ASSIGNMENT 1
THE START OF A RESEARCH PROJECT
Created by Group 14
Group 14 Members:
 Amanda Case
 Stacey Mitchell
 Bilal Mughal
 Jennifer Reich
 Andrew Sutherland
LIS 3201 – Research and Data Analysis
Spring 2013
Dr. C. Landbeck
Date: 02/15/2013
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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The Research Question and Supporting Questions ...................... 2 – 3
OVERALL REASEARCH QUESTION .................................................................................................2
SUPPORTING QUESTIONS ...............................................................................................................2
Questions based off of data sources ................................................ 5
QUESTIONS FROM PRIMARY DATA SOURCES .................................................................................5
QUESTIONS FROM SECONDARY DATA SOURCES ............................................................................5
SWOT Analysis Report ............................................................... 6 – 7
BOSCARD ............................................................................... 8 – 11
Assignment 1
Gantt chart .................................................................................... 12
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THE RESEARCH QUESTION AND SUPPORTING
QUESTIONS
The Research Question
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Does FSU meet and/or exceed the national compliance standards for accommodating
disabled students in terms of providing sufficient parking spaces located within all parking
structures that allow them to have full access to all facilities?
Supporting Questions
We separated our supporting questions into two main categories and then further subdivided the
categories down into more specific subcategories.
Parking Structures
Parking structures refers to garages, paved lots, and gravel lots that are within and surrounding
FSU campus.
General Questions
1. Are there a set number of handicapped spots that the university must have in order to
accommodate disabled students?
2. What is the ratio of disabled parking spaces to regular parking spaces, per structure type?
3. Is there a difference in the number of disabled parking spaces available based on the size
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of the structure?
4. How close in proximity to highly used campus buildings (such as HCB, Shores, Strozier,
etc.) are disabled spots located?
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Gravel and Paved Lots
1. How many are there of each type of lot?
2. As there are parking issues on campus, are having these types of lots logical over placing
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parking garages?
3. Is there gravel lots located near campus buildings?
4. As there are no disabled parking spaces available in gravel lots, isn’t this a violation of
the Americans with Disabilities Act?
5. Why do disabled students not have access to gated lots – especially when those lots may
be closest to the building(s) that the student may need to access?
Parking Garages
1. Should there be a separate garage specifically to accommodate disabled students?
2. In building garages, is there a consideration as to the placement of garages in regards to
highly used campus buildings?
3. As there are valet services available on campus, could there be a specialized valet for
disabled students?
National and FSU Standards in accommodating disabled students
National Standard – Americans with Disabilities Act
1. What is the process for getting a permanent handicapped parking permit?
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2. What is the national standard for determining the amount of handicapped spaces per
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lots/garages?
3. What are the consequences of parking in a handicapped spots?
FSU Compliance Standards and Processes –
Transportation Services and SDRC
1. How accessible is the information for parking for students with and without disabilities?
2. What kind of training do parking employees go through in order to accommodate
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disabled students without discriminating against them?
3. Is there a way for students to complain or comment on how they are treated by parking
officials?
4. What are the consequences of parking in a handicapped spots?
5. Some handicapped spots are only accessible in gated lots, as the handicapped permit
gives access only to un-gated lots, what are the exceptions to that rule?
Temporary Parking Permits
1. What is the process for getting a temporary handicapped parking permit from FSU?
2. Why is the process to obtain a temporary handicapped parking permit so tedious?
3. Why are temporary handicapped parking permits limited to 3 weeks?
4. How does the university come up with the regulations as to how to give out temporary
parking permits, etc.?
Some Specific Concerns and Complaints regarding Disabled Parking
1. Why is there not a fine or towing for students who park, even temporarily (while sitting
in their car), in handicapped spots?
2. For students who park in handicapped spots with unauthorized handicapped permit, how
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suitable is it to boot the car – forcing it to continue to take up the parking space?
3. Who do disabled students complain to about vendors who block handicapped spots and
refuse to move?
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QUESTIONS BASED OFF OF DATA SOURCES
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Questions based off of Primary Data Sources
1. What is the process for getting a handicapped permit?
2. What kind of training do parking employees go through in order to “deal” with
handicapped students?
3. How accessible is the information for parking for students with and without disabilities?
4. Is there a way for students to complain or comment on how they are treated by parking
officials?
5. Why is there not a fine or towing for students who park, even temporarily (while sitting
in their car), in handicapped spots?
6. For valet – should there be specialized valet for handicapped students?
Questions based off of Secondary Data Sources
1. Are there a set number of handicapped spots that the university must have established
already?
2. What is ratio of handicapped spots to regular spots?
3. How many FSU student gravel lots are there?
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4. How close in proximity to highly used campus buildings are handicapped spots located?
