Toro P A, McDonnell D M
Department of Psychology, State University of New York, Buffalo 14260.
Am J Community Psychol. 1992 Feb;20(1):53-80. doi: 10.1007/BF00942181.
Obtained measures of policy-related beliefs, attitudes, and knowledge about homelessness through a telephone survey of a representative sample of 240 persons conducted over nearly a full year in a medium-size northeastern metropolitan area. The study's data were compared to a national poll and to a local study documenting the actual characteristics of homeless persons. The results suggest that citizens are both supportive of and well informed about homelessness. For instance, 58% were willing to pay more taxes to help homeless persons and the mean estimate for the extent of mental illness among the homeless was within the range of estimates found in the local interview study. Few respondent background characteristics predicted belief, attitude, and knowledge variables. The main exceptions were gender and age. Women and younger respondents thought homelessness a more serious problem, saw fewer personal deficits among homeless persons, and perceived employment as more critical in the cause and solution of the problem.
通过对美国东北部一个中等规模大都市地区具有代表性的240人样本进行了近一整年的电话调查，获取了与政策相关的关于无家可归问题的信念、态度和知识。该研究的数据与一项全国民意调查以及一项记录无家可归者实际特征的本地研究进行了比较。结果表明，公民既支持解决无家可归问题，又对该问题有充分了解。例如，58%的人愿意缴纳更多税款来帮助无家可归者，而且对无家可归者中精神疾病程度的平均估计处于本地访谈研究所得估计范围内。几乎没有受访者的背景特征能够预测信念、态度和知识变量。主要的例外是性别和年龄。女性和年轻受访者认为无家可归问题更严重，看到无家可归者自身的不足之处更少，并且认为就业在该问题的成因及解决办法中更为关键。
