A portfolio of research tools and decision-making tools for public policy and national security
The purpose of this New Strategies Topics on Global Issues is to create a portfolio of tools that are used in public policy planning research. 15 methods are outlined below. Each is described including: how it is used; its limitations; and how it works.
Contents
I. Statistical Analysis
II. Large N-Studies
III. Case Studies
IV. Risk Assessment
V. Operational Research
VI. Complex Systems Analysis
VII.Game Theory Applications
VII. Horizon-Scanning
IX. Scenario-Based Planning
X. The Delphi Method
I. Statistical Analysis
A statistical analysis is strategic method of quantitative analysis.Usually quantitative data sets involve data sets that can be measured rather than observed as opposed to qualitative analysis which usually involve observations. In conducting a statistical analysis involves understanding how x affects y. Basic values needed to understand stats analysis are the median, mean, mode, confidence interval, and standard deviation. Median refers to the middle value and indicates where the middle of the curve is while the mean refers to the average value and the mode refers to the most common values.
Some scholars pinpoint the origin of statistics to 1663, with the publication of Natural and Political strategies Observations upon the Bills of Mortality by John Graunt. Early applications of statistical thinking revolved around the needs of states to base policy on demographic and economic strategies data, hence its statetymology. The scope of the discipline of statistics broadened in the early 19th century to include the collection and analysis of data in general. Today, statistics is widely employed in government, business, and the natural and social sciences as well as other fields.
Its mathematical foundations were laid in the 17th century with the development of probability theory. Probability theory arose from the study of games of chance. The use of modern computers has expedited large-scale statistical computation, and has also made possible new strategies methods that are impractical to perform manually.
There are three main components in conducting statistical analysis: (1) assembling the data; (2) interpreting the data; and (3) displaying the data. It is important to point out that when collecting data for a statistical analysis one must be sure that data collected is appropriate the question you are trying to answer.
Additionally the data has to be good, meaning the data has to be suitable, feasible, acceptable and appropriate to the question you to the question you are trying to answer, and the data has to create a pattern. If you can’t establish a relationship between the variables you can’t do an effective statistical analysis. Displaying the data is an important component to stats analysis because you must be able to demonstrate the correlation between the two variables. Data can be displayed through charts such as pie charts, line charts, bar charts, etc.
Advantages of statistical methods are (1) that they can be used with unstable baseline data; (2) that they have the ability to detect small, but consistent, treatment effects that might be ignored in visual analysis; (3) that they can be used when the data are serially dependent; and (4) that they will produce consistent results, independent of who performs the computations.
List the Limitations of this Method
While statistical analysis can be useful there are number of problems/challenges that can arise when using this research strategic method such as: (1) technical flaws; (2) misinterpretation of the data; (3) and collection the wrong type of data. Technical flaws associated with statistical analysis could be errors in collecting data. If the data collected is not comprehensive of the scope, the analysis will be flawed. Often times, data is misinterpreted, for example it is important to note that correlation does not necessarily mean causation. Just because there is a correlation between two variables, it does not mean there is a cause and effect relationship. Collecting the wrong type of data will also skew a statistical analysis, which is why it is important to demonstrate that the data collected and used is suitable, feasible, acceptable and appropriate to the question you are trying to answer.
The challenges of incorporating statistical analysis in public policy research are threefold: First, the author, policy maker, or researcher may obtain incorrect or inconclusive data that leads to a bad calculation. Second, the possibility exists that the author or researcher could misinterpret the data. In effect, what seems as the most logical explanation or analysis may not be so. The correlation A does not mean the causation of B. Finally, the choice of statistical data opted for may not be the best way to answer the question at hand.
[THERE IS ALWAYS THE ISSUE OF CAUSATION..CORRELATION DOES NOT EQUAL CAUSATION]
II. Large N-Studies
Large n-studies are not case studies but rather a compilation of case studies [NOT ALWAYS]. It is a statistical analysis [NOT ALWAYS] that identifies a large pattern of behavior.
