The Experts below are selected from a list of 107835 Experts worldwide ranked by ideXlab platform
Katherine A. Mccomas - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Citizen views about Public Meetings
Journal of Risk Research, 2012Co-Authors: John C. Besley, Katherine A. Mccomas, Craig W. TrumboAbstract:The current study seeks to demonstrate that a citizen views about Public Meeting structure and related groups matter in predicting satisfaction with Public engagement and willingness to attend future Meetings. Public health agencies frequently use Public Meetings to communicate risk information, but relatively little social science research has examined how potential Meeting participants view them. Using survey data ( N = 866) collected in seven US communities where health agencies were investigating possible local cancer clusters and holding Public Meetings to communicate with local residents, the current study replicates and extends an earlier inquiry related to citizens satisfaction with Public Meetings used for risk communication. Whereas previous research found that expectations, health agency credibility, and risk perceptions predicted satisfaction with Public Meetings, the current results did not show a significant relationship between agency credibility, risk perceptions, and satisfaction. Further, the results suggest it may make sense to consider 'views about Public Meetings' as a single measure that includes citizens' structural expectations for Meetings. Finally, the current study finds that views about Public officials and views about Meetings relate to individuals' willingness to attend future Meetings. Additional variable development and modeling research is suggested.
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The rituals of Public Meetings
Public Administration Review, 2010Co-Authors: Katherine A. Mccomas, John C. Besley, Laura W. BlackAbstract:Public Meetings are often referred to as “rituals” to denote a largely symbolic activity with little concrete meaning. This essay explores how Public Meeting rituals may produce very real impacts on participants and pragmatic outcomes. Whereas tangible outputs of rituals are not always evident, ritual theory suggests that participants can derive latent meaning and significant comfort from their application. Although rituals serve to reify certain norms or control behaviors, they may also reaffirm civic values and encourage group cohesion. A deeper appreciation of Public Meeting rituals will enable participants and officials to respond more effectively to restructured or nontraditional formats as well as better deal with the challenges of maintaining participation when rituals lose their meaning.
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Public Meetings about local cancer clusters: exploring the relative influence of official versus symbolic risk messages on attendees’ post‐Meeting concern
Journal of Risk Research, 2010Co-Authors: Katherine A. Mccomas, Craig W. Trumbo, Helen Lundell, John C. BesleyAbstract:Scholars have long lobbied for a view of risk communication that supplants a conventional 'transmission' model of risk communication with an alternative that considers the complex social environment that accompanies any risk communication effort. Along these lines, this study examines the relative influence of official health messages versus symbolic risk messages on Public Meeting attendees' post-Meeting concern about cancer clusters in six US communities. As part of a larger study of cancer clusters, we obtained written responses from 125 individuals who attended a government-sponsored Public Meeting in their community. We asked respondents whether attending the Meeting influenced their concerns and, if so, why. The results found that, despite the largely reassuring messages that health officials were giving, most attendees reported feeling more concerned after the Meetings in their communities. Regarding why, explanations that denoted symbolic risk messages -- unofficial sources of risk information and procedural cues -- outnumbered explanations that pointed to official risk messages -- scientific presentations -- by a score of three to one. The results lend support for a broader view of risk communication, which accounts not only for multiple sources of risk information but also for procedural cues regarding the trustworthiness of an investigation.
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Public Meetings about suspected cancer clusters: the impact of voice, interactional justice, and risk perception on attendees' attitudes in six communities.
Journal of health communication, 2007Co-Authors: Katherine A. Mccomas, Craig W. Trumbo, John C. BesleyAbstract:Holding a Public Meeting is a frequent method of communicating with community residents during official investigations into possible cancer clusters; however, there has been little formal research into the effectiveness of this method of health communication. This article presents research examining the influence of Public Meetings held during ongoing cancer cluster investigations in six U.S. communities. Drawing on social psychological theories of organizational justice, it examines the degree to which three specific elements of justice, including having a voice in the process, receiving fair interactional treatment, and facing equal risk of loss (i.e., cancer), influenced five outcome variables: Meeting satisfaction, community connectedness, willingness to accept Meeting outcomes or recommendations, willingness to attend future Public Meetings, and concern about the potential cancer cluster. The analysis of data collected from Meeting attendees who responded to the mailed survey (N = 165) confirms a strong role for justice concerns in Public Meeting evaluations. In particular, perceptions of voice and interactional treatment had consistently large effects on the outcome variables, suggesting that managing a fair Public engagement process can contribute to positive civic outcomes even during periods of heightened community concern about area cancer rates.
