Which term should be interdisciplinary and provide justification for why decisions were made in program planning?

• A. Quality improvement
• B. Evaluation plan
• C. Policy analysis
• D. Needs assessment

Answer: (C)

Policy analysis is the one that best fits an interdisciplinary approach and provides justification for why decisions are made in program planning. It pulls together insights from economics, sociology, political science, public health, and other fields to compare options, assess impacts, and weigh costs, benefits, feasibility, and equity. By laying out the rationale for choosing a particular course of action and showing how it will achieve desired outcomes within real-world constraints, policy analysis directly supports defensible, well-reasoned decisions. The other terms focus more on identifying needs, measuring outcomes, or improving internal processes rather than providing the overarching justification for the chosen plan.