Provide a Brief Overview of the Intellectual Origins of This Method
Identify What elements of Data are Needed to Perform this Strategic method and What Kinds of Questions Can be Answered (provide examples)
III. Case Studies
A case study is a value that is demonstratively a very powerful link form the past which shows cause and effect in the present. A case study invovles exhaustive research on a single group, event, or example. A case study can not be done in a short amount of time.
Provide a Brief Overview of the Intellectual Origins of This Method
The need to explain why something was happening caused theorists to look to the past. From there and by using strong data, theorists were able to hypothesize and explain what they were previously unable to substantiate. [THIS IS WEAK]
Identify What elements of Data are Needed to Perform this Strategic method and What Kinds of Questions Can be Answered (provide examples)
CASE STUDIES ARE QUALITATIVE--THE QUANTITYT OF DATA DOES NOT DEFINE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN QUALITATITIVE AND QUANTATIVE METHODS--HOW THE DATA IS ANALYZED DEFINES THE METHOD.[TRUE BUT NOT SUFFICIENT EXPLANATION]
By having appropriate data, one is able to clearly demonstrate cause and effect.
A lack of data on a subject yields this strategic method unusable. The amount of data and time that it takes to write a case study is also a limitation.
A tool for deciphering the (1) threat, (2) the vulnerability and (3) the criticality in order to reduce risk.
A systematic and analytical process, risk management strategiesconsiders the likelihood that a threat will endanger an asset, individual, or function. Risk management’s role is to identify actions to reduce the risk and mitigate the consequences of an attack. While risk generally cannot be eliminated, enhancing protection from known or potential threats can reduce it. A good risk management strategiesapproach includes three primary elements: a threat assessment, a vulnerability assessment, and a criticality assessment;
Provide a Brief Overview of the Intellectual Origins of This Method
This strategic method originated from the insurance industry and migrated to a fincial process. The risk assessment strategic method became a business processes and with regards to physical security in the field of public policy.
Identify What elements of Data are Needed to Perform this Strategic method and What Kinds of Questions Can be Answered (provide examples)
After 9/11, risk management strategieswas the main intellectual construct because the other conceptual models would not work as they were geared more towards state-on-state scenarios and not towards resource allocation. A quantitative and comparative amount of the threat (likelihood of attack), the vulnerability (how susceptible are you to being damaged) and the criticality (how important something is to being damaged) is needed. Once all three of these are correctly identified, the necessary amount of data is achieved.
List Strengths of this Method
When used correctly, risk assessment will identify how to appropriately plan for potential problems.[WEAK]
This is a tool only for quantitative and linear problems. The data must be complete and reliable, otherwise the process will just be a guess.
Operational research is focused on improving decision making and efficiency and primarily concerned with determining the maximum or minimum of an outlined objective. It incorporates various tools to include statistics, probability theory, as well as mathematical analysis and simulation. The overall aim in applying operational research is to manage and appropriately allocate resources.
Provide a Brief Overview of the Intellectual Origins of This Method
As a formal discipline, operational research originated with business efficiencies experts at the turn of the last century. The techniques began to be applied more widely to problems in defense, industry and society. Since that time, operational research has expanded into a field widely used in industries ranging from petrochemicals to airlines, finance, logistics, and government, moving to a focus on the development of mathematical models that can be used to analyze and optimize complex systems, and has become an area of active academic and industrial research.
Identify What elements of Data are Needed to Perform this Strategic method and What Kinds of Questions Can be Answered (provide examples)
Operational research incorporates the use of models to address a problem. Once the problem is identified and appropriately formulated, models must be created that have well defined boundaries. These models will then be solved to obtain solutions. Analysts must then identify the procedure to achieve the solution and, finally, the solution can be implemented.
