The Susceptibility of Policy Analysis to Cultural Bias: Policy Analytic Methods and Cultural Theory

Abstract

This dissertation is a research study which identifies and explores the causality between "social unit" cultural bias (as the independent variable) and the core systematic methods of policy analysis (as the dependent variable).The study is based on two theories: The "Stages" Approach to Policy Analysis and Grid/Group-Cultural Theory. Each is operationalized through a comparative research design that applies for the first time, the Geva-May Model of Policy Analysis by Cultural Bias. The findings obtained support the Hypothesis that policy analysis is susceptible to cultural bias. The primary contributions of the dissertation are the operationalization and testing of this theoretical model, the advancement of theories of policy analysis and culture, and the identification of implications for practice and additional perspectives towards a future research agenda.