A descriptive case study of handicapped parking violations in a mid-western [sic] city
File(s)
Date
1999Author
Lenz, Jacqueline A.
Publisher
University of Wisconsin--Stout
Advisor(s)
Peters, Robert
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
The purpose of this study was to determine the frequency of handicapped parking spaces being misused as it pertains to the implications for consumers with physical disabilities as they attempt to independently participate within the community. A descriptive case study of handicapped parking violations was conducted in a Midwestern city through observational methods. Factors identified in the literature were used in the design of the instrument. Subjects for this study were drivers and their occupant(s) who were observed parking in handicapped parking spaces by a trained observer. A total of 133 subjects were observed for this study. The trained observer recorded the data onto an instrument. The instrument was designed for this study. Ten business parking lots were selected for this study based upon the geographical area and the high volume of customers they receive. The business parking lots consisted of two grocery stores located in both affluent and non-affluent neighborhoods, three department stores, and a shopping mall center. A pilot study was conducted prior to data collection in order to determine the appropriate business and the appropriate time of day for conducting the observational trials. The selected business parking lots were each observed at one hour intervals for a total of three hours. Therefore, a total of thirty hours of observation was completed for this study. The data collection procedures consisted of the trained observer situating the vehicle directly in front of or directly behind the handicapped parking spaces. The purpose of this was to ensure that the trained observer has a direct observational sight of all the handicapped spaces at all times. The trained observer remained parked in the car during the data collection for twenty-seven of the thirty observational trials. Three of the thirty observational trials were conducted outside of the vehicle in order to have a clear view of all handicapped parking spaces. The trained observer recorded the data by walking around the parking lot to observe the various forms of parking designations such as hanging placards and handicapped licenses. Descriptive statistics were used to determine the frequency and percentages for analyzing the data for each research question. There were a total of four research questions for the purpose of this study. The major findings of this study demonstrated that there was a high percentage of misuse of handicapped parking permits e.g. hang-tags. In addition, the data demonstrated there was a very small percentage of non-disabled individuals illegally parking in handicapped parking spaces. An adequate analysis of data could not be conducted on research questions three and four, due to the small sample size for the site under observation.
Permanent Link
http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1793/39277Description
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