Background on the Study
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The data for this investigation was obtained from three separate, but
related surveys. The first, and largest survey was sent to every borough
and township; cities were excluded for a variety of reasons. The second
was sent to county planning directors, with the exception of Philadelphia
County. The third survey was sent to every member of the American
Institute of Certified Planners who are listed in Pennsylvania, even if
not a resident of Pennsylvania. (AICP certification is achieved through a
combination of education, experience and passage of a comprehensive
written examination. The AICP designation is a recognized professional
standard.) The three surveys provide a composite overview of planning
effectiveness from a variety of perspectives.
Procedures were identical for the three surveys. An initial mailing was
made to all intended respondents. Several weeks later, a reminder post
card was sent to all recipients from whom a complete survey had not been
returned, with an offer to send a duplicate in the event the original
mailing was misplaced or undelivered. Finally, several weeks after the
post card reminder was sent, all non-responding individuals were sent a
second, and final, survey instrument. All surveys were accompanied with an
addressed, postage-free return envelope.
A Project Advisory Team, comprised of 29 members and involving a set of
15 meetings, assisted the Investigators with various aspects of the
project. First, the Team was involved in the development of the three
survey instruments. Second, the Team was asked to review preliminary
survey results to gain some insights into the significance of the
findings. Finally, the Project Advisory Team was asked to review findings
and comment on the analyses prepared by the Investigators.
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Survey Size and Response
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Survey |
Total Surveys Sent |
Total Usable Returned |
Percent Returned |
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Municipal Officials |
2511 |
1054 |
42.0% |
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County Plan Directors |
65* |
54 |
83.0% |
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AICP members |
395** |
179 |
45.3% |
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* While there are 67 Pennsylvania counties, one survey was sent to the
two-county Lehigh Valley Planning Commission, and Philadelphia County was
omitted. Thus, the total number of counties for this project is 65.
** Two of the investigators (Fasic and Lembeck) are AICP members, but
were not included in the sample.
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| While every effort was made to send a survey instrument
to the intended recipient, some municipal officials and AICP surveys were
undeliverable and returned. Some surveys were returned with the code
identification removed. Our decision rule was to not include such surveys,
based on the assumption that "informed consent" had not been given
to be included in the investigation. Thus, the actual response rate may be
said to be slightly greater than the percent of usable surveys received. |
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Advisory Committee Members
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Ronald Bailey, AICP, Director, Lancaster County Planning
Marvin Brotter, AICP, Planning Consultant
Stephen Craig, AICP, former Director, Lawrence County Planning
James DeAngelis, AICP, University of Pittsburgh
Dallas Dollase, AICP, retired, PA Dept of Community Affairs & Dept of
Economic and Community Development
Reed Dunn, AICP, retired, Director, York County Planning Commission
Jon Eich, AICP, Centre County Planning Commission and County Commissioners
Office
Daniel Glotz, Warren County Planning Commission
Thomas Graney, Planning Consultant
Alex Graziani, AICP, Planning Consultant
Richard Haines, AICP, Director, Blair County Planning
Jeff Kloss, AICP, Bedford County Planning
Glenn Knoblauch, Director, Berks County Planning
Michael Kaiser, AICP, Director, Lehigh Valley Planning
Deborah Lunden, McKean County Planning
Arthur Loeben, AICP, retired Director, Montgomery County Planning
Kevin Roth, Faculty, Clarion University
Phil Robbins, PA Dept of Economic and Community Development
Leslie Spaulding, AICP, retired, Mercer County Planning
Richard Schmoyer, AICP, Director, Adams County Planning
James Szymborski, AICP, Tri County Planning Commission
Richard Sutter, AICP, Planning Consultant
Richard Stahl, AICP, Director, Huntingdon County Planning
Raymond Stalinos, AICP, Director, Bradford County Planning
Chris Sepsey, Fayette County Planning
David Ward, AICP, Chester County Planning
Fred Wilder, AICP, former Director, Union County Planning
Jerry Walls, AICP, Director, Lycoming County Planning
John Woodling, Monroe County Planning
The opinions expressed in the publication are solely those of the authors. |
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