Some policy and social science research issues Drugs, alcohol and violence. As both citizens and policy analysts we ought to know how sound the evidence is. Two states, Arizona and California, passed referenda permitting the limited use of marijuana for medical purposes. Many in congress advocate vouchers and school choice while President Clinton insists on national testing standards.
Most liberals think the educational system needs more money.
Most of president Clinton's policy agenda stems from the conviction that the American people have become increasingly conservative in the last 25 years and hence no longer support many government programs and regulations. The President and his advisors invoke polls to document their beliefs. Although the layout and terms in the table may be confusing, the content lies well within the grasp of anyone who has a modest background in statistics. It is certainly imperative that policy scholars and makers know how to weigh the evidence. In order to do so one must understand a relatively small and straight forward set of statistical principles and methods.