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Why Citizens Do and Do Not Attend Public Meetings about Local Cancer Cluster Investigations
Policy Studies Journal, 2006Co-Authors: Katherine A. Mccomas, John C. Besley, Craig W. TrumboAbstract:Why do citizens choose to attend or not to attend community Public Meetings about possible cancer clusters? To answer this question, we examine self-report data collected during a series of mail surveys conducted in six communities experiencing current health investigations into suspect levels of cancer or cancer clusters. We analyze the data using quantitative content analysis while also providing qualitative summaries and categorizations of survey participants’ reasons for attending or not attending a specific Public Meeting in their community. In addition, we use survey data related to respondents’ past participation and sociodemographic characteristics. The results found that rational reasons (e.g., to get information) dominated citizens’ justifications for attending the Public Meetings, whereas socioeconomic and mobilization factors (e.g., did not hear about Meeting, too busy) were most commonly cited as reasons for not attending. Less common but still present were relational considerations, such as believing the people in charge were fair. Taken together, the findings suggest that the majority of citizens who attended the Public Meetings could be categorized as the curious, the fearful, and the available. In comparison, the majority of citizens who did not attend could be described as the uninformed, the indifferent, the occupied, and the disaffected.
John C. Besley - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Developers' Views about Public Meetings in the Context of Public Relations Theory
Journal of Applied Communication Research, 2014Co-Authors: Geah Pressgrove, John C. BesleyAbstract:Employing popular normative Public relations paradigms, this study identified practices used by developers that improve long-range project outcomes, based on successful engagement in Public Meetings. Perceptions of Public Meeting processes, as well as mechanisms to improve outcomes and participant diversity, are discussed. Generally, findings indicate that larger developers were more likely to use Public Meetings successfully to identify, monitor, and resolve issues; and develop collaborative relationships. These developers were also likely to seek opportunities to increase Public involvement by finding ways to lower constraints to participation. These strategies include varying Meeting formats, sustained dialog throughout the project life span, employing consultants to aid in the development of Public Meeting plans, innovation in communication strategies, transparent exchange of ideas, and collaborative negotiations.
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Citizen views about Public Meetings
Journal of Risk Research, 2012Co-Authors: John C. Besley, Katherine A. Mccomas, Craig W. TrumboAbstract:The current study seeks to demonstrate that a citizen views about Public Meeting structure and related groups matter in predicting satisfaction with Public engagement and willingness to attend future Meetings. Public health agencies frequently use Public Meetings to communicate risk information, but relatively little social science research has examined how potential Meeting participants view them. Using survey data ( N = 866) collected in seven US communities where health agencies were investigating possible local cancer clusters and holding Public Meetings to communicate with local residents, the current study replicates and extends an earlier inquiry related to citizens satisfaction with Public Meetings used for risk communication. Whereas previous research found that expectations, health agency credibility, and risk perceptions predicted satisfaction with Public Meetings, the current results did not show a significant relationship between agency credibility, risk perceptions, and satisfaction. Further, the results suggest it may make sense to consider 'views about Public Meetings' as a single measure that includes citizens' structural expectations for Meetings. Finally, the current study finds that views about Public officials and views about Meetings relate to individuals' willingness to attend future Meetings. Additional variable development and modeling research is suggested.
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The rituals of Public Meetings
Public Administration Review, 2010Co-Authors: Katherine A. Mccomas, John C. Besley, Laura W. BlackAbstract:Public Meetings are often referred to as “rituals” to denote a largely symbolic activity with little concrete meaning. This essay explores how Public Meeting rituals may produce very real impacts on participants and pragmatic outcomes. Whereas tangible outputs of rituals are not always evident, ritual theory suggests that participants can derive latent meaning and significant comfort from their application. Although rituals serve to reify certain norms or control behaviors, they may also reaffirm civic values and encourage group cohesion. A deeper appreciation of Public Meeting rituals will enable participants and officials to respond more effectively to restructured or nontraditional formats as well as better deal with the challenges of maintaining participation when rituals lose their meaning.
