The Evaluation of Policy AlternativesThe purpose of systematic evaluation procedures is to help policy analysts confronted with difficult decisions to form wise choices. Few useful guidelines have been offered for the evaluation of action alternatives, especially in the realm of foreign policy formation. Schemes based on statements of goals or objectives or on the use of broadly applicable criteria for choosing among alternatives can be misleading, and they are frequently found to be unworkable. Rather than searching for particular rules by which wise choices should be made, it is more useful to find ways in which difficult decision problems can be decomposed into smaller questions, each of which is easier to answer than the larger problem. A tabular, account-book format, described as the revised general ledger, provides a sound basis for systematically comparing and evaluating those features which significantly differentiate the action alternatives under examination. The scheme may be used as the core of an efficient approach to policy analysis described as the pair-wise evaluation strategy. (Author). |
Contents
PREEVALUATION | 12 |
THE PURPOSE AND CHARACTER OF EVALUATION PROCEDURES | 23 |
SOME SUGGESTED EVALUATION PROCEDURES | 30 |
Common terms and phrases
abstract acceptable according action action alternatives action possibilities actual alternatives answer applicable assessment basis begin better characterizations choices choosing chosen clear clearly comparing concerned consequences considered cost course criteria criterion critical decide decision decision-maker described detail determine developed difficult dimensions distinguished Effect effort empirical evaluation evaluation procedures evaluative judgments examination example exclusive fact favorable Foreign Policy formation given goals higher identified individual invest judgment kind larger lead ledger Lovell means measure moral nature objectives obtained Palestinians particular past policy alternatives policy analyst political positive possible outcomes preferences problem procedure programs proposal questions Reaction reasonable refugees rejected Research respect response Science selected serve simply situations Social sometimes specified strategy suggested systematic evaluation taken task things understanding United University variety viewed wise York