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National Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior
Social Science Program
Expedited Approval for NPS‐Sponsored Public Surveys
1.
2.
Project Title
Submission
Date:
Visitor Experience and Recreation Demand at Lake Roosevelt National Recreation
Area
5/16/2011
Abstract: This study will use two on‐site questionnaires to address visitors’ needs,
attitudes, and experience quality in relation to the distribution and amount of
use in the Kettle Falls area of Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area. One
questionnaire will investigate visitor perception of the restorative
characteristics of lake recreation sites and identify visitor place attachments
to the lake setting; the other questionnaire will address crowding, facility
capacity, and visitor attitudes toward potential management actions.
Simultaneous observations of recreation behavior. Both surveys will be used
to provide information about the frequency and distribution of recreation use
at Lake Roosevelt. Survey data will be collected during summer 2011 from
approximately 800 adult visitors (400 for each instrument) on a random
sample of 40 days. This study is being conducted at the request of Lake
Roosevelt National Recreation Area. All survey questions qualify for National
Park Service Programmatic review process.
(not to exceed 150 words)
3. Principal Investigator Contact Information
First Name: Troy
Last Name: Hall
Title: Professor
Affiliation: University of Idaho, Conservation Social Sciences
Street Address: PO Box 441139
City: Moscow
Zip code: 83844
State: ID
Phone: 208‐885‐9455
Fax: 208‐855‐6226
Email: troyh@uidaho.edu
Park or Program Liaison Contact Information
4.
First Name: Marsha
Last Name: Buchanan
Title: Commercial Services Program Specialist
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Park: Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area
Park Headquarters
Office/Division:
Street Address: 1008 Crest Drive
City: Coulee Dam
Zip code: 99116
State: WA
Phone: (509) 633‐9441 Ext 140
Email: Marsha_Buchanan@nps.gov
Fax:
Project Information
5. Park(s) For Which Research
is to be Conducted:
Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area
6. Survey Dates:
05/01/2011
(mm/dd/yyyy) To
09/30/2011
(mm/dd/yyyy)
7. Type of Information Collection Instrument (Check ALL that Apply)
Mail‐Back
Questionnaire
X On‐Site
Questionnaire
Other (explain)
Face‐to‐Face
Interview
Telephone
Survey
Focus
Groups
8.
Survey Justification:
(Use as much space as
needed; if necessary
include additional
explanation on a
separate page.)
Social science research in support of park planning and management is
mandated in the NPS Management Policies 2006 (Section 8.11.1, “Social
Science Studies”). The NPS pursues a policy that facilitates social science
studies in support of the NPS mission to protect resources and enhance
the enjoyment of present and future generations (National Park Service
Act of 1916, 38 Stat 535, 16 USC 1, et seq.). NPS policy mandates that
social science research will be used to provide an understanding of park
visitors, the non‐visiting public, gateway communities and regions, and
human interactions with park resources. Such studies are needed to
provide a scientific basis for park planning, development, operations,
management, education, and interpretive activities.
At Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area (LARO) social science
research is needed to understand visitor experience as well as
determine public need for recreation access. The managers at LARO are
especially interested in knowing more about the public’s need for
recreational use and access as part of decision making regarding special
use permits. LARO planners also expressed a need to know more about
how natural landscapes assist in the recovery from mental fatigue and
how people respond after visiting places with restorative qualities. We
propose to use two separate, but related surveys, based on previous
research on carrying capacity, crowding, place attachment (PA), and
attention restoration theory (ART).
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Survey 1 ‐ Attention Restoration & Place attachment at Lake Roosevelt
National Recreation Area: will be used to determine how aspects of
the social, physical, and managerial setting jointly affect visitor
experience. Survey 2 ‐ Crowding, Conflict, and Recreation
Management at Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area: will focus
on questions related to visitor use, crowding, and conflict. Both
surveys will contain a common set of questions to determine basic
demographics of the sample and visitation preferences. We used
observational data collected during summer 2010 to identify the
proposed sampling areas to distribute surveys.
Common questions
Both instruments will include basic socio‐demographic and trip‐
related descriptive questions, such as age, group size, activity
participation, and past experience. Two questions are designed to
ask about crowding. These questions will be used in correlational
or regression analysis as both dependent variables (e.g., crowding
as a function of use levels) and independent variables (e.g.,
crowding as an influence on attention restoration).
Survey 1: Attention Restoration and Place Attachment
The questions in this survey will be used to establish visitor
perception of, naturalness, safety, comfort, and the level of
development at varying recreation sites. Using a revised version of
a previously developed Perceived Restorativeness Scale, this study
will to use social science theory to explain psychological recovery
(mental well‐being) link psychological restoration to natural,
physical, and social characteristics of the setting. A goal is to
determine the extent to which Place Attachment explains physical
and emotional restoration. Questions from Williams and Vaske
(2003) relating to Place Attachment will be used to explain the
visitors’ connections to a natural setting.
