Health, Exercise, and Sports Sciences ETDs

Publication Date

6-9-1978

Abstract

The primary problem was to determine and compare by means of a questionnaire survey the types and extent of vandalism in parks and recreation departments in selected Kentucky cities of 5,000 to 50,000 population. A secondary problem was to identify the perceived practices used to reduce and eliminate acts of vandalism.

The population for this research consisted of all cities in Kentucky with populations from 5,000 to 50,000 that employed park and/or recreation directors. Using the 1975 estimated census figures, 51 cities were identified as having the desired population figures and 42 of those cities employed park and/or recreation directors.

The questionnaire was administered to the population by mail for the purpose of determining the types and frequency of vandalism incidents and perceived solution to these incidents.

The data were presented utilizing descriptive statis­tics. The data were used to discuss the six pertinent questions used in lieu of a statement of hypotheses.

The research results indicated that:

  1. In general, responding directors perceived vandalism as being a problem.
  2. Vandalism is costly to the general public as reflected in the percentages of budget expenditures allocated.
  3. In general, litter was the most common vandalism problem identified by the total sample.
  4. In general, immediate repair or replacement was the most common solution to vandalism problems reported by the total sample. It was selected over two times more often than the next most popular solution.
  5. Based on the percentages of returns from the four population groups and the four geographic areas it was not possible to determine if geographic location or size of the city influenced the types and extent of vandalism.

A discussion section contains a series of comments that were based upon the data generated by the research and comments that were speculative on the part of the author.

Document Type

Dissertation

Language

English

Degree Name

Health Education

Level of Degree

Doctoral

Department Name

Health, Exercise, and Sports Sciences

First Committee Member (Chair)

Leon E. Griffin

Second Committee Member

Paul Adolph Klemm

Third Committee Member

Richard Elmer Lawrence

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