Discuss the five major steps involved in the policy analysis process. What types of questions are asked in each step? Provide an example for each step.

What will be an ideal response?

The five steps are as follows: Define and analyze the problem—what is the problem faced? What are its causes? Example: What causes violent crime? Construct policy alternatives—what options might be considered to deal with the problem? Develop evaluative criteria—what criteria are most suitable to examine for this problem? What are the costs? What is its likely effectiveness? Assess alternatives—evaluate which alternative will best address the problem based on the criteria examined? and Draw conclusions—which option is most desirable?