Week 9 - Policy Evaluation Flashcards
What are the three core questions of policy evaluation?
1) How has policy fared in action? 2) How is it likely to perform in the future? 3) Is it a success or a failure?
What are the two main approaches to policy evaluation?
Administrative and Political.
What is administrative evaluation?
Evaluation done inside government departments; focuses on learning and accountability, but often pressured to show policy as a success.
What is political evaluation?
Evaluation done in public or political forums, often polarized between policy supporters and opponents.
What are the six types of evaluation according to Wu et al.?
Outputs, Outcomes, Long-Term Impacts, Process Evaluations, Impact Evaluations, Cost-Effectiveness Analysis.
What are outputs in policy evaluation?
Tangible results of activities (e.g., number of visits or inspections).
What are outcomes in policy evaluation?
Medium-term impacts like behavior or awareness changes.
What are long-term impacts in policy evaluation?
Broader societal goals, such as improved health or education levels.
What are the three results of policy evaluation?
1) Status quo maintained, 2) Policy cycle restarts, 3) Policy is terminated.
What are the Auditor General’s responsibilities in evaluation?
Conducts financial and performance audits, focusing on whether the government meets its own goals.
What is a process evaluation?
Evaluates how resources are used to produce outputs; focuses on efficiency.
What is cost-benefit analysis (CBA)?
Evaluates whether the benefits of a policy outweigh the costs; monetizes both.
What is cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA)?
Compares costs of achieving a fixed outcome without monetizing benefits.
What is an impact evaluation?
Focuses on effectiveness—whether the policy achieved its intended goals.
What is the policy feedback theory?
Suggests that policies shape citizen behavior and perceptions of government.
What is path dependency in policy evaluation?
The idea that past decisions constrain current policy options, making change difficult.
What is a key shortcoming of policy evaluation?
Often excludes citizenship outcomes and how policies shape identity and perception of government.
When does political evaluation matter most?
During elections, scandals, and major focusing events.
