Public attitudes to, and perceived impacts of 20mph (32 km/h) speed limits in Edinburgh: An exploratory study using the Speed Limits Perceptions Survey (SLiPS)

Abstract Background Twenty miles per hour (20mph) speed limits (equivalent to roughly 30kmh) have become part of public health policies to reduce urban road collisions and casualties, especially in Western countries. Public opinion plays a crucial role in opposition to and acceptance of policies that are advocated for improving public health. Twenty miles per hour speed limit policies were implemented in Edinburgh and Belfast from 2016 to 2018. In this paper, we extract public opinion and sentiments expressed about the new 20mph speed limits in those cities using publicly available Twitter data. Methods We analysed public sentiments from Twitter data and classified the public comments in plain English into the categories ‘positive’, ‘neutral’, and ‘negative’. We also explored the frequency and sources of the tweets. Results The total volume of tweets was higher for Edinburgh than for Belfast, but the volume of tweets followed a similar pattern, peaking around 2016, which is when the schemes were implemented. Overall, the tone of the tweets was positive or neutral towards the implementation of the speed limit policies. This finding was surprising as there is a perception among policymakers that there would have been public backlash against these sorts of policy changes. The commonly used hashtags focused largely on road safety and other potential benefits, for example to air pollution. Conclusions Overall, public attitudes towards the policies were positive, thus policymakers should be less anxious about potential public backlash when considering the scale-up of 20mph speed restrictions.

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Airbnb and neighbourhoods: an exploratory study

International Journal of Tourism Cities ◽

10.1108/ijtc-08-2019-0119 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 6 (1) ◽

pp. 72-89

Author(s):

Marina A. Petruzzi ◽

Gabriela S. Marques ◽

Manuel do Carmo ◽

Antonia Correia

Keyword(s):

Exploratory Study ◽

Quantitative Research ◽

Principal Component ◽

Sharing Economy ◽

Host Community ◽

Local Culture ◽

Content Type ◽

Job Opportunities ◽

Perceived Impacts ◽

Identity Changes

Purpose This study aims to identify residents’ perceptions of the impacts of Airbnb through an exploratory study that accounts for 94 residents in Lisbon, Portugal, in neighbourhoods with a high number of accommodations listed on the Airbnb platform. Design/methodology/approach A quantitative research was conducted. A questionnaire was designed and administered within the selected neighbourhoods. Factor analysis using the principal component methods is used to reduce the items evaluated. Findings The study reveals that residents have perceptions of both agreement and disagreement towards the impacts of the sharing economy in economic, environmental and sociocultural aspects. Positively perceived impacts refer to interactions with tourists, natural preservation and increase in business and job opportunities. Conversely, the growth of rent prices, the increase in noise issues, the change in the local culture and the threat of losing authenticity and traditions are the dimensions that may lead to negatively perceived impacts towards Airbnb. Research limitations/implications In spite of being the largest network for sharing accommodation, Airbnb is not the only one. Research on individual perceptions analyses the understandings of each person, which can be built and shaped by the context. In spite of the potential of the Likert scale, qualitative research should be added to enrich future studies. Practical implications This study identified several challenges for Airbnb and other sharing platforms, including residents’ concerns over noise, the threat of losing identity, changes in the local culture and rise in rent prices. Originality/value The study is dedicated to analyzing the host community residents and identifying their perceptions of impacts of the sharing economy. The use of residents’ perceptions provides useful insights that may be considered when planning, developing and implementing local policies.

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A hospital clerkship program for dental students: an exploratory study

Journal of Dental Education ◽

10.1002/j.0022-0337.1969.33.2.tb00173.x ◽

1969 ◽

Vol 33 (2) ◽

pp. 224-229

Author(s):

EA Stuebner ◽

RP Johnson

Keyword(s):

Exploratory Study ◽

Dental Students

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Classifying Disfluencies in Preschool- and School-Age Spanish–English Bilinguals Who Do Not Stutter: An Exploratory Study

Perspectives of the ASHA Special Interest Groups ◽

10.1044/2019_persp-19-00164 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 5 (1) ◽

pp. 119-130

Author(s):

Raúl Rojas ◽

Farzan Irani

Keyword(s):

Exploratory Study ◽

Evidence Base ◽

Medium Effect ◽

Bilingual Children ◽

Linear Regression Models ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Total Percentage ◽

Narrative Production ◽

Language Measures ◽

Mean Length Of Utterance

Purpose This exploratory study examined the language skills and the type and frequency of disfluencies in the spoken narrative production of Spanish–English bilingual children who do not stutter. Method A cross-sectional sample of 29 bilingual students (16 boys and 13 girls) enrolled in grades prekindergarten through Grade 4 produced a total of 58 narrative retell language samples in English and Spanish. Key outcome measures in each language included the percentage of normal (%ND) and stuttering-like (%SLD) disfluencies, percentage of words in mazes (%MzWds), number of total words, number of different words, and mean length of utterance in words. Results Cross-linguistic, pairwise comparisons revealed significant differences with medium effect sizes for %ND and %MzWds (both lower for English) as well as for number of different words (lower for Spanish). On average, the total percentage of mazed words was higher than 10% in both languages, a pattern driven primarily by %ND; %SLDs were below 1% in both languages. Multiple linear regression models for %ND and %SLD in each language indicated that %MzWds was the primary predictor across languages beyond other language measures and demographic variables. Conclusions The findings extend the evidence base with regard to the frequency and type of disfluencies that can be expected in bilingual children who do not stutter in grades prekindergarten to Grade 4. The data indicate that %MzWds and %ND can similarly index the normal disfluencies of bilingual children during narrative production. The potential clinical implications of the findings from this study are discussed.

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