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1
Overview of the Center for the Study of Local Issues
March 30, 2006
Presented by
Dan Nataf, Ph.DDirector, Center for the Study of Local Issues
Anne Arundel Community College101 College Parkway
Arnold, MD 21012(410) 777-2733
(410) 777-4733 fax
www2.aacc.edu/csli
2
Public Opinion in Anne Arundel County: Recent Trends and Findings The Center for the Study of Local Issues
Overview of the Center for the Study of Local Issues Origins, Staffing, Mission
• Established by social science faculty in 1978• Current staff: Director (6 credits release time), ½ time program
specialist
• Mission: – Help students better understand applied social science
research methods and civic engagement by participating in CSLI activities
– Serve community and local government by offering research services and communicating survey findings
– Provide opportunities for faculty professional development
– Help AACC understand its environment through relevant data collection and analysis
3
Public Opinion in Anne Arundel County: Recent Trends and Findings The Center for the Study of Local Issues
Overview of the Center for the Study of Local Issues Mission: Student Learning
• Mission – Student Learning
– Help students better understand applied social science research methods by participating in CSLI activities
– Improve students’ civic awareness/engagement
• Semi-annual surveys• Externally funded projects• Service Learning• CSLI Student Club
4
Public Opinion in Anne Arundel County: Recent Trends and Findings The Center for the Study of Local Issues
Overview of the Center for the Study of Local Issues Mission: Student Learning
• Mission: Student Learning - Surveys– Semi-annual surveys
• Answer the questions: 1. How do social scientists gather data to measure variables and test hypotheses?
• 2. What are important issues facing the community and government?
• Students have the opportunity to participate as telephone interviewers for one evening
– Receive training in interviewing methods
– Review survey questionnaire in detail
– Increases both methodological and civic awareness
5
Public Opinion in Anne Arundel County: Recent Trends and Findings The Center for the Study of Local Issues
Overview of the Center for the Study of Local Issues Mission: Student Learning
• Mission: Student Learning – Semi-annual surveys – Objectives
achieved• Students are surveyed about the
quality of their experiences– Spring 2006: 55% rated their learning
experience as “excellent,” 39% as “good”
– 94% were “very satisfied” with overall quality of training received
– 84% would consider participating in another similar CSLI survey in the future
• From 1995 to 2006 – 1260 students have participated
• Spring 2006 – 18 faculty participated
6
Overview of the Center for the Study of Local Issues Mission: Student Learning
• Mission: Student Learning – Externally funded projects
– Typically using telephone interviewer skills acquired during semi-annual survey
– Data entry
– Director discusses nature of projects with students, rationale for research design, how client will use findings, etc.
– About 210 students have been employed by CSLI in a paid capacity since 1995.
7
Public Opinion in Anne Arundel County: Recent Trends and Findings The Center for the Study of Local Issues
Overview of the Center for the Study of Local Issues Mission – Student Learning
• Mission: Student Learning – Service Learning
– Service Learning» Recent initiative» Find projects which involve students more fully in
survey research » Participate in questionnaire design, discussions
about administrative methodologies, analysis of findings
» Report back to their classes
– Spring 2006 – 5 students participating in a survey project aimed at learning more about student course and future work expectations
8
Public Opinion in Anne Arundel County: Recent Trends and Findings The Center for the Study of Local Issues
Overview of the Center for the Study of Local Issues Mission – Student Learning
• Mission: Student Learning – CSLI Student Club
– CSLI Student Club• Recent initiative• Provide a structure for students
to collaborate • Field trips – Congress,
campaign organizations• Invite guest speakers –
candidates• Communicate internship
opportunities• See
http://www2.aacc.edu/csli/club/csliclub.html
9
Overview of the Center for the Study of Local Issues Mission: Serve Community and Government
• This goal is achieved by:
– Semi-annual surveys – community outreach – Externally paid research projects
• Semi-annual surveys – take pulse of community on important issues– Surveys themes include:
• Growth/Development• Transportation• Economic conditions• Education• Tax and spending preferences• Policy preferences
• Typical sample size: 300-525 respondents from Anne Arundel County only – Spring, 2006 – 401 respondents
• Unique contribution: Only community college regularly polling local area
10
Public Opinion in Anne Arundel County: Recent Trends and Findings The Center for the Study of Local Issues
Overview of the Center for the Study of Local Issues Mission: Serve Community and Government
• Semi-annual surveys – community outreach after taking the survey
• CSLI’s Web site for previous surveys (http://www2.aacc.edu/csli)– Repository of survey findings
• All press releases since 1995 posted• Interactive search by topic and question for all questions asked since 1995• Provides other information about CSLI – structure, mission, staff, contact info
• CSLI – public speaking– CSLI Director on speakers’ bureau – average of one presentation per
month during school year
– Examples from 2005-2006:• Greater Severna Park Council• Annapolis Rotary Club• Baywoods Retirement Center• Community Services Board of Anne Arundel County• Eastport Republican Club• Almost 7:30 Democratic Club• Green Party (Annapolis)• Institute for Criminal Justice meeting on Terrorism• Annapolis Kiwanis
11
Overview of the Center for the Study of Local Issues Mission: Serve Community and Government
• Semi-annual surveys – community outreach after taking the survey
– Community outreach – Radio/TV• Radio interviews – WNAV 1430AM after every survey since 2001• Election color commentary on WNAV: 2002, 2004 (3 students used as interns),
2005
• TV appearance (Annapolis elections, 2005)
– Community outreach – Newspapers• Over 100 citations between 2002-2004 (Capital, Baltimore Sun)
• CSLI mentioned by Governing magazine in 2002
– Community outreach – Candidate forums• 1998, 2002, 2004, 2006 – County executive, council races, others.
