University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Information Utilization Patterns of Rural Local Government Officials

Caudillo, Nancy Lauts

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/71923

Description

Title
Information Utilization Patterns of Rural Local Government Officials
Author(s)
Caudillo, Nancy Lauts
Issue Date
1992
Doctoral Committee Chair(s)
Kozoll, C.,
Department of Study
Education
Discipline
Education
Degree Granting Institution
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Degree Name
Ed.D.
Degree Level
Dissertation
Keyword(s)
  • Education, Adult and Continuing
  • Political Science, Public Administration
Abstract
  • More is now known about the way knowledge is used in the decision-making process. Much has been written in the past 15 years to help explain how new knowledge is obtained and used by policy-makers as they make decisions related to federal or state government.
  • This current study shares another perspective on how decision-makers seek and use information. The focus of this study is a group of relatively unknown policy-makers, elected officials serving in small towns and rural counties. Serious issues face these "volunteer" officials who generally have no special skill or background related to government or emerging economic, environmental, and human service issues.
  • The study sought answers to some basic questions related to the information-seeking behaviors of rural local officials. When faced with significant issues related to local government policy: (1) What information did local officials seek? (2) To whom did officials turn for information? (3) How did local officials use this information?
  • Forty-one officials from eight Illinois counties and municipalities were included in the study. Field interviews were conducted with each of the study participants, and each official completed a self-administered questionnaire.
  • Results of the study confirmed that officials relied heavily upon resources from within the community, but had also sought information from external sources, especially on controversial issues. Officials preferred information about how other communities handled similar issues or situations, and also about cost figures. Information gathered by officials was used in many ways. The data suggests a strong pattern of sharing of information among rural officials.
Graduation Semester
1992
Type of Resource
text
Permalink
http://hdl.handle.net/2142/71923

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