This article explores several ideas about naturalistic studies of the uses of policy research.
The central thesis of this article is that naturalistic research is well suited to several
important questions about the use of policy analysis. Policy analysis is a form of
organizational communication. In particular, it is a form of argumentation and story-telling that occurs within the existing processes of influence and sense making in or ganizations. This view of policy research calls for methods that are sensitive to the way
actors ascribe meaning to analysis and to the historical and social context of the
communication.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Beyer, J.M. and H.M. Trice (1982) "The utilization process: a conceptual framework and synthesis of empirical findings." Admin. Sci. Q.27: 591-622.
2.
Boyatzis, R.E. (1985) The Competent Manager: A Model for Effective Performance . New York: Wiley.
3.
Bozeman, B. (1986). "The credibility of policy analysis: between method and use." Policy Studies J.14 (4): 519-539.
4.
Campbell, D.T. and D.W. Fiske (1959) "Convergent and discriminant validation by the multitrait-multimethod matrix." Psych. Bull.56: 81-105.
5.
Capland, N., A. Morrison, and R.J. Stambaugh (1975) The Uses of Social Science Research at the National Level: A Report to Respondents. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan, Institute for Social Research.
6.
Cronbach, L.J. (1975) "Beyond the two disciplines of scientific psychology ." Amer. Psychologist30: 116-127.
7.
Doig, J. and E. Hargrove (1987) Leadership and Innovation: A Biological Perspective on Entrepreneurs in Government. Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins University.
8.
Dunn, W.N. (1980) "The two-communities metaphor and models of knowledge use." Knowledge1: 515-536.
9.
Dunn, W.N. (1982) "Reforms as arguments." Knowledge3: 293-326.
10.
Feldman, M. and J.G. March (1981) "Information in organizations as signal and symbol ." Admin. Sci. Q.26: 171-186.
11.
Geertz, C. (1973) The Interpretation of Cultures. New York: Basic Books.
12.
Gergen, K.J. (1985) "The social constructionist movement in modern psychology." Amer. Psychologist40: 266-275.
13.
Jick, T.D. (1979) "Mixing qualitative and quantitative methods: triangulation in action." Admin. Sci. Q.24: 602-611.
14.
Kaplan, T.J. (1986) "The narrative structure of policy analysis." J. of Policy Analysis and Management5: 761-778.
15.
Leviton, L.D. and E.F. Hughes (1981) "Research on the utilization of evaluation: a review and synthesis." Evaluation Rev.5: 525-548.
16.
Lincoln, Y.S. and E. Guba (1986) Naturalistic Inquiry. Newbury Park, CA: Sage.
17.
Maynard-Moody, S., D. Stull, and J. Mitchell (1987) "The symbolic side of policy analysis: interpreting policy change in a health department," pp. 248-265 in F. Fisher and J. Forester (eds.) Confronting Values in Policy Analysis: The Politics of Criteria. Newbury Park, CA: Sage.
18.
McClintock, C.C. (1987) "Administrators as information brokers: a managerial perspective on naturalistic evaluation." Evaluation and Program Planning10: 315-323.
19.
Neustadt, R.E. and E.R. May (1986) Thinking in Time: The Uses of History for Decision-Makers . New York: Free Press.
20.
Schilit, W.K. and E.A. Locke (1982) "A study of upward influence in organizations." Admin. Sci. Q.27 (2): 304-316.
21.
Webb, E.J., D.T. Campbell, R.D. Schwartz, and L. Sechrest (1966) Unobtrusive Measures: Nonreactive Research in the Social Sciences. Skokie, IL: Rand McNally.
22.
Weick, K.E. and L.D. Browning (1986) "Argument and narration in organizational communication ." J. of Management12 (2): 243-259.
23.
Weiss, C.H. (1980) "Knowledge creep and decision accretion." Knowledge1: 381-404.
24.
Weiss, C.H. and M. Bucuvalas (1980) "Truth tests and utility tests: decision makers' frames of reference for social science research." Amer. Soc. Rev.45: 302-313.
25.
Weiss, J.A. and J.E. Gruber (1984) "Using knowledge for control in fragmented policy arenas." J. of Policy Analysis and Management3 (2): 225-247.