This study will use evaluative measures for actual psychological
restoration to determine: balance, stress, mood, feelings, and well
being. These measures have been carefully designed so visitors will
be able to self‐report their restoration levels both prior to and
during their current visit to LARO. Probing as many possible
correlations between perceived restoration and recreating in a
natural environment will help to build a better understanding of
the effects of restorative settings. This information will help
managers identify critical areas in the park that could be available
to promote high quality recreation experiences.
Survey 2: Crowding, perceptions, and attitudes toward management
The first set of questions, specific to this survey, focuses on
potential social problems visitors may have noticed during their
visit to LARO (i.e., conflict, lack of privacy, and crowding). In this
survey we will include photographs of three shoreline sites with
varying levels of use. Questions associated with the photographs
will be to determine the level of acceptability crowing and use at
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three locations (Bradbury Beach, Colville Flats, and Kettle Fall
Marina) in the Park. A separate question will be used to determine
if visitation ever changed because of crowding.
Another set of questions will be used to addresses visitors’
evaluations of existing facilities, services, and management,
particularly those related to shoreline recreation. Specifically,
question 13 will be used to assess how the quality of facilities and
services has changed in the past two years (responses to this
question will come from the respondents who have visited LARO
for at least 2 years– if they are not in this category they will be
directed to skip to the next set of questions). A final set of
questions will ask the respondent to provide their opinions about
potential new facilities and policies. These questions will be used to
provide additional information needed to support management
policies and planning efforts.
9.
Survey Methodology:
(Use as much space as
needed; if necessary
include additional
explanation on a
separate page.)
(a) Respondent universe:
All adult visitors (18 years and older) at eight designated developed
and dispersed recreation sites in the Kettle Falls region of LARO from
mid‐May through late‐September, 2011.
(b) Sampling plan/procedures:
Surveys will be distributed at eight recreation sites selected to
maximize differences in use and setting characteristics, including
campgrounds, boat ramps, day use areas, and dispersed lake
shore/beach sites.
We will randomly select 40 days for survey administration. The eight
sites will be divided into two groups so only four sites will be visited
per sample day (i.e., 20 days of sampling per site). This will allow the
researcher to spend 30 minutes in transit and 60 minutes surveying at
each site each day. The start time at each site will be randomized to
ensure coverage between 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. each sampling
day.
We plan to obtain at least 6 completed surveys during an established
60‐minute time period. Sampling periods will be stratified by day of
the week and location. Each location will be sampled an equal number
of times during the sampling period. On each sampling day, trained
surveyors will be stationed at a designated location for 60 minute
intervals. The surveyors will recruit study participants by contacting a
random sample of visitors as they walk past the study site and ask
them to participate in the survey. If members of the visitor group
agree to participate, the eligible person in the group whose birthday is
closest to the sampling day will be asked to complete the
questionnaire. Visitors will be asked to complete the questionnaire
on‐site in the presence of the surveyors, who will be available to
answer any questions that arise and collect the surveys upon
completion. We will alternate the distribution of Survey 1 or Survey 2
to all potential respondents. Each respondent will be asked to
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complete only one version of either survey.
When refusals occur, the next eligible person will be contacted. Any
reasons for refusal will be recorded on the log‐sheet. The researcher
will also record observable information such as gender, activity, and
group size (see Survey Log).
At the end of each 60‐minute time period, the researcher will travel to
the next study site and repeat the process.
(c) Instrument administration:
Visitors selected for participation in any of the surveys included in this
study will be read the following script:
“Hello, my name is Andrew Bentley. I am a graduate
student from the University of Idaho and I am conducting
a survey for the National Park Service here at Lake
Roosevelt This survey will help the Park Service adopt
management practices that provide enjoyable
experiences for visitors, while protecting and preserving
the natural resources for future generations to enjoy. You
have been randomly selected and your responses will be
completely anonymous. Would you be willing to spend a
few minutes to answer some important questions
regarding your visit here? This will only take about 15
minutes.”
If “NO” then, “Thank you, I hope you enjoy your visit.”
If “YES” then, “Your opinions do count. I am happy to
answers any questions about the survey instructions and
to discuss the survey further after you have completed the
questionnaire. Have a great day.”
The researchers will adhere to both Federal and University of Idaho
standards for informed consent by stating the purpose of the
research, assuring people that participation is voluntary and
anonymous, and offering to answer any questions about the research.
People who agree to participate will be given a clipboard, pencil, and
survey, and asked to return the survey to the researcher once they
have finished. People who decline to participate will be thanked and
the researcher will proceed to the next group until the time block ends
for each site.
