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60
infrastructure, and traffic environment- across the four school neighborhoods.
Selected pedestrian infrastructure and design elements that required field
observations were measured at the level of street segments along the school routes
through windshield survey (see Appendix E for a list of observed items and coding
methods). A total of 239 street segments were measured that ranged from 39 to 100
segments per school neighborhood. A team of two (each person observing one side
of the segment), excluding the driver, recorded elements on 12 design and pedestrian
environment quality items. The field survey took approximately 5 afternoon hours
over two days.
Data Analysis
Data analysis for this dissertation research is divided into two main parts, all
of which were examined in association with children’s current school travel mode.
The quantifiable data were coded and analyzed, using the Statistical Package for the
Social Sciences (SPSS) for Windows, version 13.0. For the first part, descriptive
statistics were used to characterize the child participants and the proportions of
children using each mode of transportation to and from school (i.e., walk or bike, or
motorized). A number of bivariate correlational analysis techniques were conducted
(i.e., Pearson’s chi square, Student’s independent t-test, Analysis of Variance,
Spearman rank order correlation, and Point biserial correlation) to examine
association between factors at each level and school travel mode. In addition,
children’s perceived risks associated with their school journeys and their needs
Object Description
| Title | Walkability as 'freedom': the ecology of school journey in inner city Los Angeles neighborhoods |
| Author | Uhm, Jung A |
| Author email | uhm@usc.edu; j_uhm@hotmail.com |
| Degree | Doctor of Philosophy |
| Document type | Dissertation |
| Degree program | planning |
| School | School of Policy, Planning, and Development |
| Date defended/completed | 2008-06-05 |
| Date submitted | 2008 |
| Restricted until | Unrestricted |
| Date published | 2008-10-17 |
| Advisor (committee chair) | Banerjee, Tridib |
| Advisor (committee member) |
Irazabal, Clara Stoner, Madeleine |
| Abstract | Over the past two decades, rising concerns over childhood obesity and its health effects have brought the issue of "walkability" to the forefront in creating a child friendly environment. Particularly, the idea of promoting children walking to and from school has gained widespread support among policy makers, public health officials, civic organizations, and planners as a way to increase physical activity among children to prevent obesity. Recent policies and programs however are based on an assumption about the direct influence of the built environment on school travel mode, of which parents' values and perceptions are considered prominent in determining environmental attributes related to children walking to school.; This research proposes a conceptual framework in understanding the relationship between the environment and children's travel by adding a crucial link generally missing in current walkability research - children. By proposing the notion of walkability as freedom, this study attempts to draw attentions to children's choices and real opportunities and factors that either facilitate or prohibit children in or from actualizing what they value (walking to school as one of many). With this goal, this research explored the elements of a walkable environment through the eyes of ethnic minority children attending five elementary schools in inner city Los Angeles.; Through the triangulation of capability approach, child-centered participatory methods, and ecological perspectives, the findings demonstrate children's capacity not only to observe and understand the environment, but also to evaluate and reflect on making their neighborhood environment safer and walkable on their own terms.; This research suggests a shift in policy focus from the provision and improvement of environmental resources to the enhancement of individual freedom by increasing children's participatory capability. The results of this study advance the discussion on the relationship between active school travel and the environment by bringing children into the foreground within the spheres of ecological transaction. |
| Keyword | capability; children; inner-city neighborhood; perception; school travel; walkability |
| Geographic subject | educational facilities: Foshay Learning Center; educational facilities: Norwood Street Elementary School; educational facilities: St. Agnes Parish School; educational facilities: Vermont Avenue Elementary School; educational facilities: Lenicia B. Weemes Elementary School |
| Geographic subject (city or populated place) | Los Angeles |
| Geographic subject (state) | California |
| Coverage date | circa 2008 |
| Language | English |
| Part of collection | University of Southern California dissertations and theses |
| Publisher (of the original version) | University of Southern California |
| Place of publication (of the original version) | Los Angeles, California |
| Publisher (of the digital version) | University of Southern California. Libraries |
| Provenance | Electronically uploaded by the author |
| Type | texts |
| Legacy record ID | usctheses-m1671 |
| Contributing entity | University of Southern California |
| Rights | Uhm, Jung A |
| Repository name | Libraries, University of Southern California |
| Repository address | Los Angeles, California |
| Repository email | cisadmin@lib.usc.edu |
| Filename | etd-Uhm-2224 |
| Archival file | uscthesesreloadpub_Volume29/etd-Uhm-2224.pdf |
Description
| Title | Page 70 |
| Contributing entity | University of Southern California |
| Repository email | cisadmin@lib.usc.edu |
| Full text | 60 infrastructure, and traffic environment- across the four school neighborhoods. Selected pedestrian infrastructure and design elements that required field observations were measured at the level of street segments along the school routes through windshield survey (see Appendix E for a list of observed items and coding methods). A total of 239 street segments were measured that ranged from 39 to 100 segments per school neighborhood. A team of two (each person observing one side of the segment), excluding the driver, recorded elements on 12 design and pedestrian environment quality items. The field survey took approximately 5 afternoon hours over two days. Data Analysis Data analysis for this dissertation research is divided into two main parts, all of which were examined in association with children’s current school travel mode. The quantifiable data were coded and analyzed, using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) for Windows, version 13.0. For the first part, descriptive statistics were used to characterize the child participants and the proportions of children using each mode of transportation to and from school (i.e., walk or bike, or motorized). A number of bivariate correlational analysis techniques were conducted (i.e., Pearson’s chi square, Student’s independent t-test, Analysis of Variance, Spearman rank order correlation, and Point biserial correlation) to examine association between factors at each level and school travel mode. In addition, children’s perceived risks associated with their school journeys and their needs |
