Igor Areh, Bojan Dobovšek and Peter Umek
The purpose of this paper is to see how citizens' opinions of police work were investigated with the aim of monitoring and evaluating the quality of police procedures conducted in…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to see how citizens' opinions of police work were investigated with the aim of monitoring and evaluating the quality of police procedures conducted in traffic stop encounters and traffic accidents.
Design/methodology/approach
Characteristics of traffic stop encounters were analyzed with data obtained with structured questionnaires gathered from 319 citizens who were stopped for exceeding the speed limit. In the second study, police procedures in traffic accidents were analyzed with data obtained from 285 participants. The methods of descriptive statistics and nonparametric test Chi‐square were used.
Findings
The findings show that police procedures were performed well but not perfectly. In traffic stop encounters, citizens think that officers were polite, fair and understandable, but that they failed to help drivers return to the flow of traffic and also did not inform people of their rights. In the case of traffic accidents, citizens were satisfied with the officers' tidiness and willingness to help. Several faults were found: citizens' satisfaction was lower with the officers' response time, officers frequently fail to inform drivers of their rights and female respondents believed their opinions were not given enough consideration.
Research limitations/implications
The interpretation of the results is limited by a sample anomaly (the poor response of males).
Practical implications
The results show what needs to be changed or improved in future training of police officers.
Originality/value
The paper should be interpreted as a monitoring instrument that gives insight into feasible quality changes of police work, which should help to improve citizens' opinions about the police.
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The sport system is currently changing to take advantage of more entrepreneurial forms of business ventures. Sport start-ups have emerged as a new type of sport venture that can…
Abstract
The sport system is currently changing to take advantage of more entrepreneurial forms of business ventures. Sport start-ups have emerged as a new type of sport venture that can quickly enter the marketplace based on demand. The reason for this growth is due to innovation and knowledge capabilities being needed in sport organizations. This chapter examines the role of sport start-ups in the knowledge economy by focusing on the role of sport technology. This enables a better understanding about how sport entrepreneurship is leading to the formation of different types of businesses that can utilize entrepreneurial finance.
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Klara Skubic Ermenc, Vera Spasenović, Nataša Vujisić-Živković, Sofija Vrcelj and Nikolay Popov
This chapter compares the historical development and current state of comparative pedagogy (CP) in four Slavonic South East European Countries – Bulgaria, Croatia, Serbia, and…
Abstract
This chapter compares the historical development and current state of comparative pedagogy (CP) in four Slavonic South East European Countries – Bulgaria, Croatia, Serbia, and Slovenia. The authors also aim to put the historical background and contemporary developments of CP as a science and academic discipline in their countries on the worldwide comparative education (CE) map.
The chapter starts with a short definition of the two streams of CP development: the practical problem-solving nature of comparative studies; and the development of academic CP as a separate branch of the science of pedagogy. The history of CP in the four countries is divided into four historical periods: (1) 19th century until World War I (1918); (2) interwar years (1919–1941); (3) from 1945 until 1989; (4) from 1989 to the present. The development of CP during each period is examined in both national and comparative aspects and is analyzed within the appropriate political, social, and economic context. Some scientific-pedagogical factors are also discussed, with the goal of providing a better understanding of the specific features of CP in the individual countries and in the region as a whole. On the one hand, the analysis shows common characteristics in CP development, mostly influenced by the fact that the historical development of the science of pedagogy (accompanied by the teacher training tradition and the education system structure) was strongly influenced by German theoretical and practical pedagogy in all SSEE countries. On the other hand, the comparison reveals some differences, especially between Bulgaria and the former Yugoslavia.
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Daniela Lud, Kirsten Holsteg and Carmen Gallas
The purpose of this paper is to describe the conversion of the former coal mining site in Kamp-Lintfort into a public park and learning space for biodiversity. In 2020, an urban…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to describe the conversion of the former coal mining site in Kamp-Lintfort into a public park and learning space for biodiversity. In 2020, an urban green space was established, featuring various aquatic and terrestrial habitats and a high level of biological diversity in the city centre with broad community support.
Design/methodology/approach
This study presents secondary data of a literature review on participatory management of biodiversity in urban green spaces, with a focus on the sustainability context, participation approaches, theoretical frameworks and the role of education. The example of Zechenpark Kamp-Lintfort (Germany) shows how urban green space development can meet the challenging demands of inner city development while fostering knowledge generation via citizen science and participatory biodiversity management. The study collected primary data on plant biodiversity using a citizen science approach to raise awareness and create opportunities for human–nature interaction.
Findings
Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 11 is the most important development goal in the context of participatory biodiversity management of urban green spaces. Most of the studies have a place-based focus and integration of local knowledge is the main reason for a participatory approach. The findings show how a green learning space can offer opportunities for digital learning as well as participatory biodiversity management in urban areas. The project lead to an increase in local citizens’ awareness of biodiversity. Based on a literature review, this report identifies challenges and opportunities for establishing a green learning space for biodiversity education. The example illustrates that an urban green space can provide numerous possibilities for citizens and students to get involved and that it can foster the sustainable development of a new urban neighbourhood.
Research limitations/implications
A place-based approach limits generalisability. To overcome this limitation, a literature review was conducted, and the location was compared to two parks with similar site conversion history.
Practical implications
The example of developing an urban green space can inspire universities to take an active role in biodiversity management in urban green spaces, integrating biodiversity into university activities and creating a positive impact in the urban environment.
Social implications
Analysis of studies in the field shows that education deserves a more prominent role in theoretical frameworks.
Originality/value
The study represents an example of transition and citizen-led participatory management of biodiversity from a medium-sized city, transformation processes covering these aspects are underrepresented in literature.
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Crises such as the 2015–2016 European refugee crisis and the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) represent creeping crises that public organisations manage. Yet both scholars and…
Abstract
Purpose
Crises such as the 2015–2016 European refugee crisis and the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) represent creeping crises that public organisations manage. Yet both scholars and practitioners lack insight into how well public organisations manage creeping crises that lead to a new normal and whether professionals and volunteers differ in their crisis response.
Design/methodology/approach
Using survey data from 112 professional and volunteer emergency responders in Germany, this study examines how crisis-induced reforms and challenges during COVID-19 affected their crisis response. This study uses partial least squares structural equation modelling to evaluate the relationships among crisis-induced reforms and challenges and both crisis response proficiency and collaboration intention.
Findings
Crisis-induced reforms support both crisis response proficiency and collaboration intention, while organisational challenges weaken response proficiency. A group comparison reveals that whereas professional responders are more likely to manage crises better than volunteer responders, volunteer responders are more predisposed to engage in future stakeholder collaboration.
Practical implications
Public sector organisations need to embrace opportunities for better crisis response through crisis-induced reforms. Additionally, policymakers need to acknowledge the differing capabilities and support needs of both professional and volunteer emergency responders.
Originality/value
This study provides insights into creeping crisis management by analysing crisis response proficiency and collaboration for two typical crisis responders: emergency response professionals and volunteers. While demonstrating that crisis response proficiency is more realistic in a professional setting, whereas volunteers more strongly focus on collaboration, the study presents a differentiated view of public crisis responders.