Table of Contents

Part I Principles of Policy Research

1. Introduction to Policy Research

2. Be Real: Navigating the Policy Research Terrain

3. Be Creative: Policy Research with the Artisan’s Touch

4. Be Credible: Using the Policy Research Toolbox

5. Be Useful: Developing and Delivering Actionable Information

Part II Cases in Policy Research

6. Using Research to Refine Quality Standards: The Evolution of Communities in Schools’ Total Quality System (TQS)

7. The Dropout Prevention Mentor Project: Delivering Unexpected Messages Through Policy Research

8. The Use of Applied Policy Research to Inform and Reform Statewide Dropout Policies

9. Political Statement or Effective Policy? Comparing Implementation of State Bullying Laws

10. Intervention Effectiveness in Real-World Settings: The National Cross-Site Evaluation of High Risk Youth Programs

11. What to Do about Scrap Tires? Options for Productive Waste Management

12. Keys to Success for Transit Tax Initiatives: Repeated Research for Policy Learning

13. High-Speed Rail Workforce Development: An Estimation Problem

14. Climate Change Adaptation: An Assessment of Accomplishments at the Community Level

15. Housing Sales in Urban Neighborhoods: Using Policy Research to Inform Planning

16. Evaluation of the California Ignition Interlock Pilot Program: A Policy Experiment

17. Information for Community Policing: Cops on the Beat in the 21st Century

18. When the Process Is the Question: Resource Family Recruitment in Los Angeles, CA

19. Debt Burdens of California State and Local Governments: Are They Too Large?

20. Deinstitutionalization and Community Services in Virginia: A Policy Assessment

21. Case Study Lessons

About the Author

J. Fred Springer is Research Director for EMT Associates, Inc., and Professor Emeritus in Policy Analysis at the University of Missouri-St. Louis. Peter Haas has been an active contributor and principle investigator for a number of primarily transportation-related research projects, including work sponsored by the U.S. Department of Transportation, the California Department of Transportation, and the Mineta Transportation Institute. Each of these projects will provide additional perspective for the text, as well as case study material.