Policy Analysis: Core essentials at one glance

Policy analysis is the systematic process of identifying and comparing policies to identify gaps (prescriptive, normative) and/or evaluate current policies (analytical, descriptive) concerning their intended purpose. It can define a policy problem, demonstrate its impacts and present potential solutions. Depending on the approach, the methodology and categories of analysis are defined. The different concepts are categorised as follows:

Main approaches in policy analysis

Descriptive policy analysis

The descriptive policy analysis focuses on the process of policy development, the context in which it was developed and by whom. The analysis includes the historical dimension of the policymaking process and explains why certain policies were formulated and implemented by governments.

Prescriptive Policy Analysis

The prescriptive policy analysis, on the other hand, evaluates the implications of a specific policy in the future. The results of the analysis can be used to issue recommendations for policymakers (for further information on recommendations see below). 

Methods of empirical analysis

Qualitative methods 

A typical empirical method in policy analysis is qualitative research. There is a variety of different tools we can use, the first one being archival analysis. It studies the policy history and determines what has been done in the past to solve certain policy problems (“lessons learned”).

Another important qualitative research tool are personal interviews, asking individuals to describe in their own words a variety of issues surrounding the policy process—from policy agendas to formulation, implementation, and evaluation. Also, interviews with policymakers and with the clientele being served by a particular policy may provide valuable information about general and specific policy goals, processes and outcomes. Altogether, interviews provide a high degree of flexibility within the information collection process. 

Quantitative methods

Quantitative methods, on the contrary, help demonstrate whether a relationship exists between policy designs and policy outcome. Furthermore, they test whether the relationship can be generalised to similar settings, evaluate the effects of policies on a social, economic, and political level and find better alternatives. Frequently used quantitative techniques in policy studies are, for example, modelling and quantification of inputs and outputs, descriptive statistics, statistical inference, operations research, cost-benefit analysis and risk-benefit analysis.

Policy recommendations

Based on the policy analysis and the identified gaps and weaknesses in a specific policy area, the researcher gives recommendations for policymakers intending to improve the quality, fitness for purpose and effectiveness of public policies. The drafting of policy recommendations is a way of making social science research outputs directly relevant to policymakers. Scientific results are translated into hands-on advice which is founded on empirical evidence.

Who should be involved in your policy analysis? 

Who should be involved in your policy analysis, of course, highly depends on the approach and methodology you take and define beforehand. We provide a useful overview of key players who should be considered when carrying out a policy analysis:

People who can provide and interpret information about the policy should be the first to consider when conducting a policy analysis. Examples of persons who fall into this category are experts, economists or community partners.

Secondly, people affected by the policy are to be taken into account. It is them whose jobs or lives might be affected and who can simultaneously provide contextual, first-hand knowledge, such as potential social, educational, and cultural perspectives. Examples of this group of people are community members, community partners as well as local decision-makers. 

Lastly, also persons who administer resources related to the policy need to be included in the analysis, for example, public officials or administrators, as they help you understand the potential impacts (economic and/or budgetary) of the policy options being considered.