(d) Expected response rate/confidence levels:
The short nature of the surveys and the use of on‐site questionnaires
lead us to expect a relatively high response rate, estimated at 75%.
This level of response has been reached with similar surveys
conducted by the University of Idaho.
203 usable questionnaires are needed for a 95% confidence interval
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and a 3% margin of error. However, we plan to conduct factor analysis
on various scales, which requires a minimum of 10‐15 subjects per
scale item. The largest scale includes 25 items, and this will require at
least 375 responses. Allowing for incomplete and/or unusable surveys,
our sample size will require 800 completed survey (400 of each
version). This sample size should also permit comparisons of
managerially relevant subgroups, such as campers vs. day users or
boaters vs. shoreline users. There will be no attempt to generalize the
findings outside the scope of this collection.
(e) Strategies for dealing with potential non‐response bias:
The data recorded on the survey log for each survey instrument will be
used to compare participating groups’ characteristics (e.g., gender,
personal group size, presence of children, activity, and weather
conditions) to non‐respondents. The reasons for refusals (when
volunteered) also will be noted on the survey log. Results of the non‐
response analyses will be reported, and the implications for
interpreting the results will be discussed in the final report.
(f) Description of any pre‐testing and peer review of the methods
and/or instrument:
The questions in these surveys are annotated to show the connections
to the NPS currently approved Pool of Known Questions (PKQ).
Variations to PKQ are noted, especially when there is an obvious
deviation.
The primary measures in Survey 1 are well established and have been
tested for validity and reliability. The questions in Survey 2 have also
been used extensively in previous work and are identical or very
similar to questions in the PKQ. As required, we completed a formal
peer‐review of the proposed sampling plan and measures by soliciting
outside feedback from faculty within the University of Idaho,
Conservation Social Sciences department.
With a response rate of 75%, we plan to approach 1,280 individual. We
expect that the initial contact time will be at least two minutes per
person (1,280 x 2 minutes = 43 hours). For those who agree to
participate (800), an additional 15 minutes will be required to complete
the questionnaire (800 response x 15 minutes = 200 hours). The burden
for this collection is estimated to be 243 hours.
10. Total Number of Initial 1280
Contacts
Expected Respondents 800
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Estimated Time to
Complete Initial Contact
Instrument (mins.):
2 mins.
15 mins
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Total
Burden
Hours:
243
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13.
Reporting Plan: A report will be issued to LARO and the NPS Social Science Program
containing (1) overall descriptive results of the questionnaires; (2)
analysis of visitors’ attitudes and perceptions, and (3) analysis of how
visitors’ perceptions of restorative qualities and place attachment vary
by level of recreation site development and crowding. Analyses of the
survey will include descriptive statistics and regression analyses to
determine the strongest predictors for experience quality.
Additionally, findings on carrying capacity, crowding, place attachment
(PA), and attention restoration theory (ART) will be used and reported
as part of a PhD dissertation at the University of Idaho.
References Cited
Hartig, T., Korpela, K., Evans, G., & Gärling, T. (1997). A measurement of restorative quality in environments.
Scandinavian Housing & Planning Research, 14, 175‐194.
Kaplan, S. (1995). The restorative benefits of nature: Toward an integrative framework. Journal of Environmental
Psychology, 15(3), 169‐182.
Karmanov, D., & Hamel, R. (2008). Assessing the restorative potential of contemporary urban environment(s):
Beyond the nature versus urban dichotomy. Landscape and Urban Planning, 86(2), 115‐125.
Korpela, K. M., Ylén, M., Tyrväinen, L., & Silvennoinen, H. (2008). Determinants of restorative experiences in
everyday favorite places. Health & Place, 14(4), 636‐652.
Laumann, K., Gärling, T., & Stormark, K. M. (2001). Rating scale measures of restorative components of
environments. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 21(1), 31‐44.
Pals, R., Steg, L., Siero, F. W., & van der Zee, K. I. (2009). Development of the PRCQ: A measure of perceived
restorative characteristics of zoo attractions. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 29(4), 441‐449.
White, D. D., Hall, T. E., & Farrell, T. A. (2001). Influence of ecological impacts and other campsite
charachteristics on wilderness visitors' campsite choices. Journal of Park and Recreation Administration,
19(2), 83‐97.
Williams, D., & Vaske, J. (2003). The measurement of place attachment: Validity and generalizability of a
psychometric approach. Forest Science, 49, 830‐840.
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| File Type | application/pdf |
| File Title | Microsoft Word - LARO OMB app 5-16-2011.docx |
| Author | pondsp |
| File Modified | 2011-05-19 |
| File Created | 2011-05-19 |