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Public Meetings about local cancer clusters: exploring the relative influence of official versus symbolic risk messages on attendees’ post‐Meeting concern
Journal of Risk Research, 2010Co-Authors: Katherine A. Mccomas, Craig W. Trumbo, Helen Lundell, John C. BesleyAbstract:Scholars have long lobbied for a view of risk communication that supplants a conventional 'transmission' model of risk communication with an alternative that considers the complex social environment that accompanies any risk communication effort. Along these lines, this study examines the relative influence of official health messages versus symbolic risk messages on Public Meeting attendees' post-Meeting concern about cancer clusters in six US communities. As part of a larger study of cancer clusters, we obtained written responses from 125 individuals who attended a government-sponsored Public Meeting in their community. We asked respondents whether attending the Meeting influenced their concerns and, if so, why. The results found that, despite the largely reassuring messages that health officials were giving, most attendees reported feeling more concerned after the Meetings in their communities. Regarding why, explanations that denoted symbolic risk messages -- unofficial sources of risk information and procedural cues -- outnumbered explanations that pointed to official risk messages -- scientific presentations -- by a score of three to one. The results lend support for a broader view of risk communication, which accounts not only for multiple sources of risk information but also for procedural cues regarding the trustworthiness of an investigation.
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Public Meetings about suspected cancer clusters: the impact of voice, interactional justice, and risk perception on attendees' attitudes in six communities.
Journal of health communication, 2007Co-Authors: Katherine A. Mccomas, Craig W. Trumbo, John C. BesleyAbstract:Holding a Public Meeting is a frequent method of communicating with community residents during official investigations into possible cancer clusters; however, there has been little formal research into the effectiveness of this method of health communication. This article presents research examining the influence of Public Meetings held during ongoing cancer cluster investigations in six U.S. communities. Drawing on social psychological theories of organizational justice, it examines the degree to which three specific elements of justice, including having a voice in the process, receiving fair interactional treatment, and facing equal risk of loss (i.e., cancer), influenced five outcome variables: Meeting satisfaction, community connectedness, willingness to accept Meeting outcomes or recommendations, willingness to attend future Public Meetings, and concern about the potential cancer cluster. The analysis of data collected from Meeting attendees who responded to the mailed survey (N = 165) confirms a strong role for justice concerns in Public Meeting evaluations. In particular, perceptions of voice and interactional treatment had consistently large effects on the outcome variables, suggesting that managing a fair Public engagement process can contribute to positive civic outcomes even during periods of heightened community concern about area cancer rates.
