Making political analysis useful: Adjusting and scaling (ESID, 2015)

Published

This paper provides users of PEA with a framework to ensure this analysis can be applied in a more pragmatic and flexible fashion. First, it differentiates between three kinds of PEA: Agenda setting analysis (or learning the game), problem solving analysis (winning the game) and influencing analysis (changing the game). Each type of analysis is relevant at different times for addressing different programme aims. Second, the paper emphasises the importance of scaling, arguing that PEA should start small, i.e. through a one-hour conversation amongst experts and practitioners, and then scale up to include a more in-depth workshop or research agenda.  In this way it is the questions that drive the workshop and the research agenda and not the other way around.