[Vision2020] Parking Survey Under Way

[Art Deco]

Can the entire text of all surveys, a list of each member of the sample 
space of each survey, and a complete description of each survey's 
methodology be published so that we can discuss it in detail?

W.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Philip Cook" <pcook818 at adelphia.net>
To: <vision2020 at moscow.com>
Sent: Tuesday, February 13, 2007 10:54 AM
Subject: Re: [Vision2020] Parking Survey Under Way


> Mr. Crabtree,
>
> You are correct that two additional surveys focusing on customers and 
> employees are planned.
>
> I disagree with your and Mr. Deco's assertions that the survey nor the 
> surveyors are objective.
>
> You are correct that the survey is designed to measure perceptions, but it 
> is designed to measure them objectively. The measurement of perceptions of 
> downtown parking problems is the goal of the survey. The data gathered by 
> this survey and the others, along with engineering data, will help inform 
> the political discussions about management of downtown parking.
>
> Yes, I serve on the Transportation Commission, but I also spent much of my 
> graduate academic training and early career designing, implementing, and 
> reporting the results of surveys. I have observed and participated in the 
> design of this survey and have seen nothing that leads me to the 
> conclusion that it will not be objective. I will let you know if something 
> changes that assessment. Please let me know if you have evidence 
> otherwise, too.
>
> The time where objectivity is always questionable, and indeed impossible, 
> is in the interpretation of (objectively gathered) data and 
> recommendations for changes based on the results. Each of us, regardless 
> of training, political persuasion, etc., brings our own experiences, 
> beliefs, and biases to the table when we interpret results and talk about 
> possible policy alternatives. Questions of what we should do are always 
> political and subjective; science can only inform the discussion about 
> possible outcomes.
>
> Your suggestion about a civil engineering project is illustrative. 
> Engineering data is helpful, but insufficient by itself. Let's say an 
> engineering study concludes that "85% of all car drivers arriving downtown 
> between 9:00am and 10:00am found a vacant parking spot within 150 feet of 
> their desired destination within 30 seconds of beginning their search for 
> a spot." Objective data, yes. But so what? Is the situation good or bad? 
> Do customers find that situation acceptable or not? Do business owners? 
> Are there any management actions the City should take to change the 
> situation? These are all perception-based questions, and the answers about 
> what should be done are subjective and political.
>
> As for myself, I'm looking forward to having at least some objective, 
> systematically-gathered data about downtown parking to inform the 
> community's discussions, rather than relying on a hodge-podge collection 
> of personal anecdotes.
>
> Philip Cook
>
>> Date: Tue, 13 Feb 2007 09:47:00 -0800
>> From: "Art Deco" <deco at moscow.com>
>> Subject: Re: [Vision2020] Parking Survey Under Way
>
>> Gary writes:
>>
>> " A better approach might be to have an independent third party obtain 
>> some objective data with regard to the parking situation."
>>
>> That would be a good first step.  Given that data then an unbiased 
>> professional survey designer could then design a survey with unloaded 
>> questions, carefully and fairly select the sample space, and then proceed 
>> to determine public and business attitudes/beliefs.  Perhaps the UI or 
>> WSU math departments could make this a carefully supervised graduate 
>> statistics student project.
>>
>> Assuming that even if MacDonald and Steed have any enthusiastic 
>> supporters, they would probably concede that neither is a qualified 
>> survey designer/taker.  We have just discussed a poorly constructed 
>> survey by Fox News.  Let's not waste money on another questionable effort 
>> which will satisfy no one.
>>
>> Though Gary and I do not have much in common in our world views, I think 
>> we both agree that facts are needed in the discussion of the parking 
>> issue, and I hope that we agree that the different parties to the 
>> dispute, especially the city, are not likely to generate unquestionable 
>> data themselves.
>>
>> W.
>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>> From: g. crabtree
>> Sent: Tuesday, February 13, 2007 6:20 AM
>> Subject: Re: [Vision2020] Parking Survey Under Way
>>
>>
>> My understanding is that there will be three surveys done. The first for 
>> business owners. The second for employees, and the third for customers.
>>
>> What I see as the glaring problem with this approach is that a survey 
>> will only net you answers to what people perceive the problem to be. A 
>> better approach might be to have an independent third party obtain some 
>> objective data with regard to the parking situation. Perhaps quietly turn 
>> a few civil engineering seniors loose on the project?
>>
>> g
>
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