Introduction

Despite its increasing popularity in German political science, systematic reflection on the various methods that are used in policy analysis is still scarce. It is revealing that none of the current German textbooks on policy analysis includes a special chapter on methodology, yet the variety of methods that are applied in this sub-discipline is enormous. Many of the methods that are used in the social sciences in general and political science in particular are also used in policy analysis. Similar to other areas of empirical research, in policy analysis the various methods are also closely related to objects of research and its various dimensions (aggregate level, scope and numbers of entities that are under scrutiny) in the same way as methods are linked to particular theoretical frameworks that are guiding the research process (for instance, frameworks focusing on rational decisions, institutional arrangements or policy discourse) (Schneider and Janning, 2006).

Policy research can be done at various levels. In its early phase it concentrated mostly on the national and regional governmental level; however, since the 1990s policy analysis on the international level has also become increasingly popular.

At the most aggregate level policy analysis can deal with the level of governmental intervention into society (usually measured by governmental expenditure related to total economic activity [gross domestic product, GDP] in a given country) or governmental activity in a societal sector such as the educational system or the labour market. Most studies at this level compare many cases and apply statistical methods to explain, for instance, governmental activity by political variables such as party orientation of governments or the restricting effects of political institutions (large-N studies) (see Figure 5.1).

A different type of analysis is provided by Politikfeldanalyse (policy domain research) that is strongly influenced by political sociology where policy domains are conceived as sociopolitical sub-systems that are constituted by a variety of organisations involved in sectoral policy-making. Policy domain studies may focus on the emergence of a given policy area, and also on the various coordination mechanisms and regulatory pattern by which a given policy sub-system is governed. Policy domains can be studied with qualitative and quantitative methods.