Post on 03-Jul-2015
Orion Cuffe, Ira Cross, Elaine HirtStatistical Analysis for Business Decisions
Interdisciplinary Research Project
NSHE is Administrator
Funded by $15M Grant
Sponsors: NSF, EPSCoR
Institutional Partners: UNR, UNLV, DRI
Important Role to Develop Public Policy
Implementation
Most Closely Match Local Needs for Climate Change Adaptation
Often Lack Resources and Timely & Accurate Scientific Information Necessary to Implement Policy Effectively
Surveymonkey.com
All Public Agencies
Sent 204 Surveys
Received 29 Complete Self-Selected Responses
14.2% Response Rate
Regional Agency
13%
Federal Government
Agency0%
State Government
Agency23%Local
Government Agency
48%
Special Purpose
Government (School, Utility,
Water District, etc.)
7%
Business Association
6%
Non-Profit Organization
3%
Climate Change Priority Level?
Organization Planning?Information Sources?
Capacity for Planning?
Constraints and Obstacles for Implementation?
Cooperation Between Local Government & Organizations?
Is This Related to…Media
Information Source
Size of Budget
Number of Employees
Organization Types
How Does Nevada Compare with National Trends?
That?Confidence in Science
Organization Preparedness
Successful Tests
Test of Two Means
T-Test of Proportions
Chi-Square
Unsuccessful Tests
ANOVA
OLS Multiple Regression
Data Cleaning & Coding
Chi-Square Test Results Reveal Yes, There is a Relationship.
P = 0.0409
Inverse Relationship
Less News = More ConfidenceMore News = Less Confidence
Conclusion: Watching the News Erodes Confidence in the Science.
Yes, Consultants Strengthen Confidence in the Climate Change Science When Used More Often.
Chi-Square Test Results Show Yes, There is a Relationship.
P = 0.08
Two Sample Test of Means gives P-Value: 0.427 at 95% Confidence Interval.
No, Budget Size Does Not Play a Role Whether or Not an Agency is Prepared for Climate Change.
Chi-Square Test Results Show NO Relationship
P = 0.6226
Conclusion: Do Not Rely on the Agency Type Determine How Prepared the Agency is to Deal with Climate Change Issues. Applies to State Agencies to Non-Profit Organization.
Regardless of the Type of Agency, the Confidence in Climate Change Science Remained Unaffected.
Chi-Square Test Reveals NO Relationship.P-Value = 0.4504
Two Sample Test of Means Reveals NO Relationship at 95% Confidence Interval.P-Value = 0.924T-Test Score = 0.096
Even the Number of Staff of an Organization has NO Affect in Preparedness for Climate Change Issues.
Is Climate Change a Priority?18% Nevada Agencies Say Yes, It’s a Top Priority*
3% National Average Says Yes, It’s a Top Priority**
Confident in the Science of Climate Change71% Nevada Agencies Are Confident*
57% National Average Is Confident***
*Note: NOT statistically significant different due to extremely high error, a consequence of low sample size.**Bloomberg Poll conducted by Seizer & Co., Dec 3-7, 2009. N=1,000 adults nationwide +/- 3.1%***Pew Research Center Poll conducted Sept 30-Oct 4, 2009. N=1,500 adults nationwide +/- 3.1%
“This is a waste of time and money. You cannot
do anything about climate change.”
“It’s hard to get concerned, when reports
are so conflicting, and politics play such a role.”
“What do we need to better plan?
The Truth.”
“The national news media cannot be trusted to tell
an unbiased truth!”
“A climate change clearing house.”
“Get truthful, factual, long-
term, non-political data!”
“Is it really real, or made up Al Gore
BS?!”
Long Process to Create & Approve SurveyUNR Survey Policy
Very Poor Lack of Response!Not Enough Samples
Limited What Tests Could Be Used
High Margin of Error
Survey Was LongOver 45 Questions
Collect More Responses Through Phone Interviews
Plan for Focus Group Research
Presentations—February & March 2010Las Vegas, Nevada
San Francisco, California
Collaboration with UNLV
Save the Earth. It’s the only planet with chocolate!