CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY LONG BEACH
PPA 696--RESEARCH METHODS
BINGHAM & FELBINGER CH. 18
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BIBLIOGRAPHIC INFORMATION
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Author: R. S. Fukuhara
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Title: Improving Effectiveness: Responsive Public Services
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Source: F. S. Knight & M. D. Rancer, eds, Tried and Tested: Case
Studies in Municipal Innovation. ICMA, 1978, Special Report No. 3
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SUMMARY OF THE RESEARCH
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PROBLEM STATEMENT:
1) To measure the effectiveness of city services against a city standard;
2) identify areas with deficient services; 3) develop plans to improve
service delivery to an acceptable quality; 4) determine the resources needed
to achieve equitable service.
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BACKGROUND:
The Responsive Public Services Program of Savannah, GA.
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HYPOTHESIS:
n/a
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MEASUREMENT OF VARIABLES
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Dependent variable: litter
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Independent variable(s): neighborhood
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Control variable(s):
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RESEARCH DESIGN:
Non-experimental one-shot case study design; descriptive study of
litter in neighborhoods
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SAMPLING:
Sample of city streets and alleys in neighborhoods
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INSTRUMENTATION:
Observers are trained to visually inspect neighborhoods and to either
write or dictate their observations into tape recorders; photographs of
different litter conditions are provided as are sample data collection
forms
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DATA COLLECTION/ETHICS:
Field inspections are performed by trained observers driving around
the area in cars, with spot re-checks of 10% of areas by supervisors; inspectors
are re-trained annually; observation is monitored to detect inconsistencies
or decay in quality, and corrective action is taken.
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DATA ANALYSIS:
An index of littering is constructed, and neighborhoods below the
index average are targeted for special action
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CONCLUSIONS:
The method is useful for assessing city services and providing data
for policy decision-making. However, more work is needed on the methodology
of evaluation of the effectiveness of public services.
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CRITIQUE
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Possible Threats to Internal Validity
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History:
n/a
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Maturation:
n/a
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Testing:
n/a
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Instrumentation:
Difficult to quantify impressions of littering; observers tend to
become less efficient over time;
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Regression Artifact:
n/a
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Selection bias:
Selection of blocks to observe may lead to over- or under-estimation
of the litter problem in each neighborhood
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Experimental Mortality:
n/a
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Design contamination:
n/a
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Possible Threats to External Validity
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unique program features:
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experimental arrangements:
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other threats: