Rocky Mountain National Park Elk and Vegetation Survey

Recruiting Script

Hi,

I’m _______ and I’m helping with a research project being conducted for Rocky Mountain National Park.

We’re seeking visitors to Rocky Mountain National Park to help us.

We’re looking for visitors who would be willing to complete a mail survey in about two weeks. It is part of a research project to learn what visitors like you, think about wildlife management in Rocky Mountain National Park.

Once you receive the mail survey, it will take about 20 minutes to complete.

Would the person in your group who has the most recent birthday be willing to help us by completing a mail survey in about two weeks?

If NO  Thank you very much.

Could you answer three questions so we can check for differences between people who are willing to help with the survey and those who do not?

(HAND CLIP BOARD WITH FORM TO VOLUNTEER)

If YES

Could you give me your name? _______________________

Here’s an information letter and contact for the research project.

Please fill out the information form and return it to me while I wait. Please keep the attached letter for your information.

(HAND CLIP BOARD WITH FORM TO VOLUNTEER)

OMB Control Number:1024-0224

Expiration Date: 8/31/2014

CONTACT FORM

Center for Research on Communication

& Technology

C-231 Clark Bldg

Colorado State University

Fort Collins, CO 80523-1785

Telephone 970-491-5674

e-mail: Don.Zimmerman@colostate.edu

Dear Park Visitor:

Thank you for your willingness to help with this important research project. Only with the assistance from park visitors like you will our research help make Park visitors’ experiences more enjoyable. Please provide the information requested below. It will only be used for our research project.

1. Name: _________________________________________

2. Street Address: ___________________________________

3. City: ___________________________________________

4. State: __________________________________________

5. Zip Code: _______________________________________

6. E-mail: _________________________________________

7. Number of people in your group: _____________________

8. How often in a year do you visit Rocky Mountain National Park each year?

_____ Times a year _____ This is my first time!

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 understand visitors’ knowledge of elk biology and elk impact on vegetation and general awareness of the management practices in Rocky Mountain National Park. Response to this request is voluntary. No action may be taken against you for refusing to supply the information requested. Your name and address have been requested for follow-up mailing purposes only. When analysis of the questionnaire is completed, all name and address will be destroyed. Thus permanent data will be anonymous. 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.

BURDEN ESTIMATE STATEMENT: Public reporting for the following forms is estimated to average 2 minutes per response. Direct comments regarding the burden estimate or any other aspect of this form to: Judy Visty, Research Administrator/Ecologist, Continental Divide Research Learning Center, Rocky Mountain National Park, 1000 Highway 36, Estes  Park, CO  80517, E-mail: Judy_Visty@nps.gov.

OMB Control Number:1024-0224

Expiration Date: 8/31/2014

Bias Check Form

Center for Research on Communication & Technologies

C-231 Clark Bldg

Colorado State University

Fort Collins, CO 80523-1785

Telephone 970-491-5674

e-mail: Don.Zimmerman@colostate.edu
Dear Visitor,

Thank you for considering our request. So that we can check for possible differences between visitors, would you please answer the questions below and return this form to me.

1. Please indicate how often you have read, heard, or seen stories about the RMNP elk and vegetation management program in the following media. Please circle your response. If you do not recall, circle DRC for Don’t Recall.

Statement	Never	Once a year	Twice a year	Once every four months	Every month	Don’t recall
a. Newspaper articles	1	2	3	4	5	DRC
c. Radio stories	1	2	3	4	5	DRC
d. Television stories	1	2	3	4	5	DRC

Thank you.

Don Zimmerman

Professor & Director

OMB Control Number:1024-0224

Expiration Date: 8/31/2014

Information Letter

Center for Research on Communication

& Technologies

C-231 Clark Bldg

Colorado State University

Fort Collins, CO 80523-1785

Telephone 970-491-5674

Dear Park Visitor:

Thanks for your willingness to volunteer for our research project.

Rocky Mountain National Park has asked us to conduct a research study that explores visitors’ views on wildlife management in Rocky Mountain National Park.

We will add your name to our sample of visitors enjoying Rocky Mountain National Park during fall 2011.

In about two weeks, we will be sending you a mail survey and asking you to complete and return it using a postage-paid envelope. It will take about 20 minutes to complete the survey.

Thank you for your time and consideration. With assistance from people like you, our research will help the Rocky Mountain Park staff make visitors’ experiences enjoyable.

Have a good visit today.

Sincerely,

Don Zimmerman

Professor & Director

E-mail: don.zimmerman@colostate.edu

OMB Control Number:1024-0224

Expiration Date: 8/31/2014