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Daniel J Mallinson

Assistant Professor of Public Policy and Administration, Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Harrisburg
Chapter Member: Central Pennsylvania SSN
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(717) 948-6503
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About Daniel

Mallinson's research focuses on policy diffusion, drug policy, environmental policy, energy policy, and pedagogy. Overarching themes in his writings include both general and contextual patterns of spreading policy innovations, the use of policy theories to understand state-level marijuana liberalization in the United States, and developing innovative methods for teaching future public servants. Mallinson serves on the Central Pennsylvania Steering Committee of Draw the Lines, a public redistricting education project.

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Contributions

Understanding the Dynamics of Medical Marijuana Legalization in the United States

  • Lee Hannah
Key Findings Brief,

Publications

"Who are Your Neighbors? The Rise of Ideology and Stability of Geographic Proximity in the Diffusion of Policy Innovations" (in review).

Studies how patterns of policy diffusion changed from 1960 through 2010 Finds that while geographic proximity to past adopters remains an important factor, ideological cues from past adopters increasingly rivaled geographic proximity, particularly in the 1980s and 2000s.

"Signaling Acceptability: Ideological Learning, Direct Democracy, and the Diffusion of Medical Marijuana Laws" (with A. Lee Hannah). (in review).

Examines the interactive relationships between political polarization, direct democracy, ideological cues, and medical marijuana adoption. Finds that ideology served as an important cue for highly polarized states that had direct democracy mechanisms available.

"Defiant Innovation: The Adoption of Medical Marijuana Laws in the American States" (with A. Lee Hannah). Policy Studies Journal 46, no. 2 (2018): 402-423.

Examines defiance by the states against the federal government in the area of medical marijuana policy adoption. Finds that ideology and direct democracy played key roles in the spread of this innovation.

"Increasing Career Confidence through a Course in Public Service Careers" (with Patrick Burns). Journal of Political Science Education (2018).

Demonstrates the potential for using a career-focused course to increase self efficacy and career confidence among students interested in public service careers. 

"Building a Better Speed Trap: Measuring Policy Adoption Speed in the American States" State Politics & Policy Quarterly 16, no. 1 (2015): 98-120.

Finds that the speed by which innovations are spreading among the U.S. states has increased greatly since the 1960s. Confirms that issue salience increases adoption speed, whereas issue complexity slows adoptions.