Analysis of Preschool Safety in Urban and Rural Areas

1
Analysis of Preschool Safety in Urban and Rural
Areas
Where are the safest preschools in Western
Michigan?
Tarah Burgess Senior Thesis ResearchGrand Valley
State University Geography and Planning
Department November 17, 2008
2
Source http//www.mbcb.org/images/wmu/mf1.jpg
Purpose
3
Source http//lake.stark.k12.oh.us/uploads/image
s/ao/pensivegirl.jpg
Purpose
4
Purpose

• School safety is a well researched topic
• Analyze preschool safety found in different
  locations
• Urban and rural
• Increase our understanding of how safe preschools
  are in the Western Michigan area.

5
Study Population

• Urban
• Relating to or concerned with a city or densely
  populated area
• Rural
• Defined as sparsely settled location of or
  pertaining to agriculture

Source www.dictionary.com
6
Study Population

• Urban setting
• Grand Rapids, Michigan
• Total of seventy-five (75) preschools
• Elimination
• Sampling frame of thirty-three (33) schools
• Rural setting
• Cities and Villages
• Same elimination method and sample size
• 2007-2008 Yellow pages

7
21 Rural cities and villages
Sparta
Ada
Alto
Caledonia
Hudsonville
Grandville
Dorr
Hastings
Allegan
Charlotte
Delton
Gobles
Paw Paw
Marshall
Augusta
Mattawan
Lawton
Centreville
Coldwater
Three Rivers
Sturgis
Source Author
8
Security Measures

• Expect to find
• Security cameras or monitors
• Metal detectors
• Guards
• Fenced in playgrounds
• Key code boxes or ID card decoder

9
Security Camera
Sourcehttp//scholasticadministrator.typepad.com/
thisweekineducation/images/2008/01/24/300pxsecurit
y_camera_on_school_buil.jpg
10
Metal Detectors
Source http//www.citylimits.org/assets/images/im
ages_assign/623Aliside.jpg
11
School Security Guard
Source http//media.commercialappeal.com/mca/cont
ent/img/photos/2008/08/14/15mata2.jpeg
12
Fenced in Playground
Milestones Child Development Center Cascade Road
SE in Grand Rapids, Michigan
13
ID Card Decoder
Source http//www.teamhoward.com/Support20Docs/D
igital20Dining/FAQ20Pics/Card20Swipe.JPG
14
Method

• Information was gathered through a telephone
  survey
• Survey instrument
• Interview schedule
• Four short interview questions
• Building security
• Visitor control
• Student, staff and faculty control
• Total measures

15
Method

• Two statistical tests were used to analyze data
• Difference of means test - T-test
• Determine mean number of measures by location

16
T-test Results
Source Author
17
Method

• Chi-square test
• Assess two types of comparisons
• Tests of goodness-of-fit
• Test of independence
• Assesses whether paired observations on two
  variables are independent of each other
• Whether schools from different regions differ in
  the frequency of security measures

Source Author
18
Chi-square Method
Source Author
19
Chi-square Results
Chi-square Results
Observed vs. Expected
Source Author
Source Author
20
Conclusion

• Statistical analysis did not support hypothesis
• Still believe urban schools require more security
  measures to keep students safe
• Supported by features utilized for future
  consideration

21
Limitations of the Study

• Results may have differed if rural category had
  been defined more rigorously
• Difficulty contacting
• Turnover to someone else
• Did not feel confident
• Some informants were in a rush
• Could not give a detailed explanation
• Biased data - left some measures out
• Ada Christian School

22
Future Consideration

• More time to study
• Personal interview
• Expand the sample size
• 2 or 3 different urban settings
• More rural cities or villages
• Research different areas of the country
• Washington D.C.
• The Bronx
• Brick, New Jersey
• St. Louis, Missouri

Source http//www.statestats.com/safecity.htm
23
Questions or Comments?