It contains articles dealing with general perspecitives of policy studies. They discuss interdisciplinary considerations for policy studies, examine conceptual and methodological isues, offer criticisms of social science research, and explore the implementation of policy studies. One article presents a model for implementation which examines a series of stages involved in implementation progrmas and considers the manner in which changes in socioeconomic conditions, public opinion, and other factors affect the implementation process. Other articles focus on such recent issues and problems as differential income, poverty, and fiscal containment; energy policy as it related to the quality and style of life; population law; the trial jury; social policy and race relations; medical and health policies; and public policy in the International Year of the Child. In particular, the contributors examine the increased attention to energy scarcity, the social policy implications of the Three Mile Island accident, the 25th anniversary of the Brown Board of Education Supreme Court decision, and the White House Conference on Families. Chapter notes and references, footnotes, tabular data, and illustrations are provided.