Evidence showing the American public losing confidence in its government has been identified as one of the fundamental problems in society today. Social science has an opportunity to make important contributions to this problem by deepening understanding of public trust and confidence in government. The primary goal of our research was to test a model […]
“Nudges”–small changes in choice architecture–exert powerful effects on behavior. Governments have taken notice and nudge-related laws and policies have been developed to influence citizens. However, little is known about how people perceive these policies. How do various nudges affect trust in the institutions passing the policies? Who embraces such policies and who rejects them? This […]
Although various theories of trust and confidence have been proposed, no comprehensive framework yet exists. Trust and confidence research has been undermined by failures to develop models that incorporate the various trust- and confidence-related factors, a lack of clarity regarding what is even meant by trust- and confidence-related terms, and so on. This postdoctoral fellow […]
During 2003, the United Way of Lincoln/Lancaster County and the University of Nebraska Public Policy Center surveyed agencies and volunteers about the fund distribution process. The goals of the examination were to: 1. Identify the perception of agencies and volunteers about the overall fund distribution process; and, 2. Compare a new process piloted in the […]
This project was to assisted rural communities in complying with changes in permissible levels of arsenic in public drinking water supplies and to explore joint community opportunities in doing so. The Public Policy Center helped to coordinate efforts between stakeholders, allowing experts in many areas to discuss related issues and advise rural communities.
The Public Policy Center was asked to provide assistance and discussion relative to facilitating the initial meeting of the Legislatively-created Water Funding Task Force. This included assistance on topics such as: election of officers, selection of a consultant, suggested meeting schedules, potential educational assistance, and potential roles for Task Force members.
Center staff were tasked with engaging a group of Nebraskans in a discussion about water management policies such as the Interstate Republic River Compact, the Platte River Habitat Recovery Plan, and a variety of other water quality and quantity issues affecting the environmental and economic well-being of the state. Four senators from the Unicameral’s Natural […]
PPC researchers were asked to facilitate the secure electronic sharing of health information between providers in the Nebraska Panhandle in order to make patient information more easily accessible and to ensure high-quality care for rural residents. One of the early successes of the project was the opening of the Regional West Medical Center (RWMC) portal […]
Through a collaborative partnership with the Wide River Technology Extension Center (TEC), the University of Nebraska Public Policy Center coordinated efforts among Nebraska’s post-secondary institutions to promote integration of health IT into the initial and ongoing training of health professionals and support staff. The Workforce Development project was a component of the Wide River TEC’s […]
The Public Policy Center served as a third party evaluator of the Heartland Family Service’s Residential Program for Women and Children, with an emphasis on pregnant and postpartum women (PPW). Our researchers assessed how well the program met the needs of their clientele and how the program effected levels of crime and violence.
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