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conflict resolution, mediation
Current work focuses on best practices in conflict resolution
and mediation. Workshops have been developed based on observations
of individualized education program (IEP) meetings in five
public school districts. Through the Conflict
Resolution Program, research includes the ongoing evalution
of Delaware's special education mediation system and systems
change through the use of alternative dispute resolution.
IPA Researcher: Kathy Wian
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 desegregation
in schools
The study of the process and effects of school desegregation
in American school districts led to the publishing of a book
on the subject.
IPA Researcher: Jeff Raffel
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healthcare policy
Current work involves using the Consumer Assessment of Health
Plan System (CAHPS) to assess the quality of health care and
health plans. Comparative analysis focuses on three dimensions:
1) the insured vs. the uninsured populations, 2) traditional
fee-for-service health care vs. managed care, and 3) "heavy"
vs. "light" managed care (degree of managed care).
Current work on empolyer compensation and benefits focuses
on factors driving changes in health benefits offered by employers.
Employer surveys will be used to analyze trends in coverage
and then understand the key variables that explain decisions
to change the level and composition of health benefits.
IPA Researcher: Eric Jacobson
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public
affairs education
Focus has been on meeting the NASPAA accreditation quantitative
methods standards with a course in management decision-making
(as opposed to research methods or management science) as
well as on the role of self-interest in citizens' willingness
to engage in decision-making and funding of government programs.
IPA Researchers: Maria Aristigueta,
Jeff Raffel
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public
program effectiveness
Ongoing research in this area focuses on studying the implementation
of managing for results systems (strategic planning, performance
measurement, and evaluation), the use of performance measurement
data for program improvement and policy decisions, and the
need for evaluations as part of a comprehensive system. Studies
are also being done on the use of social indicators, which
are widely used in state government to monitor societal conditions
and also being used in combination with performance measures
to form the critical indicators for governors' agendas.
IPA Researcher: Maria Aristigueta
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technology
access
The major purposes of this research are to identify and respond
to unmet needs within the state, facilitate exchange of information
and knowledge of current "best practices" and technology
developments, and enable participants to explore areas of
cooperation and coordination to improve individual programs.
This line of research combines compiling, updating, and making
available a comprehensive inventory of community technology
access resources in Delaware, as well as continuing efforts
to bring together organizations from public, private, and
nonprofit sectors interested in learning, sharing, and developing
ways of responding to the challenges of the modern technology
world.
IPA Researcher: Robert
Warren
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water
resources
Current work focuses on water supply and water quality. Some
examples are analysis of water rates, consumer attitudes regarding
bottled water, impact of impervious cover in an interstate
watershed, and development of a University Experimental Watershed.
This is being accomplished through the Water
Resources Agency, a cooperative effort of state and local
governments and the University that carries out an array of
water-related and public service activities in the mid-Atlantic
area.
IPA Researchers: Jerry Kauffman
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