NPS Health & Recreation Trail Intercept Survey

OMB control #
Expiration date:

Interviewer: _______________
Trail name and location (parking lot, trailhead, other?):
_______________
Date:
_______________
Begin Time: _______________
Weather:
Temp: ________ sunny sun/overcast cloudy
humid dry

rain/drizzle

fog

National Park Service Health & Recreation Intercept Survey
Introductory script:
Hello, I’m [NAME] __________________ from [UNIVERSITY] __________________. We are
collecting information on people who use the [TRAIL] __________________. We would like to ask you
some questions about your experience on the trail. We will try to get through the questions as quickly as
possible. The interview should take about 15 minutes. All of the information that you provide in this
conversation will be kept anonymous.
The Paperwork Reduction Act requires approval of all federal government surveys by the Office of
Management and Budget. This survey has been approved under this Act. Additional information about this
survey and its approval is available at your request.*
Are you willing to answer a few questions? Are you at least 18 years old? [ONLY ASK IF UNSURE]
1.

[Interviewer] Check type of
physical activity person is doing:

walking jogging or running
bicycling
in-line skating, roller skating, or skateboarding
other (please specify) __________

2.

[Interviewer] Check if the person
was on the trail:
[If applicable, check more than
one.]

alone with pet
with baby stroller
with others (indicate #) __________

3.

[Interviewer] Record person’s sex:

female
male
don’t know/not sure

4.

What different sources of
information helped make you aware
of the __________ trail?
[Check all that apply]

word of mouth
local newspaper article
saw trail
local newspaper ad
roadside signage
brochure
bike shop
posters
workplace
park map
park ranger
tourist weekly article
internet web site
tourist weekly “Trail of the Week”
television
bus placard
e-mail
other (please specify): _____________________

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5.

What were some specific locations
where you obtained information
about the __________ trail?
[Check all that apply]

driving
park shuttle/bus
dock
trailhead
bike shop: ___________ store: ____________________
online: _____________ hotel: ____________________
workplace: __________ visitor center: ______________
gym:_______________ retirement center: ___________
other (please specify): ______________________

6.

How did you get to this trail?

walk jog or run
bicycle
park bus
automobile
bus other than park shuttle
in-line skate, roller skate, or skateboard
other (please specify) __________

7.

[Read]: Below is a list of possible experiences you may have on [TRAIL] ________________.
Please indicate how important each experience is to you on this visit.

a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
h.
i.

Physical Health
To get exercise
To keep physically fit
To improve my cardiovascular
health
To tone up my muscles
To lose weight
Mental Health
To relax physically
To reduce mental stress
To experience new and different
things
To think about my personal values

Very
Unimportant

Unimportant

Undecided

Important

Very
Important

1
1

2
2

3
3

4
4

5
5

1

2

3

4

5

1
1

2
2

3
3

4
4

5
5

1
1

2
2

3
3

4
4

5
5

1

2

3

4

5

1

2

3

4

5

1
1

2
2

3
3

4
4

5
5

1

2

3

4

5

1

2

3

4

5

1
1

2
2

3
3

4
4

5
5

[Optional Domains]

j.
k.
l.
m.
n.
o.

Social Experience
To do something with my family
To be with members of my group
To be with people who enjoy the
same things I do
To meet new people
Nature Experience
To experience nature
To be close to nature

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Escape Experience
To be away from other people
To experience solitude
To get away from the usual
demands of life
s.
To be on my own
Creative Experience
t.
To do something creative, such as
paint, sketch, or take photographs

p.
q.
r.

1
1

2
2

3
3

4
4

5
5

1

2

3

4

5

1

2

3

4

5

1

2

3

4

5

8.

How much time did you (do you
expect to) spend on the trail today
for exercise or recreational
purposes?

< 15 minutes
15-29 minutes
30-44 minutes
45-59 minutes

between 1-2 hours
between 2-3 hours
between 3-5 hours
more than 5 hours

9.

When was the first time you used
this trail?

today
sometime in August 07
sometime in July 07
sometime in June 07
sometime in May 07
sometime in April 07

sometime in March 07
1-3 months ago
4-6 months ago
7-11 months ago
1-3 years ago
more than 3 years ago

[If respondent answers today, skip
to Question 13.]

10.

How many times per week or month
do you use this trail?

__ times per week
__ times per month

11.

How much time do you usually
spend on the trail per visit when you
use it for exercise or recreational
purposes?

