Policy analysts' roles and value orientations: An empirical investigation using Q methodology

Abstract Several scholars have suggested that policy analysts and policy researchers can be classified as falling into one of a small number of ideal types. These ideal‐type models are based largely on analysts' views of their roles in an organization and their value orientations, including their relationships with clients, their perceptions of their responsibility to the public, and their acceptance of professional norms. To determine to what extent practicing policy analysts and researchers resemble the ideal types, we administered Q‐sorts to 38 analysts and researchers in three states. In our analysis of the Q‐sorts, we identified five types. Also, we found that the analysts and researchers hold in common many views of analytic roles and values.