– Community outreach – Advisory Board• Composed of elected officials, Anne Arundel County department
representatives (public works, health, police, fire, school board) and community leaders
12
Surveys – Provide Pulse of County County’s Direction: Right or Wrong?
Graph 1: County - Right or Wrong Direction
66
5751
54 55
Wrong26
Unsure18
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
Right
13
• Economic optimism – “Thinking about our county's economy, how would you rate economic conditions in Anne Arundel County today -- excellent, good, only fair, or poor?”
Surveys – Provide Pulse of County Focus on the Economy: Local Economy Looks Good
Economic Conditions: Local and National
3826 27 22
34 34 31 28 38
74717474625655
74 76
0
20
40
60
80
100
Spring 2002
Fall 2002
Spring 2003
Fall 2003
Spring2004
Fall2004
Spring2005
Fall2005
Spring2006
AACounty -Exc+Good
Nation -Exc+Good
National
County
14
Surveys – Provide Pulse of County Perception of Issues in 2010
Negative expectations for all major issues except economy
B
etter
About the same
Worse
Fall 2004 Better-Worse
Unsure
No answer
The overall quality of life in the County 33 43 20 13 3 1
Spiritual or religious life 27 47 15 12 7 4 Economic conditions 33 40 23 10 3 1
Family life 27 45 20 7 5 2 General responsiveness of County
government to citizens’ needs 23 47 20 3 8 1
Ethics in local government 20 44 26 -6 9 2 Public schools 28 28 36 -8 7 1
Health care 24 32 36 -12 8 1 Growth and development 30 20 46 -16 3 1
Crime 11 42 42 -31 4 1 Water and air quality 17 32 49 -32 2 1
Local taxes 5 26 64 -59 5 1 Traffic congestion 3 5 92 -89 0 0
15
Surveys – Provide Pulse of County Economic Anxiety: Concerns about the cost of living
Cost Very serious
Somewhat serious
Not very serious
No answer
The cost of housing 65 23 11 0
The cost of utilities such as electricity or natural gas
63 29 8 0
The cost of gasoline 62 30 8 0
The cost of health care 58 28 11 2
Not having enough money for retirement
57 24 16 3
The cost of education 51 29 16 5
The cost of property taxes 49 37 12 2
16
Surveys – Provide Pulse of County Most Important Issues Facing AA County Residents –
1995-2006 - Trends for Major Issues
Graph 1: Most Important Issue - Trends
2628
26
19
12
19 20
1315
1013
97 6
9 8
1518 18
24
31
26
31
2730
2225
21
26
18
3128
25
Crime
Crime 31% Growth/Transp 36%
Education
12
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
17
Surveys – Provide Pulse of County How Prepared are Local Authorities in Event of Terrorist Strike - Trend
30
22 2427
44
33
121513 15
11Very prepared
48
54
4847
Somewhat prepared
Not very prepared
37
611
58
Unsure 0
10
20
30
40
50
60
Katrina
18
Overview of the Center for the Study of Local Issues Mission: Serve Community and Government
• Externally financed projects – 56 such projects 1995-2006• Revenue generated: $240,000
– Wide variety of sponsors (projects described on CSLI Web site)• Anne Arundel County Public Schools• Association of Women in Communication• Anne Arundel County Department of Recreation and Parks• Maryland Comptroller’s Office• Anne Arundel County Executive – Commission on Women• Anne Arundel Police Department• Maryland Department of Natural Resources• Housing Authority of the City of Annapolis• Capital newspaper• Annapolis and Anne Arundel County Chamber of Commerce• Anne Arundel County Economic Development Corporation• Leadership Anne Arundel• WNAV radio station• Annapolis Regional Transportation Project (city, county, state).• Anne Arundel County Public Library System
19
Public Opinion in Anne Arundel County: Recent Trends and Findings The Center for the Study of Local Issues
Overview of the Center for the Study of Local Issues Mission: Faculty Professional Development
• Faculty professional development through externally financed projects
– Participating faculty have included:• Jerina Wainwright
• Mara Kent-Skruch
• Hal Counihan
• Rayner Wharton
• Lester Brooks
• Steve Steele
• Ken Chatelaine
20
Public Opinion in Anne Arundel County: Recent Trends and Findings The Center for the Study of Local Issues
Overview of the Center for the Study of Local Issues Mission: College – Environment Scanning
• College-oriented questions asked on surveys
– Examples include:– When you think about AACC's image, which of the following phrases appear
important to you? (Fall 1999)
Important %
Not important %
Affordable 97 3
Wide selection of courses 92 8
Easy access 90 10
Good selection of class times 90 10
Community oriented 85 15
Technologically on the cutting edge 79 21
Helpful for advancing in my career 78 22
Helps foster good citizenship 76 24
21
Public Opinion in Anne Arundel County: Recent Trends and Findings The Center for the Study of Local Issues
Overview of the Center for the Study of Local Issues Mission: College – Environment Scanning
• College-oriented questions asked on surveys
– Spring 2004Knowing that about 60 percent of the community college budget is based on state and county contributions and the rest in tuition, do you think taxes should be increased, tuition should be increased again, or programs cut to best deal with budget cuts?
%
Increase taxes 33
Increase tuition again 25
Cut programs 23
Don’t know 19
From what you know about the community college, would you rate it as being excellent, good, fair or poor?
Excellent 49
Good 42
Fair 6
Poor 0
Don’t know 6
22
Public Opinion in Anne Arundel County: Recent Trends and Findings The Center for the Study of Local Issues
Overview of the Center for the Study of Local Issues The CSLI Model
• Contacts with other colleges seeking info about CSLI
– Cumberland Community College (NJ)
– Brookdale Community College (NJ)
– Jefferson Community College (NY)
– Presentations about CSLI have been made at meetings of the Consortium for Community College Development
• The Future