ABSTRACT
Basic Tools for Researching Need and Analyzing Social Policy illustrates how to use a policy analysis framework to understand social policy. Students can then apply this framework to do hands-on analysis of legislation that addresses homelessness. Strength principles for policy analysis are explained and their application is discussed. Students’ critical thinking is encouraged, with a discussion of social construction of policy issues that helps students reflect on the forces that shape how we think and what we believe. The examples provided in the section “A Framework for Policy Analysis” have been updated and carried throughout the entire section. While we have streamlined this chapter to avoid redundancy and cut overall length, we added some specific information on how to analyze social policy and additional tools to help students approach the policy analysis task on any issue of interest.
