The public understanding of science is a term now considered somewhat narrow and carrying connotations of a "deficit model" of the public. Since the late 1980s, however, regular public surveys have been conducted to find out what facts about science the public knows. These include such questions as whether the Earth goes round the Sun,…

The American Community Survey (ACS) is a Census Bureau program that provides annually updated information on demographic, social, economic, and housing characteristics of U.S. households at every level of geography, from the nation to the neighborhood. ACS data are used by public and business decision-makers to more clearly identify issues and…

Up-to-date state information on the characteristics and population size of children of immigrants is essential for planning and implementing educational, health, housing, labor, and other social programs that affect children, their families, and other residents. This brief, a companion to the Urban Institute's new interactive Children of…

Compares three models: (1) a belief-affect approach, which proposes that evaluations of specific aspects of a community combine to yield overall satisfaction ratings; (2) a commitment approach, which looks at the impact of emotional and economic ties; and (3) an availability approach, which emphasizes the impact of beliefs about the community on…

This paper examines the possibility that citizens' mediated and sporadic exposure to education research influences their policy attitudes. It reflects upon how citizens--who are not direct consumers of education research and who lack basic training in the modes of social scientific inquiry--use the paucity of information made available to them in…

The two most powerful forces for directing change in troubling young people are trust and relationship. The degree to which they are present between youth and adult is the degree to which positive change is possible. This article draws upon principles from the book, "The Resilience Revolution." Children are most primed to turn to trusted…

A survey of absentee voting in the Highline (Washington) School District revealed that mailed-in ballots have no better than--and often less than--a 50-50 chance of favoring school finance issues. School officials should reconsider encouraging the growth of voting by mail. (IW)

Research indicates that living in company towns created a population lacking in initiative and self-determination. In one community that was a company town until the mid-1950s, key-informant interviews indicated high levels of dropping out, illiteracy, teen pregnancy, poverty, and dependency. However, a survey of high school students revealed no…

The National Crime Survey (NCS) program has conducted a continuous national survey and separate surveys in 26 central cities to study the impact of crime on American society. Attitudinal information obtained from a 1974 survey of occupants of 4,929 housing units (9,650 residents age 16 and over) in Miami reflects crime trends, fear of crime,…

The National Crime Survey (NCS) program has conducted a continuous national survey and separate surveys in 26 central cities to study the impact of crime on American society. Attitudinal information obtained from a 1974 survey of occupants of 4,918 housing units (9,301 residents age 16 and over) in New Orleans reflects crime trends, fear of crime,…

The National Crime Survey program has conducted a continuous national survey and separate surveys in 26 central cities to study the impact of crime on American society. Attitudinal information obtained from a 1974 survey of occupants of 4,906 housing units (9,125 residents age 16 and over) in San Diego reflects crime trends, fear of crime,…

This study examines the Lao Hmong, an Indochinese refugee group that has resettled in the Denver-Boulder, Colorado, area. Characteristics examined are the following: (1) migration; (2) location; (3) housing; (4) acculturation; and (5) life satisfaction. An extensive literature review discusses the history, ethnography, and culture of the Hmong in…

Data on the social effects of boomtown growth and industrialization were collected from residents of three western communities (Craig, Colorado; Price, Utah; and Gunnison, Colorado) via a fairly detailed mail questionnaire sent to a random sample of 900. Completed questionnaires were received from 443 (a return rate of 65%). A number of different…

This two-part report describes a study conducted to investigate the relationship between the community college and its economic environment. Section I provides an introduction to the debate on community college mission, outlines the theoretical framework of the study, reviews the characteristics of the community colleges' economic environment, and…

A Swedish report on day care for children between the ages of 7 months and 3 years is summarized in English in this document. Preparation of the original report involved reviewing Swedish and foreign research concerning day nursery for the very young and conducting exploratory and evaluative studies of small children in day nurseries. Chapter by…