Policy Analysis and Application to Marginalized and Oppressed Groups

Resources • Article: America’s Progress in Achieving the Legalization of Same-Gender Adoption: Analysis of Public Opinion, 1994 to 2012 Optional Resource: • Website: Legal Information Institute Background Information How do you know whether or not a policy is effective or how it is impacting you or your clients? Sometimes you will notice or observe directly the impact a policy is having; other times, it requires careful analysis and your own research to determine the effects a policy is having on social work practice and the people it purports to be helping. In this assignment, you will have the opportunity to dig deeper into a social policy that relates to same-sex adoptions, including a state policy on same-sex adoption. Your understanding of research will enable you to better understand whether or not others’ research on a policy has used sound principles and rigorous methods. Instructions 2. Write a paper, addressing the following: 1. Review the methods and results of the article “America’s Progress in Achieving the Legalization of Same-Gender Adoption: Analysis of Public Opinion, 1994 to 2012” and answer the following:  How would you go about doing a research study on the topic of same-sex adoption?  What methods would you use and why?  How would you go about measuring the variables that you would want to study? 2. Locate at least one state law or policy regarding same-sex adoption (you can use the Cornell University Law School Legal Information Institute to find laws or policies for each state in US) at https://www.law.cornell.edu/states/listing or you can often find laws by doing a general Internet search. Answer the following:  What did you discover about the law or policy?  How do you think researching that policy might inform social work practice?