3-P Analysis

Guidelines

The purpose of this assignment is for you to bring together all of the research your policy group has done on a particular policy.  Although there are a variety of different ways in which to examine public policy, we will be using Harbans Bhola’s (1997: 207) 3P approach to policy analysis: 1) Is the policy practical?; 2) Is the policy principled?; and, 3) Is the policy professionally sound? (Download: Bhola article)The 3-P analysis will be submitted by class time on 3 April in draft form on this webstie.

Rubric

Policy Overview (This can but does not have to be a separate section.)

  • Accurately and succinctly describes the policy being analyzed
  • Contextualizes the policy
  • Concisely identifies and describes the policy’s purpose in writing the piece and relates the purpose back to the policy context

Three P Analysis

Is the policy principled?
  • Identifies and describes the values assumptions of the policy being examined
  • Critiques values assumptions of policy when appropriate
  • Links any recommendations for policy revision to values assumptions
Is the policy professionally sound?
  • Identifies and described the descriptive assumptions of the policy and/or policy context being analyzed
  • Critiques the policy structure, provisions, formulations of the policy in light of the policy context (including the historical development of the policy and/or its context)
Is the policy practical?
  • Identifies and examines the resources available for policy implementation
    • Are there enough and/or appropriate resources to implement this policy?
  • Examines the political will and human capacity for policy implementation
    • Do individuals and/or groups want to implement this policy or see it implemented?
    • Do the designated implementers have the capacity—training, knowledge, organizational tools, support—to implement the policy?

Policy Analysis Form

  • Sentences in the review are correctly structured, begin in a variety of ways, vary in length, and include compound and complex forms
  • Ending marks, quotation marks, apostrophes, commas, and parentheses are consistently used to enhance meaning or add effect to the analysis
  • Spelling is correct
  • Policy analysis is clearly organized and the arguments are easy to follow
  • The conclusion contains closure techniques that refer to the findings of the analysis and recommendations based on those findings
  • Evidence that is relevant, varied, cited, valid, and reliable is provided to develop the analysis (this includes paraphrasing, direct quotes, and referring to someone else’s ideas)
  • Correct MLA, Chicago, or APA parenthetical note information and format is included [as well as correct works cited information and format]