Rustenberg Kjetil - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Tillit når du trenger den mest : En kritisk diskursstudie av hvordan et folkemøte og prosessene rundt innvirket på kommunikasjonsklimaet mellom borgerne i Flekkefjord og ledelsen ved Sørlandet sykehus
Universitetet i Agder ; University of Agder, 2019Co-Authors: Rustenberg KjetilAbstract:Masteroppgave samfunnskommunikasjon KOM500 - Universitetet i Agder 2019This critical discourse study shows how the communication climate and dialogue between Sørlandet hospital and the citizens of Flekkefjord was influenced by a Public forum, and the processes surrounding it. This is done via perspectives from social planning, journalism, rhetorics and crisis communication. The Public Meeting arose as a result of a proposal from the CEO of Sørlandet hospital to close down the emergency surgery unit and the trauma reception at the local hospital in Flekkefjord. At the Public Meeting, the CEO, politicians and citizens met each other. This study shows how the local newspaper in Flekkefjord, by the chief editor, managed its social mission. The newspaper took a clear position in the emergency surgery case and played an active role in the debate. The study shows how the newspaper regularly attacked the CEO's ethos, thus weakening his credibility and trust. The study also shows how the director's strategies for preserving and building his own ethos did not function adequately. Through theories from crisis communication, it is argued that the emergency surgery case was a crisis for Sørlandet hospital. Analyzes show how the hospital director's strategic choices failed to defend and restore damage done to his reputation. The Public Meeting is placed in a cultural and a democratic context through perspectives from the social planning field. Using theories from Jürgen Habermas and Chantal Mouffe, among other things, the study points to contributing causes of the conflict between the citizens and the hospital management. Conclusions of the analyzes promotes a criticism of the local newspaper in Flekkefjord by the chief editor, and Sørlandet hospital, by the managing director's handling of this case. Both contributed to creating a polarized debate, and with that they impaired the opportunities for good dialogue between the citizens of Flekkefjord and the hospital management. This hampered the necessary production of knowledge, and by that reduced the basis for citizens to form free opinions
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Tillit når du trenger den mest : En kritisk diskursstudie av hvordan et folkemøte og prosessene rundt innvirket på kommunikasjonsklimaet mellom borgerne i Flekkefjord og ledelsen ved Sørlandet sykehus
Universitetet i Agder ; University of Agder, 2019Co-Authors: Rustenberg KjetilAbstract:This critical discourse study shows how the communication climate and dialogue between Sørlandet hospital and the citizens of Flekkefjord was influenced by a Public forum, and the processes surrounding it. This is done via perspectives from social planning, journalism, rhetorics and crisis communication. The Public Meeting arose as a result of a proposal from the CEO of Sørlandet hospital to close down the emergency surgery unit and the trauma reception at the local hospital in Flekkefjord. At the Public Meeting, the CEO, politicians and citizens met each other. This study shows how the local newspaper in Flekkefjord, by the chief editor, managed its social mission. The newspaper took a clear position in the emergency surgery case and played an active role in the debate. The study shows how the newspaper regularly attacked the CEO's ethos, thus weakening his credibility and trust. The study also shows how the director's strategies for preserving and building his own ethos did not function adequately. Through theories from crisis communication, it is argued that the emergency surgery case was a crisis for Sørlandet hospital. Analyzes show how the hospital director's strategic choices failed to defend and restore damage done to his reputation. The Public Meeting is placed in a cultural and a democratic context through perspectives from the social planning field. Using theories from Jürgen Habermas and Chantal Mouffe, among other things, the study points to contributing causes of the conflict between the citizens and the hospital management. Conclusions of the analyzes promotes a criticism of the local newspaper in Flekkefjord by the chief editor, and Sørlandet hospital, by the managing director's handling of this case. Both contributed to creating a polarized debate, and with that they impaired the opportunities for good dialogue between the citizens of Flekkefjord and the hospital management. This hampered the necessary production of knowledge, and by that reduced the basis for citizens to form free opinions
Laura W. Black - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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The rituals of Public Meetings
Public Administration Review, 2010Co-Authors: Katherine A. Mccomas, John C. Besley, Laura W. BlackAbstract:Public Meetings are often referred to as “rituals” to denote a largely symbolic activity with little concrete meaning. This essay explores how Public Meeting rituals may produce very real impacts on participants and pragmatic outcomes. Whereas tangible outputs of rituals are not always evident, ritual theory suggests that participants can derive latent meaning and significant comfort from their application. Although rituals serve to reify certain norms or control behaviors, they may also reaffirm civic values and encourage group cohesion. A deeper appreciation of Public Meeting rituals will enable participants and officials to respond more effectively to restructured or nontraditional formats as well as better deal with the challenges of maintaining participation when rituals lose their meaning.
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Stories of North Omaha: Conveying Identities, Values, and Actions through Storytelling in a Public Meeting
Journal of Deliberative Democracy, 2009Co-Authors: Laura W. BlackAbstract:This study uses discourse analysis from a Language and Social Interaction (LSI) perspective to analyze the personal stories that were told during the North Omaha Development Project (NODP) Public Meeting. Personal stories may not intuitively seem to be important in Public Meetings because they center on individual, personal experience, rather than discussing issues in Public terms. However, stories help people to create and negotiate their identities, demonstrate their values, and indicate what actions ought to be taken to enact those values in meaningful ways. In the NODP Public Meeting, presenters and audience members told stories that demonstrated the important distinction between community members and outsiders, and offered competing notions of the community values and appropriate actions that should be taken to address neighborhood poverty. This analysis offers insights into how Public participation scholars can view stories told in Public Meetings as well as practical implications for officials convening Public Meetings.
