Projects

Active Transport to School (ATS)

Timeline: Fall 2005 - Fall 2006

Aim: To explore the barriers and enablers of ATS, and to identify common lessons learned across sites

Methods: Key informant interviews (IW) with family, school, community, public safety and other roles involved in ATS, using standardized IW guide (n = 9 schools/communities)

Key Findings: Policy Actions that influenced ATS: policies on school speed zones; drop-off/pick-up; no transport zone; school siting; school start/dismissal time; and school choice. Policy Influences had the potential to impact ATS-related policies: sidewalks; crosswalks/ crossing guards; funding; advocacy group involvement; Walk to School Days; personal safety concerns; parking lot & drop-off area size, design; natural environmental factors.

Trails Development

Timeline: Winter 2005 - Winter 2006

Aim: To identify the policy influences and explore the roles of key players in trail development, and compare and contrast findings across diverse locations and populations.

Methods: Examination of historical documentation of trail development and key informant IW's with persons involved directly and indirectly in trail development (n = 6 trails)

Key Findings: Several policies positively influenced the development of a trail: Funding policies, land acquisition policies, a community master plan, liability policies and inter-municipal or interagency agreements facilitated trail development.

Concept Mapping

Timeline: Fall 2006 - Summer 2007

Aim: To develop a research agenda that will focus and guide future physical activity policy research and environmental strategies.

Methods: Systematically gather input from practitioners and researchers on an agenda for policy and environmental research and to rate importance and feasibility of this input. Data then analyzed using concept mapping - a 6-step process that incorporates qualitative and quantitative analysis. A smaller group met to finalize action steps and develop the agenda. (n=200 1st group, 30 2nd group)

Key Findings: The results describe participants' operationalizations of policies and environmental factors influencing physical activity and the relative importance and feasibility of these factors for future research (see References).

Analysis of Physical Activity (PA) and Physical Education (PE) Legislation

Timeline: Summer 2007 - Current

Aim: To identify a comprehensive list of state and federal legislation related to physical education and physical activity in schools.

Methods: Search for "physical activity" and "physical education" in Netscan database of state legislation. Content analysis of bills using abstraction form. (n = 750 bills)

Key Findings: Preliminary analyses complete: Number of PE and PA bills increased from 2001- 2007; 20% of bills were enacted; 50% propose changing PE; majority of bills do not include funding or evaluation; 65% do not use evidence-based standards.

Analysis of Master Plan Study

Timeline: Fall 2007 - Current

Aim: To understand bike and/or pedestrian master plans (BPMP) as opportunities for policy changes, physical changes, and new collaboration.

Methods: Review of 10 BPMP and content analysis using abstraction form. (n = at least 100 plans)

Key Findings: Currently finalizing research questions and methods; Findings expected Fall 2008.