Abstract
This article describes the evaluation of the law banning smoking in New York City’s parks and beaches that went into effect
in 2011. We discuss the practical and methodological challenges that emerged in evaluating this law, and describe how we applied
the principles of critical multiplism to address these issues. The evaluation uses data from three complementary studies,
each with a unique set of strengths and weaknesses that can provide converging evidence for the effectiveness of the law.
Results from a litter audit and an observational study suggest the ban reduced smoking in parks and beaches. The purpose,
methodology and baseline results from an ongoing survey that measures how frequently adults in NYC and across New York State
notice people smoking in parks and on beaches are presented and discussed. Limitations are considered and suggestions are
offered for future evaluations of similar policies.
in 2011. We discuss the practical and methodological challenges that emerged in evaluating this law, and describe how we applied
the principles of critical multiplism to address these issues. The evaluation uses data from three complementary studies,
each with a unique set of strengths and weaknesses that can provide converging evidence for the effectiveness of the law.
Results from a litter audit and an observational study suggest the ban reduced smoking in parks and beaches. The purpose,
methodology and baseline results from an ongoing survey that measures how frequently adults in NYC and across New York State
notice people smoking in parks and on beaches are presented and discussed. Limitations are considered and suggestions are
offered for future evaluations of similar policies.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Original Paper
- Pages 1-10
- DOI 10.1007/s10464-012-9519-5
- Authors
- Michael Johns, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Bureau of Chronic Disease Prevention and Tobacco Control, Queens, NY, USA
- Micaela H. Coady, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Bureau of Chronic Disease Prevention and Tobacco Control, Queens, NY, USA
- Christina A. Chan, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Bureau of Chronic Disease Prevention and Tobacco Control, Queens, NY, USA
- Shannon M. Farley, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Bureau of Chronic Disease Prevention and Tobacco Control, Queens, NY, USA
- Susan M. Kansagra, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Bureau of Chronic Disease Prevention and Tobacco Control, Queens, NY, USA
- Journal American Journal of Community Psychology
- Online ISSN 1573-2770
- Print ISSN 0091-0562