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08:12
A Psychophysics Paradigm for the Collection and Analysis of Similarity Judgments
Published on: March 1, 2022
Using face validity to recognize empirical community observations
1Department of Sociology, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72703, USA. jgaber@uark.edu
Evaluation and Program Planning
|September 25, 2009
Summary
This study introduces "face validity," a research tool to help planners understand community input in urban planning. It ensures community observations are empirically grounded, improving plan-making processes.
Area of Science:
- Urban Planning
- Qualitative Research Methods
Background:
- Growing scholarly interest in community participation in planning.
- Need for qualitative approaches to understand citizen input.
Purpose of the Study:
- Introduce and discuss "face validity" as a research assessment tool.
- Explore how face validity can enhance community participation in plan-making.
- Enable empirical learning for governments from community feedback.
Main Methods:
- Discussion of the "face validity" concept.
- Qualitative research assessment approach.
Main Results:
- Face validity offers a common-sense check on research conclusions.
- It helps planners assess the empirical grounding of community observations.
- Facilitates government learning and course correction in planning.
Conclusions:
- Face validity is a valuable tool for integrating community insights into planning.
- It empowers governments to empirically validate and refine planning decisions based on citizen feedback.
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