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pdfU.S. Department of the Interior
National Park Service
Social Science Division
Visitor Services Project
Yellowstone National Park
Visitor Study
OMB Control Number: 1024-0224
Current Expiration Date: 8-31-2014
2
Yellowstone National Park Visitor Study
United States Department of the Interior
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone NP, WY 82190
IN REPLY REFER
TO:
February 2012
Dear Visitor:
Thank you for participating in this important study. Our goal is to learn about the
expectations, opinions, and interests of visitors to Yellowstone National Park.
This information will assist us in our efforts to better manage this park and to
serve you.
This questionnaire is only being given to a select number of visitors, so your
participation is very important. It should only take about 20 minutes to
complete
Please complete this questionnaire. Seal it in the postage-paid envelope
provided and drop it in any U.S. mailbox.
If you have any questions, please contact Margaret Littlejohn, NPS VSP Director,
Park Studies Unit, College of Natural Resources, P.O. Box 441139, University of
Idaho, Moscow, Idaho 83844-1139, phone: 208-885-7863, email:
littlej@uidaho.edu.
We appreciate your help.
Sincerely,
Daniel N. Wenk
Superintendent
Yellowstone National Park Visitor Study
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DIRECTIONS
At the end of your visit:
1. Please have the selected individual (at least 16 years old) complete this questionnaire.
2. Answer the questions carefully since each question is different.
3. For questions that use circles (O), please mark your answer by filling in the circle with
black or blue ink. Please do not use pencil!
4. Seal it in the postage-paid envelope provided.
5. Drop it in a U.S. mailbox.
Paperwork Reduction Act Statement: The Paperwork Reduction Act requires us to tell
you why we are collecting this information, how we will use it, and whether or not you have to
respond. This information will be used by the National Park Service as authorized by 16 U.S.C. 1a-7.
We will use this information to evaluate visitor services managed at Yellowstone National Park. Your
responses are voluntary. Your name and contact information have been requested for follow-up
mailing purposes only. When analysis of the questionnaire is completed, all name and address files
will be destroyed and will in no way be connected with the results of this survey. A Federal agency
may not conduct or sponsor, and you are not required to respond to, a collection of information
unless it displays a currently valid OMB Control Number. We estimate that it will take about 20
minutes to complete this questionnaire. You may send comments concerning the burden estimates
or any aspect of this information collection to: Margaret Littlejohn, NPS Visitor Services Project,
College of Natural Resources, University of Idaho, P.O. Box 441139, Moscow, ID, 83844-1139;
littlej@uidaho.edu (email).
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Yellowstone National Park Visitor Study
Your Visit To Yellowstone National Park
NOTE: In this questionnaire “personal group” is defined as you and anyone with whom you are visiting
the park, such as a spouse, family, friends, etc. This does not include the larger group that you
might be traveling with, such as school, church, scout, or tour group.
Topic Area 2 - TPLAN1
1.
O
a) Prior to this visit, how did your personal group obtain information about Yellowstone National
Park (NP)? Please mark (•) all that apply in column (a).
Did not obtain information prior to visit Go to part (b) below.
b) If you were to visit Yellowstone NP in the future, how would your personal group prefer to obtain
information about the park? Please mark (•) all that apply in column (b).
a) This
visit
b) Future
visit
O
O
Friends/relatives/word of mouth
O
O
Inquiry to park via phone, mail, or email
O
O
Local businesses (airport, hotels, motels, restaurants, etc.)
O
O
Maps/brochures
O
O
Newspaper/magazine articles
O
O
Previous visits
O
O
School class/program
O
O
Social media (e.g., Facebook, Twitter, etc.)
O
O
State welcome center/visitors bureau/chamber of commerce
O
O
Television/radio programs/DVDs
O
O
Travel guides/tour books (such as AAA, etc.)