Allows the examination of effects of a particular element on a solution/endstate
All data elements related to a problem/question must be quantifiable.
Models are simplified.
Does not account for intangible elements.
VI. Complex Systems Analysis
Set of interrelated components within an environment.
Chaotic Systems
Complex adaptive systems
Nonlinear system
Components of a complex system are:
Inputs
Outputs
Process
Results/Outcomes
Provide a Brief Overview of the Intellectual Origins of This Method
Although one can argue that humans have been studying complex systems for thousands of years, the modern scientific study of complex systems is relatively young when compared to conventional science areas with simple system assumption such as physics and chemistry. The history of the scientific study of these systems follows several different research trends. In the area of mathematics, arguably the largest contribution to the study of complex systems was the discovery of chaos in deterministic systems, a feature of certain dynamical systems that is strongly related to nonlinearity. The study of neural networks was also integral in advancing the mathematics needed to study complex systems. The notion of self-organizing systems is tied up to work in nonequilibrium thermodynamics, including that pioneered by chemist and Nobel laureate Ilya Prigogine in his study of dissipative structures.
Identify What elements of Data are Needed to Perform this Strategic method and What Kinds of Questions Can be Answered (provide examples)
War strategies Games usually involve two inter-acting parties both playing given roles under strict
laboratory conditions whereby one is always the Client playing himself and us being the
terrorist hostiles. In the context of Counter-Terrorism this methodology can be useful in simulating Crisis Management strategiessituations before, during or after a “hostile terrorist operation” and is normally meant for G. clients from the Intelligence, Law Enforcement and Homeland Security communities.
Provide a Brief Overview of the Intellectual Origins of This Method
Identify What elements of Data are Needed to Perform this Strategic method and What Kinds of Questions Can be Answered (provide examples)
- Horizon-Scanning is about discovering known unknowns by mining data/knowledge already out there. It does not crease new strategies knowledge.
Horizon-Scanning is the systematic examination of potential threats, opportunities, and likely developments including but not restricted to those at the margins of current thinking and planning. Horizon-scanning may explore novel and unexpected issues as well as persistence problems or trends
(UK Chief Scientists Advisors Committee, Sep 2004)
Provide a Brief Overview of the Intellectual Origins of This Method
- Horizon-scanning was designed as a defense initiative.
Identify What elements of Data are Needed to Perform this Strategic method and What Kinds of Questions Can be Answered (provide examples)
- Horizon-scanning can and is designed to mine data already in existence. In some way, its purpose is to connect the dots of knowledge already out there to develop potential trends.
- Horizon-scanning uses data and knowledge already created, therefore you don't have to create new strategies knowledge.
- It is not designed to predict the future. It only works with data that already exists and exploring possible trends. These trends can be incorrect.
Scenario-Based Planning is a disciplined strategic method for imagining possible futures that has been appplied to a wide range of issues. Scenario planning simplifies a large amount of data by focusing on a set number of possible future states. The requirements for conducting this form of analysis are to 1) postulate future worlds (i.e. range of likely and possible outcomes); this can use euther shock or trend analysis to create (i.e. a pandemic or global warming); 2) define that future world' 3) do mission analysis on that future state from a particular perspective which identifies all assets that can be brought to bare on that problem set; 4) determine what is required to survive in that future world or to create a good future world; 5) identify common trends across all future worlds (common capabilities); and 6) identify those elements you can't live with out (i.e. requirement for nuclear deterance in all future security scenarios).
Provide a Brief Overview of the Intellectual Origins of This Method
This strategic method of analysis was developed in the last 10 years as a result of recent joint interagency planning efforts which did not have a prior rule book or guide book from which to work forward.
Identify What elements of Data are Needed to Perform this Strategic method and What Kinds of Questions Can be Answered (provide examples)
Potential questions that can be addressed with this strategic method are what futre threats the US might face, or which countries could be potential super powers in the future? An example of this form of analysis put into action is the Quadrenial Defense Review, which attempts to focus on potential future threats and then determine if the military is structured or resourced properly to meet those threats.