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5. What are the standards of the ADA? (Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990)
SWOT ANALYSIS REPORT
Strength
FSU is ranked highly in being able to accommodate disabled students. Illegal parking in a
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handicap parking space is consistently regulated. It is enforced 24 hours a day 7 days a week.
The signs warning drivers of the disabled parking a clearly visible and there are warnings made
available along with them. Most of the handicap parking spaces are placed in close proximity to
main buildings on campus.
Weakness
The labyrinth one must go through to merely obtain any information pertaining to handicap
parking is a challenge in itself. Obtaining a handicap permit is process that sends the student too
many places only to get clearance if they are able to get the permit. After the permit is allowed
there is still the problem of the students to parking spaces ratio. Also there is the limitation of
expanding parking due to actual property spaced owned. Efficient parking for handicap students
near the main buildings on campus can serve to be a weakness as well.
Opportunities
The problems faced in parking by students who are handicapped or presently temporarily
handicapped are numerous. Sometimes the rules are vague. To simplify and make them clear the
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students need to be educated, to make them understand the rules. Wide publicity with
illustrations is to be given to the rules by posting them at sites frequented by affected students
thought out the campus.
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Threats
The parking regulators be properly trained and adequate resources be provided to them to
create awareness of the problems being faced and facilitate those students with physical
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disabilities in obtaining the handicapped parking permits required by them. These students
deserve special attention and care as their needs are different. If all precautions are taken there
will be no risk of losing the handicap parking permits issued them.
Recommended Strategies
We recommend making information regarding handicap and temporary handicap parking
more easily accessible. Currently students must go out of their way to not only get this
information but to also receive clearance to use it. Another thing to consider would be making
the quest to receive such a permit clearer to follow not only for current students at FSU but
future students and their parents. By training the parking officials to better assist those using
handicap parking works as well. Through bringing more awareness to handicap parking access
information, we will be able to speed up and simplify the process of helping disabled students
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receive the assistance that they are seeking.
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BOSCARD
FSU is notorious around campus for having a shortage with
parking for students and faculty. Due to this fact there is
concern as to the possible further limitations that this places
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on disabled students from having the parking spaces
necessary for them to easily maneuverer around campus.
Background
There are several beneficiaries from possible improvements
made:
 Students and faculty with permanent and/or temporary
disabilities
 Florida State University’s reputation, rating amongst
colleges, etc.
 Determine if FSU is in compliance with the Americans
with Disabilities Act of 1990 and how they can improve
upon their current state
 Determine if there is a better layout option for
Specific
handicapped parking spaces that would allow disabled
students to gain access to more facilities.
 Determine the exact process for obtaining a temporary
handicapped parking permit from the university
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Objectives
 Determine how transportation services regulate and
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accommodates disabled persons.
 Statistical and raw facts regarding overall parking and
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handicapped specific parking at FSU
 Comparison of FSU values to ADA standards and
analysing the result
Measurable
 Gathering of published information from Transportation
Services regarding all documentation pertaining to
temporary handicapped parking permits, regulations of
disabled parking, penalties for offenders, and training
materials for employees
The goal can be accomplished
 Through surveys and interviews of FSU Transportation
Services employees
Assignable
 By comparing the data collected on the FSU parking lots
and compare it with the national compliance standard’s
published data
The goal is to obtain information in order to determine if
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Realistic
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there is a better solution to shortage of disabled parking
spaces and to better inform students about this situation
This project will take place from January to April 2013.
During this time, the project will be broken into parts
involving
Framed
 Defining research question, variables to be collected, and
supporting questions
 Creating an observation plan
 Creating a survey plan and interview script
 Creating a final presentation
Results will show whether or not FSU is meeting or
exceeding national compliance standards. If it is determined
Scope
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Time-
that they are not meeting the standards, then this project will
determine ways in which the university can meet the
standards set.
 Limitations placed by city government in regards to
property line restrictions
Constraints
 Cost of construction of new or redesign of current
parking structures
 Consideration of all students
Assumptions
 The current shortage of overall parking spots
 Current limitations for disabled students in having access
to campus buildings
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Assumptions that have been identified include:
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 Most students do not know where to get information need
regarding parking after becoming permanently or
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temporarily disabled.
Currently risks have been identified as:
 Resistance from students and/or faculty at the possible
change of parking spaces from regular spots to disabled
Risks
spots.
 Resistance from university officials on implementing
changes due to possible cost, feasibility, or other issues.
Within the final presentation, it is our hope to present a
comprehensive view regarding how compliant FSU is with
national standards for providing disabled parking. In such that
the university is not, this project will outline possible
solutions in order to ensure that disabled students are treated
Deliverables
in the same manner as other students. This will be shown
through:
 Data collected via primary and secondary sources
 Comparison of FSU data to national data
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 A layout of possible suggestions to improve upon current
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status
Assignment 1
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GANTT CHART
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