O
O
Yellowstone NP website: www.nps.gov/yell
O
O
Xanterra concession website: www.travelyellowstone.com
O
O
Delaware North concession website: www.delawarenorth.com
O
O
Other websites
O
n/a
Other, this visit (Specify) _______________________________
n/a
O
Other, future visit (Specify) _____________________________
Source of information
Topic Area 2 – TPLAN2
c) From the sources marked in column (a), did your personal group receive the type of information
about the park that you needed?
O
No
O
Yes Go to Question 2
Yellowstone National Park Visitor Study
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Topic Area 2 – TPLAN3
d) If NO, what type of park information did your personal group need that was not available?
Please be specific.
Topic Area 3 – TRIPC1
2.
For this trip, what was the primary reason that your personal group visited the Yellowstone NP area
(within 150 miles)? Please mark (•) only one.
O
Resident of area
O
Visit Yellowstone NP
O
Business
O
Visit Grand Teton NP
O
Snow shoeing/skiing
O
Visit friends/relatives in the area
O
Snowmobiling/snow coach
O
Visit other attractions in the area
O
Study natural history
O
Traveling through - unplanned visit
O
Watch wildlife
O
Other (Please specify)
Topic Area 6 - EVALSERV4
3.
On this visit, were the signs directing your personal group to and within Yellowstone NP adequate?
Please mark (•) one answer for each of the following.
a) Interstate signs
O
Yes
O
No
O
Did not use
b) State highway signs
O
Yes
O
No
O
Did not use
Yes
O
No
O
Did not use
c) National Park Service signs
O
in developed areas of the park
such as Old Faithful, Tower, Lake Village, etc.
Topic Area 3 – TRIPC25
4.
a) In the park, did your personal group have any problem finding commercial services (such as
lodging, food, gas, gift shops, etc.)?
O
Yes
O
No Go to Question 5
Topic Area 3 – TRIPC26
b) If YES, which of the following reasons contributed to the problem? Please mark (•) all that apply.
O
Signs
O
Traffic circulation
O
Service was closed
O
Other (Specify)
Topic Area 3 – TRIPC7
5.
a) On this visit, how many times did your personal group enter Yellowstone NP during your stay in
the area (within 150 miles)?
Number of entries
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Yellowstone National Park Visitor Study
Topic Area 3 – TRIPC15
b) Which entrances did your personal group use to enter the park? Please mark (•) all that apply.
(See map on page 7.)
O
West Yellowstone
O
North Entrance (Gardiner)
O
South Entrance (Flagg Ranch)
O
Northeast Entrance (Cooke City)
O
East Entrance (Cody)
Topic Area 3 – TRANS2
c) On this visit, how many vehicles did your personal group use to arrive at the park? Please write
“0” if you did not arrive by vehicle.
Number of vehicles
Topic Area 3 – ITIN7
a) For this trip, please mark (•) all the park locations that your personal group visited in Yellowstone
NP. If you did not visit a location, please leave that line blank. Use the map on the next page to
help you identify the locations you visited.
6.
b) & c) Please list the amount of time you spent at each location in hours or days. If you spent less
than 24 hours, list the number of hours in column (b). If you spent 24 hours or more, list
the number of days in column (c). Also list the total time spent in Yellowstone NP. List
partial hours or days as 1/4, 1/2, 3/4.
b) Hours spent—if less than
24 hours
a) Visited park location (•)
O
Mammoth Hot Springs
O
Madison
O
Old Faithful
O
West Thumb/Grant Village
O
Fishing Bridge/Lake Village/
Bridge Bay
O
Tower-Roosevelt
O
Canyon Village
c) Days spent—if 24
hours or more
Total time spent in Yellowstone NP on this
visit
Topic Area 3 – ITIN2
d) Was your personal group able to visit all the locations in Yellowstone NP that you had planned to
visit?
O
No
O
Yes Go to Question 7
Yellowstone National Park Visitor Study
Topic Area 3 – ITIN3
e) If NO, why not?
Topic Area 3 – ITIN4
f) Which locations was your personal group unable to visit?
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8
Yellowstone National Park Visitor Study
Topic Area 3 – TRIPC3
7.
a) On this trip, did your personal group stay overnight away from home in Yellowstone NP or in the
area within 150 miles of any entrance point?
