Introduction
Agenda setting is mostly a political process that is subject to the competing interests of the public and policy elites in governments. Various models explain the political influence on agenda setting and policy selection. The politics of the prevailing situation influence the design process; the policy option selected and constrains the availability of other policy alternatives.
Schneider and Ingram Model
This model proposes that agenda-setting and policy implementation can be best understood by knowing the social construction of the target population; that is, the social characteristics of the groups affected by the policy (Stone, 2001, p.31). This model suggests that the population can be grouped into deviants, dependents, contenders, and advantaged groups. According to this model, beneficial policies often target the “advantaged” such as scientists and “dependents” such as children, groups while punitive policies target the “contenders” such as the cultural elites and “deviants” groups such as criminals.
Schneider and Ingram describe how the social characteristics of the group determine the group’s influence on setting policy agendas and policy content. According to this model, the policy maker’s perception of the target population correlates with agenda-setting and policy formulation.
Kingdon Model
Also known as the theory of multiple streams, Kingdon’s theory “explains why some issues appear prominent and become part of the policy agenda while others fail to reach the agenda” (Kingdon, 2001, p.331). According to this model, three different streams viz. policy stream, problem stream, and political stream influence agenda setting and policy formulation. The policy stream represents the knowledge or advice from professionals, analysts, and researchers that policymakers may or may not use in agenda-setting and policy formulation. The problem stream entails the events or relevant information, which influence the placing or removal of an issue from an agenda. The political stream, on the other hand, refers to the political will by policymakers and politicians to include an issue on the agenda.
Conclusion
The Kingdon model together with the Schneider and Ingram theory provides the best way of understanding legislation of nursing policies. Understanding the politician’s perception of the different target populations and the social construction of such populations is vital in understanding agenda setting and policy formulation. The need for empirical research, using the two models, important in public health policy study provides an important study area for APNs to understand policy agenda-setting for clinical issues and their implications.
Reference List
Kingdon, J. (2001). A model of agenda-setting with applications. Law Review, 2, 330-333.
Roberts, M., & Reich, M. (2002). Ethical analysis in public health. The Lancet, 35(9), 154-157.
Stone, D. (2001). Policy Paradox: The Art of Political Decision-making. New York: W. W. Norton & Co.