< 15 minutes
15-29 minutes
30-44 minutes
45-59 minutes

between 1-2 hours
between 2-3 hours
between 3-5 hours
more than 5 hours

12
Baseline:
a Since you began using the trail, has
the number of times you
walk/bike/run per week:
[READ LIST]

increased (why?) ____________
decreased (why?) ____________
stayed the same
don’t know/not sure

Follow-up:
b Since [date the intervention
initiated], has the number of times
you walk/bike/run per week:
[READ LIST]

increased (why?) ____________
decreased (why?) ____________
stayed the same
don’t know/not sure

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13.

What do you like the most about this place to exercise
trail?
free to use
[Check one]
distances are marked
convenient location
scenic beauty
good surface
lighting
other walkers/bicyclist, etc.
safety
other (please specify) ________________

14.

What would you most like to see
improved?
[Check one]

lighting
cleanliness
bathrooms
drinking fountains
smoother surface
wider surface
safety
trail markers
parking
other (please specify) __________

15.

How would you rate the quality of
your experience on this trail today?
[READ LIST]

very poor
poor
okay
good
very good

16.

[READ]: Experts say that getting regular physical activity means doing moderate activities such as
walking briskly, for at least 30 minutes on 5 or more days of the week.
Are you currently regularly
physically active according to the
definition above?
[PROBE TO ESTABLISH TIME
WINDOW ONCE THE YES/NO
RESPONSE IS DETERMINED]

yes, I have been for more than 6 months
yes, I have been for less than 6 months
no, but I intend to in the next 30 days
no, but I intend to in the next 6 months
no, and I do not intend to in the next 6 months

17.

How would you rate your awareness
of the importance of being
physically active?

High Medium Low

18.

How would you rate your
knowledge about how to be
physically active?

High Medium Low

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19.

[READ]: I am going to read you some things that may interfere with or prevent you from exercising
or being physically active. For each one, tell me how often it interferes or prevents you from
exercising or being physically active.
Never

a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.

I am afraid of injury
I don’t have time
I am too tired
I don’t have a safe place to exercise
I don’t have the energy to exercise
I get plenty of exercise at my job
I don’t have the motivation to
exercise
h. I don’t like to exercise
i. I have an injury or health condition
that limits my ability to exercise
20.

Rarely

Sometimes

Often

Very Often

[READ]: Please indicate the degree to which you agree or disagree with the following statements.

a. If you had someone, such as a friend
or family member, to exercise with,
chances are you would exercise
more.
b. Your friends encourage you to
exercise.
c. You have at least one friend who
would commit to exercise with you.
d. Relatives encourage you to exercise.
e. You have at least one relative who
would commit to exercise with you.

Strongly
Disagree

Somewhat
Disagree

Agree

Strongly
Agree

No
Relatives
Close By

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

21.

Are you a visitor to this park, a fulltime resident of a nearby
community, or a part-time resident?

Full-time resident
Part-time Resident

22.

Where did you stay last night?

At home
Campground
Hotel/motel

23.

Are you Hispanic or Latino?

yes

no

Visitor

With friends or family
B&B
Cruise Ship
Other:__________

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Expiration date:
refused
24.

Please select one or more of the
following categories to best describe
your race.

American Indian or Alaska native
Asian
Black or African American
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander
White
refused

25.

What is the highest grade in school
you have completed?

6th grade or less
7-11th grade
high school graduate
some college
college graduate
some graduate school
completed graduate school
doctoral or professional degree
refused

26.

What is your age?

__________

27.

Is there anything else you would like __________________________________________________
to comment on?
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
______________________________________

End Time

_______________

Interviewer Notes

refused

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PRIVACY ACT and PAPERWORK REDUCTION ACT statement:
16 U.S.C. 1a-7 authorizes collection of this information. This information will be used by park managers to better
serve the public. Response to this request is voluntary. No action may be taken against you for refusing to supply the
information requested. Your name is requested for follow-up mailing purposes only. When analysis of the
questionnaire is completed, all name and address files will be destroyed. Thus the permanent data will be anonymous.
Please do not put your name or that of any member of your group on the questionnaire. An agency may not conduct or
sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid
OMB control number.
Person collecting and analyzing information: Ross C. Brownson, Ph.D., St. Louis University School of Public Health,
3545 Lafayette Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63104, phone (314) 977-8110.
Burden estimate statement: Public reporting burden for this form is estimated to average 15 minutes per response.
Direct comments regarding the burden estimate or any other aspect of this form to: Megan McBride, National Park
Service Social Science Program, c/o Air Resource Division, PO Box 25287, Denver, CO 80225, phone (303) 9692184.