Michael J. Scicchitano

Don’t Call Me NIMBY: Public Attitudes Toward Solid Waste Facilities

With an ever-expanding stream of solid waste, and limited possibilities for disposal, communities increasingly have to make difficult decisions about where to store these by-products of daily living. The authors use survey data from seven counties in Florida that have recently dealt with solid waste location decisions to assess the extent to which citizen attitudes reflect a NIMBY perspective to these facilities. Contrary to what the NIMBY phenomena predicts, respondents who lived closer to existing or proposed facilities were not more likely to perceive them as dangerous as those living further away. In addition, the respondents were able to list problems and benefits to support their perceptions of danger posed by these facilities. These findings suggest that citizens do not always respond to environmental risks by gut reaction or without information as is sometimes suggested in the NIMBY literature.

The Expanded Criteria Donor Policy: An Evaluation of Program Objectives and Indirect Ramifications

The expanded criteria donor (ECD) policy was formalized in 2002, which defined higher‐risk deceased donor kidneys recovered for transplantation. There has not been a comprehensive examination of the impact of policy on the allocation of ECD kidneys, waiting times for transplant, center listing patterns or human leukocyte antigen (HLA) matching.

Willing and able: explaining individuals' engagement in environmental policy making

Research on attitudes toward environmental policy making has often overlooked the important role that risks play in forming individual attitudes towards the environment. Similarly, this research often assumes that the factors that affect attitudes are similar across different environmental domains. The purpose of this research is to examine how the factors that affect an individuals willingness to get involved in environmental policy making differ on two environmental issues – nuclear power and drinking water. The study utilises multivariate statistical techniques to explore the relationship that uncertainty, risk, and trust play in an individuals willingness to take action in environmental policy making. The data consist of responses to a national random telephone survey of 403 adults in the United States. The individuals surveyed are more likely to take action on the less avoidable potential threat of nuclear power than they are on drinking water. The respondents believe that the potential harm from nuclear power is greater than that from drinking water. The individuals most likely to take action are those who indicate that they are interested in environmental issues.

Dimensions of Public Meeting Participation: Evidence from Florida’s Truth-in-Millage Act

The literature contains a wealth of theorizing and prescription regarding citizen participation, but little in the way of systematic evidence. We seek to increase empirical knowledge of participation through examination of public meeting participation associated with Florida’s Truth-in-Millage Act requirements for local government tax and budget decisions. Unlike existing evidence on public meetings, this research is based on statistical analysis of a random-sample survey (N = 601) and qualitative analysis of focus group results. In a departure from the standard socioeconomic explanation for citizen participation—which tends to ignore public meetings as a method of participation—we find no statistical difference in public meeting attendance based on gender, age, race, ethnicity, education, or income. Furthermore, we find that although state information requirements likely fulfill a needed purpose in providing transparency and accountability in local government tax and budget matters, they do not motivate public meeting attendance. Finally, our findings reinforce earlier contributions to the literature that emphasize the importance of citizen beliefs regarding political efficacy as a critical component of participation.

Building Bridges? An Assessment of Academic and Practitioner Perceptions with Observations for the Public Administration Classroom

Abstract Beginning in the 1940s, academics recognized a gap between themselves and practitioners and contemplated methods of reducing this divide. Evidence for this gap includes recognition that academics and practitioners have different audiences, viewpoints, interests, intellectual approaches, research methods, and styles of discourse. Although much has been written about this topic and many solutions for closing this gap have been offered, there is growing concern among some scholars that this gap is increasing. Using a recent survey of current and lapsed members conducted for the American Society for Public Administration, we assess the current state of the gap between academics and practitioners on a range of ASPA services and priorities. Our findings suggest that demographic variables are more robust predictors of attitudinal differences among ASPA members as opposed to academic-practitioner views. Recognizing these differences may prove critical for ASPA as a professional forum of relevance as well as for promoting greater connectedness in public administration programs.

A National Survey of Community College Baccalaureate Institutions

This study utilized original survey data and a national sample of community college baccalaureate (CCB) institutions to examine how offering baccalaureate programs impacts these colleges and the students they serve. An increasing number of these colleges plan to offer their baccalaureate programs online, and programs in technology are projected to experience the greatest growth. The data suggest that student needs, and not institutional revenue or prestige, are the primary motivation for offering bachelors degrees. The challenges experienced when establishing the CCB programs were more likely to come from external than internal factors. Collectively, thousands of students have already graduated from these programs. Results from this study can be used by policymakers and college administrators to make data-driven decisions regarding baccalaureate programming at the community college.

Elements of Access: The Effects of Food Outlet Proximity, Transportation, and Realized Access on Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Consumption in Food Deserts

This study surveys 900 supplemental nutrition assistance program recipient or eligible households and 300 supplemental nutrition assistance program ineligible households in local food deserts to identify the effects of different dimensions of access on fresh fruit and vegetables (FFV) consumption. While proximity and access to one’s own car were not significant predictors of FFV consumption, realized access to nonsupermarket outlets did have a positive effect on fresh vegetable consumption. Among food insecure respondents, limited car access had a negative effect on FFV consumption. This research underlines the importance of focusing on dimensions of access other than proximity when considering interventions designed to improve nutrition and health outcomes in food deserts.

Preferred Information Channels and Source Trustworthiness: Assessing Communication Methods Used in Florida's Battle Against Citrus Greening

The purpose of this study was to examine the perceived source credibility, as viewed by Florida citrus growers, of state and national agricultural organizations associated with containing the plant disease called citrus greening. This study sought to determine the types of information that agricultural opinion leaders received from these agriculture organizations. In late 2007, three focus groups were conducted at county Cooperative Extension Service offices in three major areas of citrus production. The number of participants ranged from four to six for a total of 15. Growers were asked about their awareness and understanding of citrus greening; management practices; cooperation with fellow producers and institutions that played a role in citrus greening management; preferred avenues of communication; and information dissemination methods. Qualitative analysis was conducted to identify key themes and patterns within each topic category. Focus group results indicated that Florida citrus growers preferred to receive information about citrus greening primarily through face-to-face meetings and field days. They also preferred to receive their information from other growers in order to find out how their fellow farmers handled citrus greening. Focus group participants struggled with trusting regulators and university researchers, based on the growers’ previous experiences during the unsuccessful citrus canker eradication program and growers’ perceptions of the practicality of the research. Finally, growers were critical of the lack of available information about citrus greening from regulators and university researchers.

Devil is in the details: Using logic models to investigate program process

Theory-based logic models are commonly developed as part of requirements for grant funding. As a tool to communicate complex social programs, theory based logic models are an effective visual communication. However, after initial development, theory based logic models are often abandoned and remain in their initial form despite changes in the program process. This paper examines the potential benefits of committing time and resources to revising the initial theory driven logic model and developing detailed logic models that describe key activities to accurately reflect the program and assist in effective program management. The authors use a funded special education teacher preparation program to exemplify the utility of drill down logic models. The paper concludes with lessons learned from the iterative revision process and suggests how the process can lead to more flexible and calibrated program management.