Chapter 2: Assemble Some Evidence

Question 1

Step Two: A S E

Q. Where’s the Focus on the Research? E!
D becomes I becomes E.

i. T B you C-ct (V of E; U of E G-es)
ii. R A L-re
iii. S-v-y “B P-es”
iv. U A-gies
v. S-rt E-y
vi. T-ch B, G C-ty, B C-us
vii. F the C-ve M

Answer 1

Step Two: Assemble Some Evidence

A. Time is short; Economize!
Focus on Data that is relevant! Meaning that can become Information that can become Evidence bearing on your Problem!

i. Think Before you Collect (Value of Evidence; Utility of Educated Guesses)
ii. Review the Available Literature
iii. Survey “Best Practices”
iv. Use Analogies
v. Start Early
vi. Touch Base, Gain Credibility, Broker Consensus
vii. Free the Captive Mind

Question 2

What is ‘Data’ in the context of Public Policy?

Answer 2

Data is Stats, and Facts. You collect it to begin understanding a topic.

Question 3

What is ‘Information’ in the context of public policy?

Answer 3

Information is data that has ‘meaning’. It can help you sort out the world into logical or empirical categories.

Question 4

What is ‘Evidence’ in the context of public policy?

Answer 4

Evidence is information that impacts existing beliefs of relevant Ppl (including yourself) about Significant features of a problem you’re studying and How it might be Solved or Mitigated.

Question 5

i. T B you C-ct (V of E; U of E G-es)

Answer 5

i. Think before you Collect. (the Value of Evidence; the Utility of an Educated Guess)

Question 6

ii. R A L-re
a) What should policy researchers consider when evaluating? (1, 2, 3)
b) Why a cautionary note on advocacy organizations?

Answer 6

ii. Review the Available Literature.
a) Policy researchers should (1) consider the study ‘bottom line’ (end relevancy), (2) the strengths/limitations of its research design (what it is and is not empowered to make assertions on), (3) and the relevancy of its findings to the problem-solving issues at hand.
b) Advocacy organizations are eager to share their work - but their work often lacks the rigour of disinterested or more experimental researchers. Keep that in mind when using them.

Question 7

iii. S-v-y “B P-es”

a) Why should we look elsewhere for solutions?

Answer 7

iii. Survey “Best Practices”
a) A great many issues are being tackled elsewhere; those solutions (with modification) may fit your issue very well! Survey what’s out there as viable alternatives when looking for solutions.

Question 8

iv. U A-gies
a) What’s the value to the process in doing things like looking at interventions getting communities to accept solid-waste incinerators?

Answer 8

iv. Use Analogies
a) Many times analogies that bear certain resemblances to the issue at hand can be used to provide solutions. For instance, dealing with the issue of community resistance to accepting low-income housing projects, consider how others have won them over to solid-waste incinerators.

Question 9

v. S-rt E-y

a) How do you get around the ever-clicking clock?

Answer 9

v. Start Early
a) You need data. Usually there are gate-keepers to data, or hoops/processes that must be cleared. Submit your Requests for Information early!

Question 10

vi. T-ch B, G C-ty, B C-us
a) When assembling evidence that’s people-based, what steps should be taken to protect yourself politically and improve analytical processes?

(1)
(2)
(3)

Answer 10

vi. Touch Base, Gain Credibility, Broker Consensus
a) Be thorough to protect yourself and improve the process. This includes (1) Touching Base with potential critics - pre-emptive elimination of criticism. Additionally, if someone would turn out to be a supporter, making yourself known to them helps them rally to your cause. (2) When you reach out to stakeholders and ensure their involvement, you Gain Credibility to the process overall and any resulting recommendations. (3) Sometimes collecting evidence is about being the facilitator or Broker, acting as a conduit between stakeholders for meetings, other gatherings, or communications to reach certain ends or data contributions.

Question 11

vii. F the C-ve M

(a) What is the problem with collecting evidence only from friends, agreeable sources, and perspectives?

Answer 11

vii. Free the Captive Mind
a) You can’t build a respectable body of evidence wholly out of what agrees with you. You need to include informants, stakeholders, factions, and perspectives that may or do contrast with what your evidence-based leanings are towards.

You do not need to agree with them; but you need to show a willingness to engage with them, and demonstrate that they were respectably considered in the assembling of evidence.