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The practice of Public Meetings: Introduction to the special issue
Journal of Deliberative Democracy, 2009Co-Authors: James L. Leighter, Lynn S. Cockett, Laura W. Black, Leslie JarmonAbstract:This special issue of IJP2 attempts to build linkages between Public participation scholarship and communication research that emphasizes close attention to naturally-occurring interaction. The essays all investigate different aspects of the communication that occurs during one Public Meeting: a Public forum that focused on issues of economic development in Omaha, Nebraska. Through their investigation of this common case, the essays in this issue provide detailed description of some communication processes common to Public Meetings such as nonverbal communication, question and answer behavior, storytelling, the use of the term “community,” and the terms people use to talk about their own communication. These studies highlight how such interactive practices function in important ways to build or challenge notions of community, frame the purpose and outcome of the Meeting, display power differences among participants, and clarify key community values. This collection of essays highlights how close attention to what happens during Public Meetings can have important implications for both the theory and practice of Public participation. A full video of the Meeting is available online.
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communicating trust community and process in Public Meetings a reflection on how close attention to communication can contribute to the future of Public participation
Journal of Public Deliberation, 2009Co-Authors: Laura W. Black, James L. Leighter, John GastilAbstract:This concluding essay reflects on how the essays included in this special issue can help address some prevailing issues in Public participation scholarship. We see three themes running through the contributions to this special issue that are particularly important for Public participation scholars and practitioners to consider. These issues are: citizens’ distrust of Public officials, concerns about who counts as a legitimate member of the community, and challenges related to the framing the process and goals of the Meeting. In this concluding essay we summarize and reflect on the insights provided by the special issue contributions. We also look ahead to assess how these contributions can inform future Public participation research and practice by illuminating the importance of communication practices and Public Meeting formats.
Michael J. Scicchitano - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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dimensions of Public Meeting participation evidence from florida s truth in millage act
Urban Affairs Review, 2014Co-Authors: Anne R. Williamson, Michael J. ScicchitanoAbstract:The literature contains a wealth of theorizing and prescription regarding citizen participation, but little in the way of systematic evidence. We seek to increase empirical knowledge of participation through examination of Public Meeting participation associated with Florida’s Truth-in-Millage Act requirements for local government tax and budget decisions. Unlike existing evidence on Public Meetings, this research is based on statistical analysis of a random-sample survey (N = 601) and qualitative analysis of focus group results. In a departure from the standard socioeconomic explanation for citizen participation—which tends to ignore Public Meetings as a method of participation—we find no statistical difference in Public Meeting attendance based on gender, age, race, ethnicity, education, or income. Furthermore, we find that although state information requirements likely fulfill a needed purpose in providing transparency and accountability in local government tax and budget matters, they do not motivate ...
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Dimensions of Public Meeting Participation Evidence from Florida’s Truth-in-Millage Act
Urban Affairs Review, 2013Co-Authors: Anne R. Williamson, Michael J. ScicchitanoAbstract:The literature contains a wealth of theorizing and prescription regarding citizen participation, but little in the way of systematic evidence. We seek to increase empirical knowledge of participation through examination of Public Meeting participation associated with Florida’s Truth-in-Millage Act requirements for local government tax and budget decisions. Unlike existing evidence on Public Meetings, this research is based on statistical analysis of a random-sample survey (N = 601) and qualitative analysis of focus group results. In a departure from the standard socioeconomic explanation for citizen participation—which tends to ignore Public Meetings as a method of participation—we find no statistical difference in Public Meeting attendance based on gender, age, race, ethnicity, education, or income. Furthermore, we find that although state information requirements likely fulfill a needed purpose in providing transparency and accountability in local government tax and budget matters, they do not motivate ...
