PPL Midterm Ch.4-6 Exam Questions with Correct Answers Latest Update 2025/2026
A. scientific
B. professional
C. political
D. economic
Ans: B - Answers 1. Think tanks study problems and alternatives in order to help policy makers
make decisions. The type of policy analysis typically conducted by think tanks is called ______.
A. Limited causes
B. Acknowledged causes
C. Proximate causes
D. Root causes
Ans: C - Answers 2. ___ are defined as the immediate causes of a given social problem.
A. root causes
B. proximate causes
C. incremental causes
D. factorial causes
Ans: A - Answers 3. Policy analysts often investigate the ______ of a social problem in order to
develop policy solutions that attack the problem before it might develop.
A. political
B. generative
C. elite
D. rational-comprehensive
Ans: D - Answers 4. The ______ approach to policy analysis defines a problem, indicates the
goals and objectives to be sought, considers a range of alternative solutions, evaluates each of
the alternatives to clarify their consequences, and then recommends or chooses the alternative
with the greatest potential for solving the problem.
A. Alternative assessment
,B. Evaluative criteria
C. Ex post facto criteria
D. Redistributive factors
Ans: B - Answers 5. ______ refer to the important factors that policy analysts will use to assess
the proposed policy alternatives. They are also used to analyze the impact of the policy after
implementation.
A. a national ban on texting while driving
B. pressing state governments to develop and implement policies
C. organizing local governments to improve enforcement of local bans on texting while driving
D. Nothing has been proposed; that's why it continues to be a problem.
Ans: A - Answers 6. Policy alternatives relating to the use of cell phones while driving are
discussed in the first part of Chapter 4. Several agencies of the federal government have
recommended which of the following policy actions?
A. Policy-making process
B. Incremental decision making
C. Root cause analysis
D. Policy analysis
Ans: D - Answers 7. ______ refers to collecting and interpreting information that clarifies the
causes and effects of public problems.
A. economics
B. sociology
C. political science
D. all of these
Ans: D - Answers 8. Policy analysis draws from the ideas and methods of which of the following
disciplines?
A. assessment of various policy alternatives and their likely effects
B. conducting scientific research into the root causes of social problems
C. analyzing the political feasibility of policy proposals
, D. conducting polling of the public to assess support for various proposals
Ans: A - Answers 9. Which statement lists the most common use of policy analysis?
A. set agenda, formulate policy, legitimize policy, implement, and evaluate
B. define and Analyze problem, analyze policy alternatives, develop criteria, and assess
C. define problem, gather data, and operationalize problem
D. analyze problem, set criteria, implement policy and regulations, and legitimize
Ans: B - Answers 10. Which is the correct sequence in the policy analysis process?
A. policy formulation
B. policy legitimation
C. policy analysis
D. policy capacity
Ans: C - Answers 11. A systematic and organized way to evaluate problems, policy alternatives,
or the effectiveness of government programs is referred to as _____.
a. Rational decision making
b. Incremental decision making
c. Policy evaluation
d. Political analysis
Ans: A - Answers 12. ______ involves defining the problem, indicating goals and objectives to be
sought, considering a range of alternatives, and evaluating each alternative before
recommending a particular solution.
A. professional
B. political
C. scientific
D. elite
Ans: B - Answers 13. Being committed to specific policy values and goals as well as ideological
and partisan agendas is known as the ______ approach to policy analysis.
A. incremental decision making
A. scientific
B. professional
C. political
D. economic
Ans: B - Answers 1. Think tanks study problems and alternatives in order to help policy makers
make decisions. The type of policy analysis typically conducted by think tanks is called ______.
A. Limited causes
B. Acknowledged causes
C. Proximate causes
D. Root causes
Ans: C - Answers 2. ___ are defined as the immediate causes of a given social problem.
A. root causes
B. proximate causes
C. incremental causes
D. factorial causes
Ans: A - Answers 3. Policy analysts often investigate the ______ of a social problem in order to
develop policy solutions that attack the problem before it might develop.
A. political
B. generative
C. elite
D. rational-comprehensive
Ans: D - Answers 4. The ______ approach to policy analysis defines a problem, indicates the
goals and objectives to be sought, considers a range of alternative solutions, evaluates each of
the alternatives to clarify their consequences, and then recommends or chooses the alternative
with the greatest potential for solving the problem.
A. Alternative assessment
,B. Evaluative criteria
C. Ex post facto criteria
D. Redistributive factors
Ans: B - Answers 5. ______ refer to the important factors that policy analysts will use to assess
the proposed policy alternatives. They are also used to analyze the impact of the policy after
implementation.
A. a national ban on texting while driving
B. pressing state governments to develop and implement policies
C. organizing local governments to improve enforcement of local bans on texting while driving
D. Nothing has been proposed; that's why it continues to be a problem.
Ans: A - Answers 6. Policy alternatives relating to the use of cell phones while driving are
discussed in the first part of Chapter 4. Several agencies of the federal government have
recommended which of the following policy actions?
A. Policy-making process
B. Incremental decision making
C. Root cause analysis
D. Policy analysis
Ans: D - Answers 7. ______ refers to collecting and interpreting information that clarifies the
causes and effects of public problems.
A. economics
B. sociology
C. political science
D. all of these
Ans: D - Answers 8. Policy analysis draws from the ideas and methods of which of the following
disciplines?
A. assessment of various policy alternatives and their likely effects
B. conducting scientific research into the root causes of social problems
C. analyzing the political feasibility of policy proposals
, D. conducting polling of the public to assess support for various proposals
Ans: A - Answers 9. Which statement lists the most common use of policy analysis?
A. set agenda, formulate policy, legitimize policy, implement, and evaluate
B. define and Analyze problem, analyze policy alternatives, develop criteria, and assess
C. define problem, gather data, and operationalize problem
D. analyze problem, set criteria, implement policy and regulations, and legitimize
Ans: B - Answers 10. Which is the correct sequence in the policy analysis process?
A. policy formulation
B. policy legitimation
C. policy analysis
D. policy capacity
Ans: C - Answers 11. A systematic and organized way to evaluate problems, policy alternatives,
or the effectiveness of government programs is referred to as _____.
a. Rational decision making
b. Incremental decision making
c. Policy evaluation
d. Political analysis
Ans: A - Answers 12. ______ involves defining the problem, indicating goals and objectives to be
sought, considering a range of alternatives, and evaluating each alternative before
recommending a particular solution.
A. professional
B. political
C. scientific
D. elite
Ans: B - Answers 13. Being committed to specific policy values and goals as well as ideological
and partisan agendas is known as the ______ approach to policy analysis.
A. incremental decision making