If done properly it has the ability to help you identify the known unknowns as well as potentially the unknown unknowns because it forces you to consider mutliple factors and variable and multiple potential outcomes.
Limitations to this strategic method include the fact that the potential future states are developed with incomplete information and are developed in a static set of factors. In addition, the future worlds are only as good as the scenarios created and the experts who help you create them.
X. The Delphi Method
The Delphi Strategic method uses standardized questionaires that are then distributed to a group of leading experts. Those experts then answer the questions and explain the basis for their answers. Once the experts return the questionaire the answers are reviewed to determine if the right questions were asked and the information is collected. The answers to the questions, along with the rationale, are then consolidated and resent to all the experts who are asked to review all the responses, agree or disagree and explain why or why not. This continues until the questionaire is sufficiently refined and the experts begin to break into clear areas of convergance and divergance. The goal is not to have everyone agree, but rather to ensure they clarify their position. This develops from the questions (iterive process) and consideration.
Provide a Brief Overview of the Intellectual Origins of This Method
The strategic method of analysis was pioneered by RAND analysts who were looking for a way to normalize various expert opinions into convergences and divergences.
Identify What elements of Data are Needed to Perform this Strategic method and What Kinds of Questions Can be Answered (provide examples)
This strategic method requires a pool of experts who are respected, or trust each other. It can be used to answer such national security questions as regional terrorism trends. An example of this is the Center for Defense Information's review of terrorism trends in southwest asia.
This methods review can help discover known unknowns by forcing experts to consider other's opinions. It can also help the analysts to identify unknown unknowns.
This strategic method requires a pool of experts who are willing to invest a large amount of time in this long process. In addition, due to its very nature, this strategic method is labor intensive.
XII. Net Assessments
Net assessment is designed to look at competitions by looking at the dynamics of long term problems. It looks at complex issues and not complex systems. Net assessment combines multiple methods of analysis who have added expert knowledge to give the analyst a “net, it does not provide an answer or a strategy but rather defines features of what a good strategy should have.
Provide a Brief Overview of the Intellectual Origins of This Method
Created in the 1950-1960’s [bad dates] by Andy Marshall who worked for RAND and under President Nixon’s direction was asked to join the White House staff to assist senior decision makers who were tied up in short term objectives. Andy was to study the long term impacts of policies being created such as health care.
Identify What elements of Data are Needed to Perform this Strategic method and What Kinds of Questions Can be Answered (provide examples)
Net assessment does not look at linear problem such as budget. It is designed to look at competitions, more so to determine the cost vs. benefit implications of decisions.
It looks at complex issues by combining different methods of analysis. Net assessment tends to study issues that are important but overlooked and sometimes neglected.
This strategic method does not provide a path forward but rather incorporates different methods to form a net of analysis.
This is utilized in national security decision making and public policy research by better determining the proper vantage point for a given situation in order to conclude on the best course of action. Of course, the models are not fool proof as human prejudices or assumptions can always corrupt the outcome. The International Relations Theory and its three models are (1) the Realist Model, (2) the Liberal/Neoliberal Model and (3) the Constructivism Model.
Provide a Brief Overview of the Intellectual Origins of This Method
Theories are an integral part of of western civilization but prior to the Renaissance we did not see them used. During this time period, theories were used to provide advice to kings and created the birth of public policy making.
