Question 1

Which of the following illustrates an operational measure of school quality?
A) parental comments
B) the number of courses offered at the school
C) the taxes available for education
D) standardized test scores

Accepted Answer

Standardized test scores are an operational measure of school quality because they provide quantifiable data on student performance, which can be used to compare and assess the effectiveness of schools.

Question 2

Which of the following states wanted to enact a law that would entail requiring proof of immigration status?
A) Alabama
B) California
C) Nebraska
D) Colorado

Accepted Answer

Alabama wanted to enact a law that would require proof of immigration status.

Question 3

When developing policy alternatives to address a problem, the policymaker should examine ______, which refer(s) to how well the policy has worked in a state, pilot test, or other smaller scale attempt to implement it.
A) real-world or parallel situations
B) literature reviews
C) forecasting
D) implementation

Accepted Answer

Examining real-world or parallel situations allows the policymaker to see how the policy has worked in practice, giving them a better understanding of the potential outcomes and impacts of the policy. Literature reviews, forecasting, and implementation are also important considerations in policy development, but they may not provide the same level of insight into real-world effectiveness.

Question 4

The policy design tools that rely on the premise that most people will behave because they have been told to do so are known as ______.
A) learning tools
B) capacity-building tools
C) hortatory tools
D) authority tools

Accepted Answer

The answer of The policy design tools that rely on...

Question 5

Undocumented immigrants constitute only about ______ of Alabama's workforce.
A) 2%
B) 4%
C) 6%
D) 8%

Accepted Answer

According to a study by the Pew Research Center, as of 2016, undocumented immigrants made up about 4% of Alabama's workforce.

Question 6

Policy analysts study the nature of the problem. Which statement below best defines what this refers to?
A) the extent, magnitude, and causes of the problem
B) the operational measures of the problem
C) primary data collection
D) the evaluative criteria that should be applied to the problem

Accepted Answer

When policy analysts study the nature of the problem, they are assessing the extent, magnitude, and causes of the problem. This provides a foundation for developing potential solutions and evaluating their effectiveness.

Question 7

Which of the following statements regarding the politics of problem definition is true?
A) Defining and measuring problem is merely an exercise in analysis.
B) There are fixed goals in the policy process.
C) Policy actors work together to agree on one definition.
D) Problem definition is the strategic representation of situations.

Accepted Answer

The politics of problem definition refers to the process through which policy actors strategically frame issues in order to influence policy outcomes. Thus, problem definition is a strategic representation of situations and not merely an exercise in analysis. Fixed goals are not always present in the policy process, and policy actors often do not work together to agree on one definition - this is a common area of contestation and disagreement.

Question 8

Which of the following presidential candidates campaigned for building a wall?
A) Clinton
B) Trump
C) Romney
D) Bush

Accepted Answer

Trump campaigned heavily on building a wall along the US-Mexico border during the 2016 presidential election. Clinton, Romney, and Bush did not campaign on this issue in their respective presidential runs.

Question 9

Examining books, journals, and Internet sites regarding a particular problem or solution represents the use of the ______ technique of collecting information.
A) brainstorming
B) literature review
C) parallel situations
D) quick surveys

Accepted Answer

Examining books, journals, and internet sites to gather information is typically known as conducting a literature review. This technique helps to collect credible, reliable, and relevant information about a problem or solution. Therefore, option B is the correct answer in this scenario. Option A is incorrect because brainstorming is a technique used to generate ideas, not to collect information. Option C is incorrect because parallel situations are used to draw lessons and insights from a similar situation, not to gather information. Option D is incorrect because quick surveys are used to gather data from a small sample of people in a short time-frame, and may not necessarily provide in-depth information about a particular problem or solution.

Question 10

Which of the following information sources would provide an initial overview of a subject or problem and would be a good place to begin the process of policy analysis?
A) a specialized journal on the topic
B) The American Statistical Index
C) The New York Times
D) an interview with a key policymaker

Accepted Answer

The New York Times is a general news source that provides a broad overview of current events and issues, making it a good starting point for policy analysis. Specialized journals may provide more in-depth information, but may not be accessible to those without a background in the field. The American Statistical Index would provide statistical data, but may not provide a comprehensive overview of the subject or problem. An interview with a key policymaker may provide valuable insights, but may not necessarily provide a broad overview of the subject or problem.

Question 11

______ are observable ways, such as test scores, to define a problem.
A) Cost-benefit analyses
B) Operational measures
C) Pragmatic measures
D) Policy alternatives

Accepted Answer

Operational measures refer to observable ways to define a problem, such as test scores, graduation rates, or attendance records. Cost-benefit analyses are a type of evaluation tool used to determine the financial feasibility of a project or policy, pragmatic measures refer to practical solutions to problems, and policy alternatives refer to different options for addressing a particular issue. Therefore, the best choice to define a problem based on observable ways is operational measures.

Question 12

Which creative thinking tool begins with an analysis of the status quo as a baseline?
A) analogy
B) brainstorming
C) no-action analysis
D) quick surveys

Accepted Answer

No-action analysis is a creative thinking tool that involves analyzing the current state of affairs as a baseline before considering different actions to achieve a desired outcome. It helps to identify the reasons why things are the way they are and what factors are limiting progress, which can inspire new and innovative solutions. Analogy and brainstorming do not necessarily start with an analysis of the status quo, while quick surveys are more focused on gathering information than generating creative ideas.

Question 13

Indicators of sustainability refer to ______ data that attempt to measure a community's progress toward the goal of sustainability.
A) capacity
B) quantitative
C) interview
D) estimated

Accepted Answer

Indicators of sustainability are quantitative data, which means they are based on measurable and numerical values rather than subjective opinions or estimates. Capacity, interview, and estimated data may be used as supporting information, but they are not indicators of sustainability themselves.

Question 14

In an attempt to change the behavior or attitudes of citizens, government leaders often use ______ tools, which refer to making public addresses or speeches to exhort citizens to do something.
A) authority
B) hortatory
C) inducement
D) sanction

Accepted Answer

The term "hortatory" specifically refers to making public addresses or speeches to encourage or urge citizens to take action, which fits with the description given in the question. The other options - authority, inducement, and sanction - do not necessarily involve public speeches and may involve more concrete actions like rewards or punishments.

Question 15

There are an estimated ______ million illegal immigrants residing in the United States.
A) five
B) seven
C) 11
D) 15

Accepted Answer

According to recent estimates from the Pew Research Center, there were approximately 10.5 million unauthorized immigrants residing in the United States in 2017. While estimates vary, this is generally considered the most accurate and reliable estimate.

Question 16

The case of immigration reform illustrates the importance of ______.
A) the policy tool of sanctions
B) risk analysis
C) a strong problem analysis
D) the policy tool of regulation

Accepted Answer

The case of immigration reform requires a strong problem analysis because it is a complex and sensitive issue that involves legal, economic, and social factors. A comprehensive problem analysis is necessary to identify the root causes of the problem, the stakeholders involved, and the potential impacts of different policy options. Sanctions and regulation may be relevant policy tools, but they are not directly related to the importance of a strong problem analysis in this context. Risk analysis may be useful for evaluating the potential consequences of different policy options, but it is not the most crucial factor in this case.

Question 17

______ refers to the careful consideration, during the policy formulation state, of the role of government "agents" and the "target population."
A) Policy design
B) Problem analysis
C) Parallel situation analysis
D) Quantitative data

Accepted Answer

Policy design refers to the process of determining the best course of action to address a specific problem or issue. This includes carefully considering the role of government agents and the potential impact of policies on the target population. Policy design takes into account a variety of factors, including available resources, stakeholder interests, and potential unintended consequences. Problem analysis, parallel situation analysis, and quantitative data are all important components of policy design, but they do not specifically address the role of government agents and the target population.

Question 18

Governments may invest in training programs for their own staff or for the public. This policy design tool is referred to as ______.
A) capacity-building tools
B) authority tools
C) creative thinking
D) inducements

Accepted Answer

Capacity-building tools refers to policies and programs designed to enhance the capabilities of individuals, organizations, or communities to effectively carry out specific tasks or functions. Training programs are a common example of such tools that are used by governments for their own staff or for the public to enhance their capacity and improve their skillset.

Question 19

Which of the following illustrates an operational measure of the safety of a community?
A) index crime rates, such as violent and property crimes
B) automobile crashes per capita
C) how safe residents report that they feel on a survey
D) all of these

Accepted Answer

All of these options illustrate operational measures of the safety of a community. Index crime rates provide a quantitative measure of violent and property crimes, automobile crashes per capita offer insight into traffic safety, and surveys on how safe residents feel give a subjective measure of perceived safety. Each of these aspects contributes to understanding the overall safety of a community.

Question 20

______ involves finding solutions to a problem by spontaneously sharing ideas without criticizing or evaluating them.
A) Brainstorming
B) No-action analysis
C) Analogy and metaphor
D) Literature review

Accepted Answer

Brainstorming involves generating as many ideas as possible without criticism or evaluation. The goal is to encourage creativity and free thinking, which can help find innovative solutions to problems. No-action analysis involves looking at past failures and identifying what not to do in the future, analogy and metaphor involve using comparisons to better understand a problem or situation, and literature review involves gathering and analyzing existing research and literature on a topic. While all of these methods can be useful in problem-solving, only brainstorming fits the given description.

Quiz 5: Public Problems and Policy Alternatives

Which of the following illustrates an operational measure of school quality?

Which of the following states wanted to enact a law that would entail requiring proof of immigration status?

When developing policy alternatives to address a problem, the policymaker should examine ______, which refer(s) to how well the policy has worked in a state, pilot test, or other smaller scale attempt to implement it.

The policy design tools that rely on the premise that most people will behave because they have been told to do so are known as ______.

Undocumented immigrants constitute only about ______ of Alabama's workforce.

Policy analysts study the nature of the problem. Which statement below best defines what this refers to?

Which of the following statements regarding the politics of problem definition is true?

Which of the following presidential candidates campaigned for building a wall?

Examining books, journals, and Internet sites regarding a particular problem or solution represents the use of the ______ technique of collecting information.

Which of the following information sources would provide an initial overview of a subject or problem and would be a good place to begin the process of policy analysis?

______ are observable ways, such as test scores, to define a problem.

Which creative thinking tool begins with an analysis of the status quo as a baseline?

Indicators of sustainability refer to ______ data that attempt to measure a community's progress toward the goal of sustainability.

In an attempt to change the behavior or attitudes of citizens, government leaders often use ______ tools, which refer to making public addresses or speeches to exhort citizens to do something.

There are an estimated ______ million illegal immigrants residing in the United States.

The case of immigration reform illustrates the importance of ______.

______ refers to the careful consideration, during the policy formulation state, of the role of government "agents" and the "target population."

Governments may invest in training programs for their own staff or for the public. This policy design tool is referred to as ______.

Which of the following illustrates an operational measure of the safety of a community?

______ involves finding solutions to a problem by spontaneously sharing ideas without criticizing or evaluating them.