In recent years, policy analysis has grown in number of practitioners and in reputation. At all levels of government and at every stage of the policy process, analytical studies of problems and evaluations of programs have become commonplace. "The World of the Policy Analyst" is detailed study of the policy analyst and their role in America's policymaking process. The authors advocate that policy analysts need to become more sensitive to the political, social, and ideological issues that operate in our government's policy process if they want their efforts to become more influential. The book's comprehensive coverage includes recent efforts to integrate values and analysis; explores the implications of increasing fragmentation in the political system and the growing influence of think tanks at the national and state levels; and identifies the challenges posed by the rapidity of scientific and technological change.