Policy analysis is not the exclusive preserve of an elite and austere group of statisticians. On the contrary: It is the rare professional who is not required to analyze problems and make policy recommendations on a routine basis. Most decisions are made not in a scientific laboratory but in a "real world" environment of competing agendas, resource constraints, limited discretion, incomplete information, deadlines, and other challenges. The analyst who can inject a note of rationality into the decision-making process will eventually be proven right far more often than not. The truth is, some careers are made out of less than that. The Policy Analyst's Handbook has been written for in-service professionals and for students or professionals-in-training who wish to become more effective decision makers. It equips the reader with a structured approach to defining problems, applying the powerful techniques of policy analysis step by step, and assessing potential solutions in light of carefully selected evaluative criteria. The book addresses in detail the application of the two predominant approaches to policy analysis: cost-benefit analysis (applied when efficiency is a priority) and multi-attribute analysis (used when other values are to be factored in). Each chapter concludes with notes and a list of supplemental sources that elaborate on the topics covered, providing a point of entry into the broader literature.

1. The Scientific Method, Social Science, and Policy Analysis
2. Defining the Problem
3. Generating Potential Courses of Action
4. Cost-Benefit Analysis
5. Multi-Attribute Analysis
6. Articulating the Recommendation
7. Implementation and Beyond