The study was conducted by the Morrison Institute for Public Policy, a Phoenix-based think tank.
"'What we found was this paradox of people feeling very positive about where they live and strong feelings about their neighborhoods but not strong civic action,' said Richard Toon, associate director of research at the institute.
The institute says these issues are especially important now because of the slumping state economy.
It believes such civic involvement translates to economic payoffs, better achievement in schools and less crime."