Identify What elements of Data are Needed to Perform this Strategic method and What Kinds of Questions Can be Answered (provide examples)
The Realist model, which is also the oldest model of the three, is the theory that operative actors in theories are states which compete for power and make decisions by getting more power or protecting what they already have obtained. For example, President Lincoln was heavily conflicted with beginning what was considered to be a long and drawn out Civil War. However, by looking at the situation by way of a realist model, “the ends justified the means.” It is important to note that pitfalls lie in both the over generalization and under generalization of operative actors in this model. Inaccuracies are bound to occur when too much of either are prevalent. The Idealism model (liberal/neoliberal model) is a structuralist model, therefore the rules and structure determine the operative states’ actions and thus who has the power in that structure. The rules and structure described in this model can be further elaborated to include belief sets and values that can influence a specific region of the world, not just specific states. For instance, the “bible belt” in the United States transcends man-made state borders. Finally, the Constructive model, which is the most modern of the three models, is the theory that by understanding the context of the state will determine the operative states’ actions. For example, the specific culture or the individual history of a member clan has more to do with why an operative state makes decisions.
The Constructive model can be seen as the more useful model as it is more of a collaboration of the three.
Unfortunately, the number of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have increased exponentially over the last few decades and have thus created numerous types of state actors. This makes it very difficult, if not impossible, to understand completely the context or culture for each NGO. Because of this, the use of the international relations theory is further weakened as a successful theory for public policy research. In addition, the international relations theory cannot address dilemmas that include insurgencies and even homeland security.
Problem of social cost. Public choice theory tries to determine whether the market works or not, it looks at the private vs public cost of a common good. The theory looks at both the macro and micro levels of analysis.
The behaviour of public-sector bureaucrats is at the heart of public-choice theory. While they are supposed to work in the public interest, putting into practice the policies of government as efficiently and effectively as possible, this theory emphasizes the importance of the bureaucrat's disposition to policy implementation. At one extreme, bureaucrats are self-interested utility maximizers, motivated by patronage, power, prerequisites of the office, public reputation, salary, and the ease of managing the bureau; at the other, they are characterized by pride in performance, loyalty to a programme, department, or government, and a wish to best serve their fellow.
Provide a Brief Overview of the Intellectual Origins of This Method
Originated from the Samuel Huntington's "Tragedy of the Commons" and Ronald Coase's "The Problems of Social Cost." Public Choice Theory is a theory of practice. In other words, it analyzes how to think about a problem rather than predict an outcome. The example of the Tragedy of the Commons, there was an economic strategies incentie to capture as much of the commons as possible resulting in instances of market failure. The response by the government may come in different forms such as regulation, taxes, or federalization. Otherwise, the government may divide the market and sell it off (e.g. FCC).
Identify What elements of Data are Needed to Perform this Strategic method and What Kinds of Questions Can be Answered (provide examples)
This strategic method helps determine whether it is better to have rules and regulations to govern behavior or to let the private sector assume control.
XV. Strategic Planning
First define the mission, then analyze the mission, then recognize the assumptions (define what you know and what you don't know). Next define the courses of action to make sure that they are suitable, feasible and acceptable. During this step options are thrown out that do not fit the standards. Finally compare the courses of action through a matrix.
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| Methods of Strategic Analysis |
Provide a Brief Overview of the Intellectual Origins of This Method
In modern times warfare has split from being run entirely by the king to having two wings- strategy and operations/tactics. Strategy is comprised of ends, ways and means. A good strategy must make a hard decision. An example of this is in WWII the US strategy was to win against Germany first. This is a nonlinear strategic method because it is complex and has different elements.
Identify What elements of Data are Needed to Perform this Strategic method and What Kinds of Questions Can be Answered (provide examples)
This is a good strategic method when you don't have full and complete information. This strategic method also satisfies multiple goals simultaneously.
Often strategic planning is driven by budgets, which is destructive to the final product.
Red team methodology is a multi-staged process placing the client in a spectatorposition and shifting his sights onto the adversary. It provides the client with a unique vantage point “behind enemy lines”, enabling him to monitor the inner workings of a Jihadi terrorist organization preparing an attack on his assets.
Provide a Brief Overview of the Intellectual Origins of This Method
Identify What elements of Data are Needed to Perform this Strategic method and What Kinds of Questions Can be Answered (provide examples)
Red team methodology can be appled to wide range of diversified targets and arenas.
