Call for Proposals

2017 APPAM Fall Research Conference
November 1 - 4, 2017
Chicago, IL

The Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management (APPAM) will hold their annual three-day Fall Research Conference in Chicago, Illinois at the Hyatt Regency Chicago on November 2-4, with governance meetings and other events on Wednesday, November 1, 2017.

The theme of the conference is: Measurement Matters: Better Data for Better Decisions

This conference will focus on the importance of data and measurement, and celebrate the government staff who work to improve the measures we use every day. At recent Fall Conferences, we have heard about the importance of using evidence and research in policy making; focusing on data and measurement is the next step. It is more essential than ever, in light of recent criticism of government data and statistics, to demonstrate the importance of government data.

We hope that papers will stress the importance of measurement in public policy analysis, discuss how data are used to evaluate policy and performance, and demonstrate how different data or measures affect results. We encourage papers that examine new data (e.g., "Big data"), new uses for current survey data, and the integration of both survey and administrative data. Symposia and roundtables will present unique data sets that have been used to evaluate policy, the importance of federal data and federal measurement of key indicators, and the results of the recent effort on evidence-based policy making.

The 39th APPAM Fall Conference will take place in Chicago, a city that hosted the first APPAM conference in 1979. In a nod to the importance of state and local policy, we encourage submissions that examine data, measurement and analysis from states and cities, strengthening our connection to the local communities. As Becky Blank, Past President of APPAM and current Chancellor of the University of Wisconsin- Madison, has said "Always remember that measurement matters!"

We are soliciting abstracts for caucuses at this time. We are no longer accepting submissions for single papers, posters, roundtables, or panels. The primary purpose for caucus sessions is to offer a dedicated time for participants to gather informally to discuss new and emerging policy issues, to formulate new research questions, approaches to research and to form possible research collaborations. Each caucus is meant to prompt informal discussions on an emerging policy or management topic and is led by a moderator. These open discussions are designed to center around evolving research topics and invite feedback, questions, and promote discourse. A caucus is not an opportunity to solicit feedback on a specific paper or study. Rather, a caucus is meant to determine interest in an emerging policy or management area, and to learn from attendees how that issue is being addressed by the community, what work is already being done, and what work would be of value in the future. Additionally, a caucus can serve as an opportunity to discuss a specific dataset and its uses and relevance, or evaluate a specific government or institutional program.

Begin a submission to the following:

***The deadline for all submissions is Friday, September 8, 2017 11:59 pm EST. After review from the APPAM Program Committee, all submitters will receive an accept or reject notice in mid-September.***

Steps and Instructions:

1. GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS

   There are 4 steps to the online submission process.

   • Title - Enter the title of the proposal (single paper or panel) and submitting author's email address.
   • Authors & Institutions - Enter contact information for submitting, presenting, and all other authors.
   • Abstract Text - Insert the body of the abstract here. Abstracts may be submitted by copying and pasting your text into the provided text box.
   • Confirmation - Please review all information carefully and complete the submission.

2. TITLE

   Please provide paper and session titles that are no more than 15 words long.
   You will be required to select a Primary Policy Area.

3. AUTHORS & INSTITUTIONS

   Please list all authors in the order you wish for them to appear in the program.

   Please include the submitting author, as anyone not listed in your submission will not appear in the program.

   Please include complete contact information for each author.

   When listing institutions, list ONLY the parent institution. APPAM will not publish school, office or department names, regardless of your institution's policy.

   Example: University of California-Berkeley (NOT Goldman School of Public Policy)

   Example: US Department of Education (NOT Office of Inspector General)

4. ABSTRACT TEXT

   Abstracts are limited to 500 words. This system will accept symbols. You do not need to include bibliographic or reference information with your abstract.

   Abstracts may be formatted as you see fit. APPAM does not require that abstracts be submitted with specific font, paragraph, or layout requirements as long as it is easy for reviewers to read and is 500 words or less in length.

   Abstracts may be submitted by copying and pasting your text into the provided text box.

5. CONFIRMATION

   You will have a chance to look over the submission to make sure it is complete.

6. TECHNICAL SUPPORT

   For help in submitting an abstract online,email Tech Support.