CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY LONG BEACH PPA 696--RESEARCH METHODS BINGHAM & FELBINGER CH. 18

1. BIBLIOGRAPHIC INFORMATION

1. Author: R. S. Fukuhara

1. Title: Improving Effectiveness: Responsive Public Services

1. Source: F. S. Knight & M. D. Rancer, eds, Tried and Tested: Case Studies in Municipal Innovation. ICMA, 1978, Special Report No. 3

 

1. SUMMARY OF THE RESEARCH
1. 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.

1. BACKGROUND:

The Responsive Public Services Program of Savannah, GA.

1. HYPOTHESIS:

n/a

1. MEASUREMENT OF VARIABLES

1. Dependent variable: litter

1. Independent variable(s): neighborhood

1. Control variable(s):

1. RESEARCH DESIGN:

Non-experimental one-shot case study design; descriptive study of litter in neighborhoods

T1

O1

 

1. SAMPLING:

Sample of city streets and alleys in neighborhoods

1. 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

1. 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.

1. DATA ANALYSIS:

An index of littering is constructed, and neighborhoods below the index average are targeted for special action

1. 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.

1. CRITIQUE

1. Possible Threats to Internal Validity

1. History:

n/a

1. Maturation:

n/a

1. Testing:

n/a

1. Instrumentation:

Difficult to quantify impressions of littering; observers tend to become less efficient over time;

1. Regression Artifact:

n/a

1. Selection bias:

Selection of blocks to observe may lead to over- or under-estimation of the litter problem in each neighborhood

1. Experimental Mortality:

n/a

1. Design contamination:

n/a

1. Possible Threats to External Validity

1. unique program features:

1. experimental arrangements:

1. other threats: