Policy Research

Intrinsic Research

Research on policy itself may be conducted by an eclectic array of people from a range of disciplinary and institutional backgrounds. Political scientists, ethicists, sociologists, and economists may bring differing theories and methods to similar policy issues. Policy research of this kind may focus on the nature of policy as a phenomenon or in a large-scale sector, rather than education concerns per se. Such researchers may invoke approaches such as agenda setting. By this account, an agenda gains traction through problematization (with problem recognition and definition playing out in a range of ways, e.g., research, conflict, crises, collaboration, or lobbying). Proposals are the next step for advancing an agenda. Such proposals take many forms. The third force is politics, which goes to matters such as social mood, voting patterns, and partisan preferences. These three agendas—problems, proposals, and politics—are seen to operate relatively independently, with at least two being required, either by serendipity or design, to spawn a policy window. As an example, agenda setting might begin by using the media to evoke problems with current education funding policy, sending proposals to opinion leaders to garner engagement in revised approaches, then seizing an opening provided by an election or budget to advance the agenda.

Another approach is policy entrepreneurship, in which people or agencies take risks to advance new policy ventures. Such entrepreneurship involves social acuity, defining problems, building teams, and leading by example. By way of example, a policy entrepreneur might work in a think tank or a university, build networks and resources to articulate an initiative, and then draw on their tenacity and authority to advance a proposal.

In practice, of course, the evolution of policy, particularly radical policy, is likely to be far messier than this theory portrays. Economists and lawyers may examine policy through regulatory or market perspectives or by invoking pan-sectoral theories of power or pricing.

Extrinsic Research

Most extrinsic research treats education policy as an indirect or instrumental phenomenon related to substantive educational matters. Such research deploys a range of contextually appropriate theories and methods, which may be played out in either conventional or contemporary ways.

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