In contrast to science and technology, public policymaking systems lack knowledge about the design and operation of overall social control. Policy sciences contribute to the understanding and improvement of large-scale control systems, especially in their attempt to give rationality to policymaking and decisionmaking activities. The most important…

Needs assessment is a young and growing field. Needs assessments contribute to effective educational planning and help educators improve services to students. Needs assessment can be used to identify goals and objectives, but probably has the most utility as a problem-focusing strategy that includes the following sequence: (1) identification of…

Describes the function of econometric and technological models in the policy process, and shows how different positions in the Dutch energy discussion are reflected by the application of different model methodologies. Discussion includes the energy policy context, a conceptual framework for using energy models, and energy scenarios in policy…

Using data from several western nations, this article maintains that policy analysis has over-emphasized policy substance and neglected the influence of the political process. Focuses specifically on how political and institutional constraints influence policymaking in the Federal Republic of Germany. (JDH)

Using Latin American examples, this article examines the influence of four types of constraints (technological, cultural, clientelistic, and political) on bureaucratic-authoritarian, liberal-democratic and neo-patrimonialist regimes. Maintains that policy will be more effective if aided by an understanding of these constraints. (JDH)

This analysis of current and available information on the evaluation of vocational education and its policy implications includes a methodological appendix showing major studies of cost-effectiveness analysis, a critique of the various techniques employed in these studies, and an extensive bibliography of relevant source materials and related…

This paper analyzes planning at Red River College in Manitoba. The paper suggests that the decision-making process be effectively linked with analytics. The fundamental role of institutional research and planning in postsecondary education is to provide the analytic and planning inputs that can facilitate decision-making. It is necessary to…