Public Relations Research final development process on the awareness of the Mayors Commission to Combat Poverty in Lancaster, PA

1. Millersville University Public Relations Research
May 4th, 2016

2. The Mission:“The Mayor's Commission to Combat Poverty will engage
the community to increase the local understanding of
poverty and undergo a problem solving process to make
Lancaster City a better place for all.”

3. Meet The Team:
Cayla Pavlovec
Research
Director
Sarah Tyler
Asst. Research
Director
Angelica Lopez
Literature
Reviewer
Allison Martin
Human Subjects
Reviewer
Vassana Mee
Instrument
Designer

4. Research Questions:
1. - What is the best way to communicate the conditions of poverty in
Lancaster with local associations?
2. - What is the local associations level of awareness of the Mayor’s
Commission to Combat Poverty?
3. - How knowledgeable are associations in regard to poverty in Lancaster
City?
4. - What is the relationship between knowledge and involvement with
efforts to combat poverty in Lancaster City?

5. Background: Theories:
➔ The current poverty rate in Lancaster
City is 29%.
➔ In the southern end of Lancaster City
(South of King St.) it is about 40%.
➔ The Mayor’s Commission to Combat
Poverty is looking to gage citizens
and local associations on their
awareness of poverty and
willingness to help them.
➔ Agenda Setting Theory
◆ Symptoms
◆ Who is to blame?
◆ Local perceptions
➔ Media Framing Theory
◆ Irresponsibility
◆ Unfortunate
◆ Causal or Treatment Responsibilities

6. Background cont’d
Key Concepts:
Communication Awareness Knowledge
Involvement
1st Study- Langille-Hoppe, 2010
a series of focus group interviews that were conducted with the hopes of understanding and bridging the gap between the needs of
poor communities with local organizational resources
2nd Study- Theodore, 1972
the local Community Action Agency (CAA) wanted to gain an understanding of the awareness levels of people in the community

7. Method and Instrument:
➔Online Questionnaire (Google Forms)
◆ Emailed directly to Lancaster City associations
● Population: 156 associations (For-Profit and Non-Profit)
● Response Time: Less than 5 minutes
● Recorded Responses: 24
● Response Rate: 15.3%
➔Concepts
● Communication
● Awareness
● Knowledge
● Involvement

8. Method and Instrument cont’d:
Sent Google Form Survey to 156 local associations [for profit & non-profit]
24 responses at a 15.3% response rate.
22 questions
Provided incentive with raffle chance to win donuts for their office
Waited one week before sending follow up emails
Plan B was not executed.

9. Results: Demographics of the Sample
What category does your association fall under?

10. Results: Communication
How does your association receive local news or updates regarding the city?

11. Results: Awareness
How aware is your association of the Mayor’s Commission to Combat Poverty?

12. Results: Knowledge
What do you believe is the current percentage of impoverished citizens in
Lancaster City?

13. Results: Involvement
Is your association currently involved with any efforts to combat poverty?

14. Limitations:
➔ Spam Filters
➔ Individual knowledge
➔ Distribution to generic email addresses

15. Areas for Future Research and
Recommendations:
➔ Receiving updates & how associations receive updates
➔ Interest in learning & willingness to help the commission
➔ Familiarity with commission & how associations receive
updates

16. Thank You Everyone for Your Time!
It has been a pleasure to provide research for the
Mayor's Commission to Combat Poverty.