Patricia Klobus Edwards

Race, residence, and leisure style: Some policy implications

Abstract The relationships between race, residence, and leisure style are examined to ascertain if leisure differences are a consequence of subcultural diversity (ethnicity) or differential allocation of recreational resources (marginality). Findings obtained from a sample of urban blacks and whites indicate that ethnicity is a factor that should be considered in the planning and placement of public recreation programs. However, for blacks living in predominantly white residential settings, as opposed to an ethnic community, ethnicity does not appear to be an issue. Expectations of leisure needs are higher for this group, perhaps illustrating anticipatory socialization or compensation for limited informal leisure involvement. It is suggested that both the theoretical and policy implications of the marginality and ethnicity perspectives be re‐examined.

Recruiting and Retaining Human Service Volunteers: an Empirical Analysis

Organizations generally are conceded to have two functions: the production of goods and services (the economic function) and the creation and distribution of satisfactions within the organization (the maintenance function) (Roethlisberger and Dickson, 1969). When maintenance functions well, job satisfaction increases and employee turnover is minimized. This not only enhances morale but also improves production, positively affects organizational efficiency (Herbert, 1976) and enhances the economic function. Thus, efforts to make jobs attractive to potential employees and to prevent employee turnover by reducing dissatisfaction have become an important consideration for managers in all kinds of organizations (Strauss, 1981). And what is true for the functioning of organizations in general applies, albeit somewhat differently, for those organizations such as human service agencies which rely on volunteers to provide a portion of their services.1 This is an especially timely area of concern; while the demand for volunteers has been increasing, the supply has not always kept pace.

Women, Work, and Social Participation:

Past research on social participation generally has revealed that males participate more extensively than females and are more involved in instrumental activities than females, who are more apt to engage in expressive pursuits. But these investigations, many of them now a decade or more old, ignored the impact of female labor-force participation, a phenomenon of increasingly significant proportions, and the effects it may have on women’s social

Conceptual and Methodological Issues in Evaluating Emergent Programs.

Abstract This paper identifies and discusses conceptual and methodological issues related to five attributes of emergent programs that frequently apply across the spectrum of human services: undefined client populations, inadequate causal evidence relating inputs to outcomes, shifting objectives, identification of criteria for standardizing treatments, and temporal constraints on program development. A case study of the American Red Cross nutrition program is used to illuminate the evaluation problems associated with these issues to mitigate them. Strategies found to be useful in the evaluation of emergent programs include the examination of the relationship among observed client characteristics and needs, external reviews of objectives, identification of client preconditions that support or inhibit performance, examination of normal treatment variation, and a multi-stage process.

A comprehensive model for evaluating innovative nutrition education programs

Abstract This article describes a model that we developed to ameliorate problems encountered in traditional evaluations of nutrition education programs. The model, which is designed to be used throughout the development stages of nutrition education programs, focuses on the interdependence among preconditions participants bring to the learning process, elements of program delivery, and educational outcomes.

Nutrition Behavior Change Outcomes of an Educational Approach

This study addresses four issues in the evaluation of nutrition education programs: (1) the reliability of knowledge, belief, and behavior scales; (2) the effectiveness of programs targeted to the general public; (3) the longitudinal effects of nutrition education interventions; and (4) the relationship between changes in the cognitive, belief, and behavioral domains. Our findings indicate that reliable knowledge and behavior scales can be developed, but that the internal consistency of belief scales are more problematic. Moreover, improvements in all three domains can be attained with an heterogenous target audience. Although knowledge deterioriates after the course is completed, beliefs remain stable and nutrition behavior continues to improve significantly. Finally, changes in knowledge and beliefs are influential on changes in behavior as a result of the course, but postcourse changes in knowledge and beliefs are not associated with changes in behavior.

Evaluating the Impact of Federal Human Service Programs with Locally Differentiated Constituencies

Evaluations of large-scale federal programs require innovative methodological approaches for several reasons: (1) funds are often allocated by jurisdiction as opposed to needs; (2) local interpretation of program goals may vary widely; (3) target populations are often locally differentiated; (4) administrative organization and strategies for service delivery vary at the local level. A study of federally subsidized small-farm programs revealed a broad diversification of strategies and a range of client attributes both within and between local target populations, suggesting the need for an analytical model which would address program variation. Typical-client profiles were developed based on expectations that a given strategy would have differential effects dependent on client characteristics. Regression analysis was then used to assess the effect of program attributes on outcomes for each client group. Our results indicate that the strength of the relationship between program strategies and outcomes varies by group. The methodological approach used here should have broad application for the evaluation of large-scale human service programs.

The social demography of shared housing

SummaryDespite the prevalence of shared housing in Australia, almost one-third of all households, little is known about who are the people who share accommodation, and why they do so. Using a sample of 4,560 households, this paper presents a demographic profile of shared dwellings and tests some of the prevailing assumptions about why certain groups may have a propensity to share. Some of the implications of the findings for existing housing policies are painted out and directions for future research are suggested.