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Building the Knowledge Base of Nonprofit Management:
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Assessing Service Accessibility
Abstract
Three issues of access to social services are addressed: (1) problems
of definition, (2) needs for empirical study, & (3) untested
assumptions in measurement. Existing definitions of 'accessibility'
have been derived from independent views focusing alternatively on
physical distance, operational cost, & social/administrative
facilitation or constraint. An interdisciplinary definition is
proposed: the physical distance covered, the amount of time used,
& the cost incurred by particular types of clients traveling from
where they live to a given service unit. Research on accessibility has
been mainly descriptive case studies concerned with measurement.
Comparative studies elaborate substantive theory across service
systems. Measures of accessibility have obscured differences between
individuals & groups, presumed similar needs among clients, &
assumed non-overlapping service centers. Needs assessments must be
conducted to learn the relevant patterns of service utilization, &
to construct measures based on realistic assumptions. In addition to
indicating how service planners & researchers must define access
in relation to the unique properties of the welfare system, data
sources to initiate work in the assessment of social service
accessibility are suggested. Modified HA.
Journal
(1978)
vol2
no2
pages183-197
Categories
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Evaluation and Information Management
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Program Evaluation Strategies
