Abstract: Policiometrics and policy text quantification analysis play an important role in uncovering complex patterns within policies. However, existing policiometrics models are relatively simplistic and lack innovation. Drawing inspiration from the connotation and system of source of law, this paper proposes a new model called "sources of policy". Unlike the sources of law that focus solely on tracing legal sources or policy diffusion that examines the spread and adoption of policies among different levels and regions of government, sources of policy emphasize the legal basis, value foundation, ideological basis, and spiritual basis of policy formulation. It refers to the superior policies, ideological origins, related requirements, overall guidelines, or general instructions of a given policy. Based on the underlying meanings of various source of policy indicators, four primary categories are identified: citation-based source of policy, implementation-based sources of policy, application-based source of policy, and utility-adjustment-based source of policy. For the first time, a comprehensive category system comprising 17 subclasses of sources of policy is developed. An empirical analysis is conducted using local data governance policies as a case study. The findings reveal that this source of policy model effectively quantifies and analyzes policy interrelationships. Different sources of policy categories comprehensively depict the implications of their respective relationships. Using local data governance policies as an example, the model partially reflects the patterns presented by different sources of policy and source network in data governance, while also uncovering issues and deficiencies in the sources of policy of existing data governance policies. This model holds significant value in unveiling dynamic policy changes and interrelations. It is applicable across various domains, offering a new framework for policy quantification analysis research and enriching existing policy research methodologies.

Key words: Sources of policy, Sources of law, Framework construction, Data governance, Policiometrics