political Science at the University of Illinois, is Secretary-Treasurer and Publications Coordinator of the Policy Studies Organization. MIRIAM K. MILLS is Professor of Organizational Science at The School of Industrial Management of the New Jersey Institute of Technology. Previously, she was the Director of Manpower and Labor Relations of Jersey City Medical Center, New Jersey. A frequent contributor to various journals, she has coauthored Evaluation Analysis with Microcomputers and coedited Biomedical Technology and Public Policy. Dr. Mills is also an arbitrator-mediator with the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service and other labor panels.

Review :
?Nagel and Mills have made a contribution to what is an important interdisciplinary undertaking in today's society. This work will prove useful to a variety of audiences.?-Perspectives on Political Science "Nagel and Mills have made a contribution to what is an important interdisciplinary undertaking in today's society. This work will prove useful to a variety of audiences."-Perspectives on Political Science