| SES # | TOPICS | KEY DATES |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Introduction Knowledge in use: Problems and opportunities, overview of the course, participant interests. | |
| 2 | Models of knowledge production and decision making Rational policy/planning model, muddling through, deliberation, causal reasoning. | |
| 3 | Agendas and the policy process Agenda-setting and agenda-informing research, politics of the policy process, policy actors and messages. | |
| 4 | Frames and persuasion Sensemaking and storytelling with and without research, frame analysis, reframing. Case: Education reform. Guest: Jal Mehta | Problem statement for case paper due |
| 5 | Paradigms and fads Focus: design and city form, "urban utopias." Guest: Lawrence Vale | |
| 6 | Diffusion of innovation Creating and diffusing innovation, replication and mimicking. | Take-home midterm exam available |
| 7 | Case: Fighting ghetto poverty The Moving to Opportunity (MTO) experiment, images of ghetto poverty and the poor. Guest: Jeffrey Liebman | Midterm exam due |
| 8 | Case: Science in policy disputes Guest: Lawrence Susskind | |
| 9 | Action learning and practice Theories of practice, action learning, communities of practice (knowledge networks). | |
| 10 | The politics and use of evaluation research Truth tests and utility tests, demonstration theory of social change. | |
| 11 | Research writing for non-academic readers The form and function of research briefs and related media (press releases, etc.) | |
| 12 | Discussion of student briefs and case papers in progress. | Research briefs due 48 hours before class, for peer and faculty review |
| 13 | Course review, discussion of case topics. | Final case papers due |