Deck 3: Social Welfare Policy Research

Question 1

Assigned the task of comparing two different policy approaches to a problem,you decide to evaluate the cost effectiveness of each option.Even though Option A is
Cheaper,you find that the program's personnel prefer Option B.How does this
Impact the viability of your proposal?

A)Approval by those outside of the program may be impaired.
B)Effectiveness and efficiency may be undermined by poor implementation.
C)Inadequate funding may be allocated to support the implementation.
D)Public opinion of the proposal may be difficult to solicit.

Answer 1

B

Question 2

Identify and describe three of the seven major avenues for finding policy-relevant information.

Answer 2

no answer

Question 3

Policy analysis of efficiency looks at

A)the cost-effectiveness of a policy.
B)the amount of time it takes for the policy to be put into place.
C)the amount of time it takes to work with a client.
D)the underlying condition that caused the policy to be created.

Answer 3

A

Question 4

In many areas of the country,over 40 percent of people eligible for supplemental nutrition programs (SNAP)do not participate.Apparently SNAP is not a fully valid
Federal program.How would you explain this lack of validity?

A)as a political problem.
B)as an administrative problem.
C)as an economic problem.
D)as a problem in public perceptions.

Question 5

After careful and systematic analysis,you determine that a particular approach to implementing a policy is most likely to accomplish what the policy's designers intended.How would you best describe this implementation approach?

A)efficient.
B)justifiable.
C)effective.
D)affordable.

Question 6

Why is it important for a policy analyst to critically evaluate information or recommendations received from think-tank organizations?

Question 7

Which of the following serves as the guiding principle for a systematic policy analysis?

A)a policy's goals
B)funding needed to implement the policy
C)public opinion or support of the policy
D)bipartisan support for the policy

Question 8

Usage of the food bank that you coordinate has increased substantially in the last year resulting in a review of operating policies.The review finds that you rely on
Undocumented reports of income to determine eligibility,so some of the recipients of
Donated food may not actually qualify for services.Why might your board refuse to
Change this policy?

A)to improve efficiency.
B)subjectivity.
C)to improve effectiveness.
D)to meet the mission and goals of the program.

Question 9

A social policy that is ineffective but still in use is

A)drug enforcement.
B)Social Security.
C)the Earned Income Tax Credit.
D)the home mortgage tax deduction.

Question 10

The term "pay-go" refers to:

A)taking money from one program to pay for another.
B)paying for a program out of the income from that program.
C)not paying for social programs until the bill becomes due.
D)developing a public policy to solve a societal problem.

Question 11

Your power analysis of a proposed policy suggests that many well-financed and organized groups are likely to oppose adoption of the policy.How would you describe this policy?

A)administratively unfeasible.
B)economically unfeasible.
C)effective and efficiency.
D)politically unfeasible.

Question 12

An effective policy framework

A)is not concerned with the political process and political stakeholders.
B)is focused on only one policy at a time.
C)evaluates the congruence of a policy with the mission and goals of the social welfare state.
D)owes as much to intuition as it does to rational analysis.

Question 13

An example of an unintended consequence of a social policy is

A)illegal sale of methadone to street addicts.
B)reduction in poverty among seniors due to Social Security.
C)reduction in crime due to tougher sentencing guidelines.
D)improvement in infant's health due to WIC.

Question 14

Families headed by single mothers are among the most likely to be poor.One recent policy decision,to increase child support enforcement,was intended to help rectify this situation.Your analysis determines that this policy adversely impacts the father's
New family.Why might you support reversal of this policy?

A)All policies that result in gender disparities should be eliminated.
B)The best government is the least amount of government.
C)Male opposition to child support enforcement makes the policy invalid.
D)A good policy benefits at least one person without hurting anyone else.

Question 15

Discuss the different levels on which policy analysis frameworks can be used by social work practitioners.

Question 16

Social work practice is most clearly affected and influenced by

A)social policy.
B)public opinion.
C)private sector economics.
D)competition for funding.

Question 17

The domestic violence shelter where you work was originally designed to provide safe shelter for women and children facing threats of physical violence.Over time,
Admission criteria have expanded to include threats of emotional abuse,so staff
Expertise to address emotional problems is not required.This is an example of:

A)subjectivity.
B)effectiveness.
C)an unintentional consequence.
D)efficiency.

Question 18

You begin a new job at a nonprofit agency that serves victims of domestic violence.The job training program for victims requires that participants end their relationship with the abuser before starting training.You disagree with this policy.Why might you be interested in the historical background for this policy?

A)Social welfare policies involve many complex phenomena and factors.You will want to understand the reasons for the policy before challenging it.
B)You might find an exception or loophole that will let you serve some clients despite agency policy.
C)You can find someone to blame for the policy.
D)You can collect information that will support an ethics complaint against a coworker.

Question 19

Discuss some hidden issues that make a social policy such as mandatory drug testing for all employees a complex analysis.

Question 20

Why is it imperative for policy analysts to understand the value premise of the policy as well as the underlying assumptions it has?