Dissertations and Theses @ UNI
Availability
Open Access Thesis
Keywords
Environmental policy--Iowa--Public opinion; Businesspeople--Iowa--Attitudes; Businesspeople--Education (Continuing education)--Iowa; Businesspeople--Attitudes; Environmental policy--Public opinion; Iowa; Academic theses;
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to determine the source and amount of information that a sample of businesses receive on environmental regulatory topics and from what sources they would prefer to receive this information. More specifically, the study demonstrated the discrepancy between the sources from which businesses currently receive their information and the sources from which they would prefer to receive it. The study also addressed how relevant this information was to the businesses and with which regulations the businesses were the most and least knowledgeable. The study was done by conducting a mail-back survey of 500 Iowa small businesses representing a variety of industries. The response rate ofthe survey was 40%. The survey questions were based on previous projects conducted in the printing industry and in other states such as Kansas and Minnesota. This study found several important facts about small businesses and environmental regulatory information. First, most businesses participating in this study felt they knew the msot about the hazardous waste regulations. These same businesses also felt that these were the environmental regulations that they needed the most assistance. The hazardous waste regulations were also the regulations considered to have the most relevance to their current operations. Second, when asked about the quality, quantity, and understandability of regulatory information, businesses indicated that the quantity was better than the quality or understandability. This may indicate that businesses felt the information was available but it may not be in a useful format. Third, when asked about their sources of regulatory information, businesses indicated that they were receiving information primarily from trade associations and product vendors. When businesses were asked from what sources they would prefer to receive their information, the leading responses from technical assistance programs and university extension. This demonstrates the discrepancy between where businesses currently receive their information and from what sources they would prefer to receive it. Finally, business respondents indicated that they do spend time looking for environmental regulatory information, but they are not always in need of it. Of the respondents, 74% indicated that environmental regulations significantly affect how they do business now. And 87% indicated that environmental regulations will significantly affect how they will do business in the future.
Year of Submission
1997
Degree Name
Master of Arts
Department
Department of Industrial Technology
First Advisor
Scott Helzer
Second Advisor
John Fecik
Third Advisor
Edward Brown
Date Original
1997
Object Description
1 PDF file (73 leaves)
Copyright
©1997 Kimberly K. Gunderson
Language
en
File Format
application/pdf
Recommended Citation
Gunderson, Kimberly K., "Perceptions of Businesses on Environmental Regulatory Information" (1997). Dissertations and Theses @ UNI. 2814.
https://scholarworks.uni.edu/etd/2814
Comments
If you are the rightful copyright holder of this thesis and wish to have it removed from the Open Access Collection, please submit a request to scholarworks@uni.edu and include clear identification of the work, preferably with URL.