NCJ Number
56842
Date Published
1978
Length
75 pages
Annotation
A PROJECT THAT PRODUCED A RESEARCH AGENDA FOR STUDYING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CITIZENS AND THE PROVIDERS OF EMERGENCY SERVICES (POLICE, FIRE, PUBLIC UTILITY) IS DOCUMENTED.
Abstract
THE PROJECT WAS UNDERTAKEN BY THE CENTER FOR SOCIAL RESEARCH OF THE CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK, WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION AND THE COOPERATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL CITY MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION. TASK FORCES COMPOSED OF A CITY MANAGER, A BEHAVIORAL OR SOCIAL SCIENTIST, AND ADMINISTRATIVE AND UNION REPRESENTATIVES OF POLICE, FIRE, AND/OR PUBLIC UTILITIES SYSTEMS WERE CONVENED IN CINCINNATI, OHIO, KANSAS CITY, MO., MIAMI, FLA., ROCHESTER, N.Y., SAN DIEGO, CALIF., AND STAMFORD, CONN. EACH TASK FORCE ATTEMPTED TO IDENTIFY THE ASPECTS OF THE ENCOUNTER BETWEEN EMERGENCY SERVICE PROVIDERS AND SERVICE RECEIVERS THAT MOST SIGNIFICANTLY AFFECT THE QUALITY OF URBAN LIFE. TASK FORCE MEMBERS THEN MET WITH PROJECT STAFF IN A 2-DAY CONFERENCE, DURING WHICH A RESEARCH AGENDA WAS DEVELOPED. AMONG THE UNANTICIPATED FINDINGS OF THE PROJECT WERE THE HIGH LEVEL OF COMMUNICATION ACHIEVED BY PRACTITIONERS AND RESEARCHERS, AND THE UNIFORMITY OF PROBLEMS AND ISSUES FROM CITY TO CITY AND AMONG THE THREE TYPES OF SERVICES. IN ADDITION TO DOCUMENTING PROJECT ACTIVITIES AND OUTCOMES, THE REPORT DISCUSSES THE SIGNIFICANCE OF HUMAN INTERACTION IN RESPONSIVE-SERVICE DELIVERY DURING URBAN EMERGENCY SITUATIONS, AND THE ROLE OF SOCIAL SCIENCE RESEARCH IN SOLVING URBAN PROBLEMS. A LIST OF 26 'RESEARCHABLE ISSUES,' GENERALLY REFLECTING THE THEMES OF STRESS AND COMMUNICATION IN EMERGENCY SERVICE DELIVERY, IS APPENDED, TOGETHER WITH RECOMMENDATIONS FOR USING THE RESEARCHER-PRACTITIONER COLLABORATION APPROACH TO ADDRESS SOCIAL PROBLEMS. EFFORTS TO DISSEMINATE THE PROJECT'S FINDINGS ARE NOTED. A LIST OF REFERENCES IS PROVIDED. (LKM)