O
Yes
O
No Go to Question 8
b) If YES, please list the number of nights your personal group stayed.
Number of nights inside Yellowstone NP
Number of nights outside Yellowstone NP within 150 miles of park
c) & d) In which types of accommodations did your personal group spend the night(s)? Please mark
(•) all that apply.
d) Outside park
c) Inside park
within 150 miles
O
Lodge, motel, cabin, rented condo/home, or bed & breakfast
O
If you stayed inside the park, in what type of lodging?
If you stayed inside the park, at what location?
O
Camping in developed campground
O
O
Backcountry campsite
O
O
Personal seasonal residence
O
O
Residence of friends or relatives
O
O
Other (Please specify below)
O
Inside
Outside
Topic Area 3 – TRIPC3 and TRIPC4
8.
On this trip, where did your personal group stay on the night before and the night after visiting
Yellowstone NP? If you stayed at home, please write the name of the town/city and state where
you live.
a) BEFORE visit:
Town/city
State
b) AFTER visit:
Town/city
State
Topic Area 3 ITIN1
9.
a) On this visit, did your personal group visit the Old Faithful Lodge or the Mammoth Hotel?
Yellowstone National Park Visitor Study
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Topic Area 3 – ITIN7
b) On this visit, did your personal group stay overnight at the Old Faithful Lodge or Mammoth
Hotel?
Visited?
Stayed overnight?
Yes
No
Yes
No
O
O
Old Faithful Lodge
O
O
O
O
Mammoth Hotel
O
O
Topic Area 3 – ACT1
10. a) On this visit, in which activities did your personal group participate within Yellowstone NP? Please
mark (•) all that apply.
O
Attending ranger-led programs
O
Boardwalk/geyser basin
O
Creative arts (painting/drawing/photography/writing)
O
Snowshoeing
O
Snowmobiling
O
Skiing
O
Snow playing
O
Eating in park restaurants
O
Overnight backpacking (camping in the backcountry)
O
Shopping in park bookstores
O
Shopping in park stores (gift shops and general stores)
O
Sightseeing/taking a scenic drive
O
Staying in park lodging
O
Viewing roadside/trailside exhibits
O
Viewing wildlife/birdwatching
O
Visiting park visitor center(s)/museum(s) How many did you visit?
O
Other (Please specify)
Topic Area 3 – ACT2
b) Which one of the above activities was the primary reason your personal group visited Yellowstone
NP on this visit? Please list only one response.
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Yellowstone National Park Visitor Study
Topic Area 3 – FVIS17
11. On a future visit, would your personal group like to have the following services available in developed
areas in Yellowstone NP?
a) Cell phone
O
Yes
O
No
b) Internet access
O
Yes
O
No
c) Other (Please specify)
NOTE:
Commercial services at Yellowstone NP include lodging, food, camping, gas stations,
gift shops and medical services that are provided by concessionaires such as Xanterra,
Delaware North, etc.
Topic Area 6 – EVALSERV13
12. a) On this visit to Yellowstone NP, which of the following commercial services did you and personal
your group use? Please mark (•) all that apply.
b) If your personal group used lodging, campgrounds and/or restaurants/food services, were you
able to get your first choice of location?
c) Did the commercial services that your personal group used meet your expectations? Please
circle one.
d) Please rate the value (from 1 to 5) of the commercial services your personal group used, for the
money you paid.
a)
Service
used
Commercial service in
Yellowstone NP
(•)
c) Meet expectations?
d) Value for money you
1=Worse than expected
paid
2=About what was expected 1=Very poor
2=Poor
b) Did you get 3=Better than expected
3=Average
your first
(Circle one)
4=Good
choice?
5=Very good
(Circle one)
O
Lodging
Yes
No
1
2
3
O
Restaurants/food service
Yes
No
1
2
3
O
Purchase gas
n/a
1
2
3
O
Purchase gifts/ souvenirs
n/a
1
2
3
O
Medical services
n/a
1
2
3
Topic Area 6 – EVALSERV19
e) If you marked "No" or “Worse than expected” to part (b) or (c) of this question, please explain
where and why.