Intelligence is not the product of gathering concrete a + b = c facts and forwarding them on to the decision makers. Many times there is a lack of intelligence information when an important national interest decision must be made by decision makers. During those situations the decision makers must grapple with the psychological effects of doing so based on their prior decisions along with what is the right course of action now. Furthermore, this is all after the intelligence goes up the chain of command multiple times having already repeated the same process through recommendation after recommendation.
Provide a Brief Overview of the Intellectual Origins of This Method
Producing intelligence is something that has been done since the dawn of battle and it is an art that is far from perfection. A benefit of using a theoretical framework in public policy research is that by using different theories to examine intelligence data, analysts can compare and contrast different hypothesis generated with theoretical backgrounds. This structured examination of potential outcomes gives analysts a broader perspective and paradigm to improve the policy making process. By identifying the key elements of a problem, theory enables an analyst to sort through a mass of less significant detail. Theory enables the analyst to see beyond today’s transient developments, to recognize which trends are superficial and which are significant, and to foresee future developments for which there is today little concrete evidence.
Identify What elements of Data are Needed to Perform this Strategic method and What Kinds of Questions Can be Answered (provide examples)
To begin the process of intelligence collection, one must first have an intelligence request. For example, "When will North Korea launch another missile?" Next, the intelligence collectors are tasking to gather what they are able and that is pasted on to the data analyzers. Intelligence products are produced and disseminated to the appropriate decision makers. At that point, the decision makers review the intelligence and issue another intelligence request prior to or after making the decision which facilitated the original intelligence request.
The intelligence cycle encompasses five phases. In phase one, policy makers define the information requirement. In phase two, task collectors are dispatched to collect the data. In phase three, analysts review and interpret the data. In phase four, analysts produce an assessment deliverable. In phase five, the intelligence assessment deliverables are disseminated to the decision-makers. There are two principal questions that are necessary to address when interpreting intelligence data: the reliability of the source and the validity of the data.
The main and most important element to intelligence analysis is the human element. Intelligence analysis offers public policy several benefits, such as the perspective that comes from a long-term view of trends and a framework for interpretation of different contexts.
Even an intelligence analyst’s perception to detail, memory and their attention span can have a dramatic effect on the outcome of intelligence. The pitfalls that the human mental process sets for analysis are difficult if impossible to overcome. However, intelligence analysis is by nature often incomplete, ambiguous, and contradictory. Intelligence gathering must take place in continually changing, real-world environments which stress the ability to completely and accurately collect the needed and desired information.
The difficulty working in the theoretical realm is that it is not predictive of actual outcomes but can only provide a range of educated guesses. Almost by definition of the intelligence mission, intelligence issues involve considerable uncertainty. Thus, the analyst is commonly working with incomplete, ambiguous, and often contradictory data.The viability of analytical data is limited by this.
Historical analysis is the process of studying the past by analysts to better understand a current issue, problem or situation they are dealing with.
History provides a wealth of information that one may use to understand patterns and trends of how people and society behave. Such information may also reveal the various different factors that influence and shape behavior such as technological innovation and beliefs. Attempts of formulating laws and theories have been made with regards to human behavior, however even such laws and theories are based or have some component of historical information. In studying history one must keep in mind the relationship between cause and effect. The present is caused by the past thus the future is caused by the present. When an analyst embarks on his or her research they will have to look for factors that took place in the past. In many cases history will be able to explain a certain event, however in other cases one will have to revert back further in order to explore the causes of change.
Provide a Brief Overview of the Intellectual Origins of This Method
Ben Franklin once stated, “Nothing in this world can be said to be certain but death and taxes.” Human beings live in the present yet people from all sorts of professions constantly try to predict or plan their futures. Political strategies leaders, investors, economists, military strategists all try to understand the future by answering the question of what one should expect or what is yet to come. Theories, beliefs, values, norms are all shaped by perceptions that are influenced by some element of the past or history. Human beings are constantly trying to understand change and how it affects the future.
