1Methods of the Policy Process, edited by Weible and Workman, is a comprehensive introduction to methodological approaches and best practices in policy process theory research that helps advance the field in crucial ways. The volume consists of chapters that each cover one of the eight frameworks in the 5th edition of the canon Theories of the Policy Process, including the multiple streams framework, punctuated equilibrium theory, policy feedback theory, advocacy coalition framework, narrative policy framework, innovation and diffusion, institutional analysis and development framework, and the newly added ecology of games framework. Each chapter is authored by leading scholars of the respective frameworks and theories, which attests to the field’s commitment to methodological advancement.
2This new volume responds to a long-standing and widely acknowledged need for methodological clarity, which has become increasingly urgent with the expansion of policy process theories to different stages of the policy cycle, countries, and political systems. A desire for increased methodologically consistency has been expressed repeatedly, including in the 4th edition of Theories of the Policy Process. To illustrate, in the context of the Multiple Streams Framework, Herweg et al. (2017) stated that “scholars need to find ways to test the framework more systematically.” Likewise, in the context of policy feedback theory, Mettler and Sorelle (2017) argued that “the most significant limitations to research thus far emanate from methodological concerns and data limitations.” Similarly, Jenkins-Smith et al., (2017) included establishing “common methods of data collection and analyses” as one of the key points for future research on advocacy coalitions.
3To achieve these ambitions, in the introduction to the volume, Workman and Weible first establish a shared understanding of crucial research design aspects before delving into individual policy process theories. A shared understanding of concepts such as validity, endogeneity, and causal inference is especially important for students and prepares the reader for later chapters in which these concepts reappear. After introducing these concepts, subsequent chapters zoom in on methods specific to each of the abovementioned eight frameworks and theories. Each chapter first outlines the scope of the relevant policy process theory and introduces common research questions. This helps the reader to decide whether or not to use the relevant theory for their particular research aims and questions. The second part of each chapter walks the reader through operationalization, data collection, and data analysis, while also informing the reader about the limitations, weaknesses, and opportunities of each theory. Particularly helpful are the examples of best practices.
4While this new volume contributes to the design of comparative research across countries and political systems, its scope is limited to the eight aforementioned theories and frameworks. It thus excludes other approaches to studying various aspects of the policy process. Consequently, policy process scholars who rely on other theories and frameworks may be disappointed, as the volume’s title may be interpreted by some in a more broader sense.
5At the same time, it is precisely this relatively narrow focus on policy process theories that sets the volume apart from other methods books. Existing handbooks in political science tend to be organized around specific tools such as machine learning, surveys, or Bayesian modeling. Weible and Workman instead take research questions (as embedded in existing policy process theories) as their starting point. By presenting a broad menu of approaches, including both quantitative and qualitative methods, as well as abductive, inductive, and deductive reasoning, the volume helps scholars to design rigorous research that is consistent with existing literature, and hence allows for comparative analysis across countries and political systems, which is one of the motivations for this volume.
6In addition to providing guidance on research design, a key contribution is the set of general scientific principles for policy process research put forward by the editors in the conclusion, which includes transparent methodological pluralism, bounded epistemological pluralism, bounded ontological pluralism, and diversity in research programs. These principles create opportunities for further theorization and operationalization.
7One theme that lends itself particularly well to further elaboration is interdisciplinarity. Weible and Workman emphasize the need for interdisciplinarity given increasingly complex societal systems, which is consistent with their set of general principles and the overall goal of increasing the potential for comparison across cases. Given the nature of the issues examined in policy process research (e.g., climate change), it would be worthwhile for future research to elaborate on common methodological obstacles and best practices in interdisciplinary policy process research, especially for projects involving both natural scientists and policy scholars.
8While there are thus ways to expand and deepen the volume in future editions, this volume is a truly powerful resource for students, researchers, teachers, editors, and peer reviewers. Each of these audiences has their own needs and can use the volume accordingly. At the undergraduate level, as part of a policy process course and following a general introduction to a particular policy process theory or framework, the volume can be used as a checklist for reflecting on or critically assessing existing publications, which prepares students for developing their own research projects. To illustrate, students could be assigned an existing article that uses one of the policy process theories or frameworks and reflect on key aspects such as deductive versus inductive reasoning, design choices, and descriptive versus causal inference, using the volume’s relevant methodological chapter as a benchmark. Another audience for which this volume is especially useful are journal editors and peer reviewers, as they can refer authors to this resource in cases of underdeveloped or weak research designs.
9In conclusion, by providing an overview of methodologies and methods used in policy process theory research, this volume fills a widely acknowledged research gap and does so in a way that encourages theoretical and methodological innovations. Its publication joins broader efforts to make policy process theories more coherent, accessible, and relevant to students, researchers, teachers, and practitioners. These efforts include two other recent major volumes, including Practical Lessons from Policy Theories (Weible & Cairney, 2021) and the Handbook of Teaching Public Policy (St. Denny & Zittoun, 2024). As such, Weible and Workman’s new volume is an important pillar of policy process theories, elevating the field to a new level by making methodologies and methods visible and accessible. In metaphoric terms, Theories of the Policy Process as the roof of the subfield is now supported by three strong pillars: methods, practice, and teaching. Together, these four books help new researchers to access the field and empowers experienced scholars to better describe, explain, and predict policy processes.