Analyses of Social Problems in Case Studies

Policy Advocacy Challenge 7.1. Using the Web as a Tool in Policy Analysis addresses how a lack of access to comprehensive and reliable data can impair practical policy analysis and advocacy. Advocates often analyze social issues such as poverty or trouble accessing healthcare. They are usually expected to do so using the correct information, but this is not easy without access to present and accurate data. The challenge focuses on the importance of relying on credible websites when looking for data, showing that mistakes in data can distort the definition and scope of social issues, leading to ineffective or misdirected policy efforts (Jansson, 2017): Analyses of Social Problems in Case Studies.

Policy analysts, social workers, and researchers who require accurate data to influence policymaking are defining the problem. Institutions such as universities and organizations such as the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, which build their narratives around data, also partially explain it. Since they must justify their actions, these professionals create and define the problem to support reforms and interventions. By framing the issue through a data-driven lens, they shape both public perception and policy priorities around what is measurable and reportable.

The definition of this problem reflects the values of transparency, using evidence-based practices, and accountability. Objectivity matters, and advocates should base their arguments on verifiable data. This definition also emphasizes why decisions based on facts matter in democracy.

Policies should be driven by facts rather than conjecture and prejudice. As policy proponents give such priority, policymakers become more accountable for promoting justice and equality through policymaking (Whitsel et al., 2024).

The definition illustrates that policy data adjustments and digital gaps often prevent minority groups from participating in and benefiting from the data-related policy. It does not cover issues that can occur in data, such as people feeling misrepresented or having the ability to mislead people by falsifying data. Moreover, it does not cover social workers’ need to understand how to utilize data to make appropriate conclusions based on statistics.

References

Jansson, B. S. (2017). Empowerment series: Becoming an effective policy advocate. Cengage Learning.

Whitsel, L. P., Honeycutt, S., Radcliffe, R., Johnson, J., Chase, P. J., & Noyes, P. (2024). Policy implementation and outcome evaluation: Establishing a framework and expanding capacity for advocacy organizations to assess the impact of their work in public policy. Health Research Policy and Systems, 22(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12961-024-01110-0

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To Prepare:

• Read Chapter 7 of the Jansson text.
• Review the “Policy Advocacy Challenge” sections assigned from the Jansson text this week.
• Select one of the Policy Advocacy Challenge examples to use for your Discussion. Use your experiences as a practicing social worker and/or your academic interests to inform your selection.
  • Chapter 7, “Analyzing Problems in the First Step of Policy Analysis” (pp. 204–243)
    1. Policy Advocacy Challenge 1.2 (p. 9)
    2. Policy Advocacy Challenge 2.6 (p. 43)
    3. Policy Advocacy Challenge 3.4 (p. 92)
    4. Policy Advocacy Challenge 5.1 (p. 144)
    5. Policy Advocacy Challenge 7.1 (p. 210)
    6. Policy Advocacy Challenge 11.5 (p. 387)
       

       Analyses of Social Problems in Case Studies

DISCUSSION:
Post a short description of the social problem from the Policy Advocacy Challenge you selected from the Jansson text. Then address the following:

• Who is defining the problem?
• What values are reflected in this definition of the problem?
• What is being omitted in this definition?

Be sure to support your post with specific references to this week’s resources. If you are using additional articles, be sure to provide full APA-formatted citations for your references.