Identify What elements of Data are Needed to Perform this Strategic method and What Kinds of Questions Can be Answered (provide examples)
A major strength of historical analysis is the numerous types of historical records available to the analyst from which to choose the evidence that is relevant to the problem he or she is dealing with. Historical records include and may be available in written, visual, and mechanical forms. These include official and personal records, oral traditions, photographs, paintings, sculpture, and movies; published materials like news papers, journals, pamphlets, and periodicals; mechanical records like tape recordings of interviews and conferences, phonograph records of speeches and reading activities; remains, which include physical remains, printed materials, and hand written materials.
A major strength of historical analysis is the numerous types of historical records available to the analyst from which to choose the evidence that is relevant to the problem he or she is dealing with. Historical records include and may be available in written, visual, and mechanical forms. These include official and personal records, oral traditions, photographs, paintings, sculpture, and movies; published materials like news papers, journals, pamphlets, and periodicals; mechanical records like tape recordings of interviews and conferences, phonograph records of speeches and reading activities; remains, which include physical remains, printed materials, and hand written materials.
Other strengths of historical analysis include providing the analyst with the ability to assess evidence, conflicting interpretations, and past examples of change. Assessing evidence includes learning how to interpret statements of past significant individuals. While the ability to assess conflicting interpretations teaches the analyst the need to assess arguments, thus providing opportunities to engage in debate to achieve perspective. Assessing past examples of change provides the analyst with a better understanding of change in society today, which is an essential skill to understand human behavior in a world dominated by uncertainty and ambiguity.
A limitation of this approach is often there are unknown elements of the present that are assumed to be the same as known elements of the historical precedent. This, can limit an analysts reason by making assumptions that the same forces are at work, that the outcome of the present situation is likely to be similar to the outcome of the historical situation, or that a certain policy is required in order to avoid the same outcome as in the past. The difficulty with this approach is in being certain that two situations are truly comparable. Although historical situations can provide context to trends in behaviors of the actors involved, it does not take into account the current political, economic strategies and social climate of the current situation and would produce similar outcomes.
In its purest form journalism provides something unique to a culture -- independent, reliable, accurate, and comprehensive information that citizens require to be free, however, this is not the current state of journalistic reporting. Journalisms intention is to provide a forum to inform the general public of important events and situations and to hold decision-makers accountable to the electorate. Today’s definition of journalism occupies a grey area of valuable information dissemination and interactive opinion publishing which allows policy makers to interact with and solicit input from the public while simultaneously providing access to opinions not based in fact.
Provide a Brief Overview of the Intellectual Origins of This Method
Quill and paper combined with the human desire to communicate.
Identify What elements of Data are Needed to Perform this Strategic method and What Kinds of Questions Can be Answered (provide examples)
In its purest form journalism provides something unique to a culture -- independent, reliable, accurate, and comprehensive information that citizens require to be free, however, this is not the current state of journalistic reporting. Journalisms intention is to provide a forum to inform the general public of important events and situations and to hold decision-makers accountable to the electorate.
This provides policy makers with a barometer of public opinion and importance of certain issues to the electorate; however, it is impossible for policy-makers to know if these opinions come from informed citizens or those vulnerable to the ever-popular emotional pleas that rely on implied morality rather than indisputable fact.
The difficulty in using journalism for public policy research is that modern journalism is clouded by commercial interests and the hyper connectivity of technology that allows for instantaneous un-vetted dissemination of un-vetted information that can be portrayed however the editor chooses. The danger this poses to public policy researchers is that the whims of economically powerful media conglomerates and emotionally compelling media personalities (i.e. television personalities, bloggers, YouTube video posters, etc.) can influence decision-makers by showing reality through the prism of public opinion rather than verifiable fact.
