The Utilization of Policy Analysis by State Agency Officials

Findings from a 1988 survey of U.S. state officials working in the areas of hazardous wastes, economic development, welfare, and education suggest that these officials do not appear to rely heavily on policy analysis from research organizations or from university faculty; instead, they rely principally on policy advice from their peers in other state agencies, newspapers, their counterparts in federal agencies, and staff from the governors' office. In attempting to understand knowledge utilization, the study found that among the variables considered utilization of policy information is best explained by state contextual variables and user characteristics. That is, agency officials in wealthier, more conservative, moralistic states used policy analysis in their work more than officials in poorer, more traditional, liberal states. In addition, more experienced and better educated officials used policy advice less than inexperienced and less educated officials.

[1]  R. Havelock.  Planning for innovation through dissemi-nation and utilization of knowledge , 1969 .

[2]  Daniel J. Elazar,et al.  American Federalism: A View from the States , 1972 .

[3]  E. Glaser,et al.  Knowledge Transfer and Institutional Change. , 1973 .

[4]  Lawrence B. Mohr,et al.  Conceptual issues in the study of innovation , 1976 .

[5]  M. Rein,et al.  Can Policy Research Help Policy , 1977 .

[6]  P. Sabatier.  The acquisition and utilization of technical information by administrative agencies. , 1978, Administrative science quarterly.

[7]  D. Commerce.  Statistical abstract of the United States , 1978 .

[8]  Nathan Caplan,et al.  The Two-Communities Theory and Knowledge Utilization , 1979 .

[9]  John N. Warfield,et al.  Usable Knowledge: Social Science and Social Problem Solving , 1979 .

[10]  C. Weiss.  The many meanings of research utilization. , 1979 .

[11]  N. Cornell.  The Politics of Policy Analysis , 1979 .

[12]  Carol H. Weiss,et al.  Knowledge Creep and Decision Accretion , 1980 .

[13]  Jack H. Knott,et al.  If Dissemination Is the Solution, What Is the Problem ? , 1980 .

[14]  William N. Dunn,et al.  The Two-Communities Metaphor and Models of Knowledge Use , 1980 .

[15]  W. N. Dunn.  Methodological Research on Knowledge Use and School Improvement. Volume I. Project Overview and Summary of Findings. , 1982 .

[16]  J. M. Beyer,et al.  The Utilization Process: A Conceptual Framework and Synthesis of Empirical Findings. , 1982 .

[17]  D. J. Webber.  Obstacles to the Utilization of Systematic Policy Analysis , 1983 .

[18]  William N. Dunn,et al.  Measuring Knowledge Use , 1983 .

[19]  A. Huberman,et al.  Drawing valid meaning from qualitative data: Some techniques of data reduction and display , 1983, Quality & Quantity.

[20]  D. Klingman,et al.  The "General Policy Liberalism" Factor in American State Politics , 1984 .

[21]  Kathalee N. Garrison,et al.  Putting Knowledge to Use. , 1984 .

[22]  D. J. Webber,et al.  POLITICAL CONDITIONS MOTIVATING LEGISLATORS' USE OF POLICY INFORMATION , 1984 .

[23]  D. Whiteman.  The Fate of Policy Analysis in Congressional Decision Making: Three Types of Use in Committees , 1985 .

[24]  R. Archer,et al.  An Empirical Evaluation of a Model of Knowledge Utilization , 1985 .

[25]  Barry Bozeman,et al.  THE CREDIBILITY OF POLICY ANALYSIS: BETWEEN METHOD AND USE , 1986 .

[26]  S. Nagel.  EVALUATING PUBLIC POLICY EVALUATION , 1987 .

[27]  Michael Huberman,et al.  Steps Toward an Integrated Model of Research Utilization , 1987 .

[28]  David J. Webber.  Legislators' Use of Policy Information , 1987 .

[29]  H. Heintz,et al.  Advocacy coalitions and the practice of policy analysis , 1988 .

[30]  Hank C. Jenkins-Smith,et al.  Symposium editors' introduction , 1988 .

[31]  J. P. Lester,et al.  The utilization of public policy analysis: A conceptual framework☆☆☆ , 1990 .

[32]  Thomas E. Backer,et al.  Knowledge Utilization , 1991 .

[33]  Angelyn C. Sills.  Checklist for Change. , 1995 .