METHOD TO ANALYZE THE DEFINITION OF A PUBLIC PROBLEM

Abstract

The objective of this paper is to present a method so that a researcher can analyze how a public problem (PP) was defined within a government agenda. The starting point was a review of the theory of what the agenda is, its types, formation, and how different situations or events that are perceived as negative by society and the government become public problems. Then we continued with the presentation of each of the steps that make up the method. The first is to delimit three central aspects of the PP to investigate: place of impact, level of government directly involved and the respective period of government management. The second is the review of two types of documentary sources: governmental and media, which must be explored by publication date and at three levels. The third step is the application of interviews to delve deeper into the experiences of those who defined the problem, and to clarify information from documentary sources.