Location
Reason
Yellowstone National Park Visitor Study
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Topic Area 6 – EVALSERV14
f) If you marked "Very poor" or "Poor" in part (d) of this question please explain where and why.
Location
Reason
Topic Area 6 – EVALSERV15
g) If you marked "Very good" in part (d) of this question, please explain.
Topic Area 6 – EVALSERV13
13. a) Prior to your visit to Yellowstone NP, which concession services and activities did your personal
group plan to do, or make reservations for, before arrival? Please mark (•) all that apply.
b) Please mark (•) all the concession services and activities that your personal group used during this
visit to Yellowstone NP.
c) For only those services and activities that your personal group used, please rate their importance
to your visit from 1-5.
d) For only those services and activities that your personal group used, please rate their quality
from 1-5.
a) Concession
b) Concession service/ activity
service/ activity
used in Yellowstone NP on
planned or
this visit
reserved in
Yellowstone NP
before visit?
c) If used,
how important?
1=Not at all important
2=Slightly important
3=Moderately important
4=Very important
5=Extremely important
O
O
Snowcoach tour
O
O
Snowmobile tour
O
O
Cross country skiing tour
O
O
Snowshoe tour
O
O
Skiing equipment rental
O
O
Snowshoe rental
O
O
Natural history tour
(not ranger-guided)
O
O
Photography tour
O
O
Scenic motorized tour
(other than snowcoach or snowmobile)
O
O
Yellowstone Association Institute
class
d) If used,
what quality?
1=Very poor
2=Poor
3=Average
4=Good
5=Very good
12
Yellowstone National Park Visitor Study
Topic Area 7 – ECON4
14. For your personal group, please report all expenditures for the items listed below for this visit to
Yellowstone NP and the surrounding area (within 150 miles of any entrance point). Please write "0"
if no money was spent in a particular category.
a) Please list your personal group's total expenditures inside Yellowstone NP.
b) Please list your group's total expenditures outside the park (within 150 miles).
NOTE: Surrounding area residents should only include expenditures that were just for this
visit to Yellowstone NP.
EXPENDITURES
a) Inside park
b) Outside park
Spent no money (•) O Go to (b)
B&Bs, etc.
O Go to (c) Lodges, hotels, motels, cabins,
$
$
Camping fees and charges
$
Guide fees and charges
$
$
Restaurants and bars
$
$
Groceries and takeout food
$
$
Gas and oil (auto, RV, snowmobile, etc.)
$
$
Other transportation expenses (including
airfare, rental cars, auto repairs, etc.)
$
$
Admission, recreation, entertainment fees
$
$
All other purchases (souvenirs, film, books,
sporting goods, clothing, etc.)
Snowmobiles and coaches
$
$
$
$
Donations
$
$
Topic Area 7 – ECON5
c) How many people do the above expenses cover?
Adults (18 years or over)
Children (under 18 years)
Please write “0” if no children were covered by
the expenditures.
Topic Area 1 – GR2
15. On this visit, was your personal group part of the following types of organized groups? Please mark
(•) one for each.
Yes
O
No
a) Commercial guided tour group
O
b) School/educational group
O
Yes
O
No
c) Other (business, church, scouts, work)
O
Yes
O
No
Yellowstone National Park Visitor Study
13
Topic Area 1 – GR3
d) If you were with one of these organized groups, how many people, including yourself, were in
this group?
Number of people in organized group
Topic Area 1 – GR2
16. a) On this visit, what type of personal group (not guided tour/school/other organized group) were
you with? Please mark (•) one.
O
Alone
O
Friends
O
Family
O
Family and friends
O
Other (Please specify)
Topic Area 1 – GR3
b) On this visit, how many people were in your personal group, including yourself?
Number of people in personal group
Topic Area 1 – AGE1
17.
For your personal group on this visit, please provide the following. If you do not know the answer,
leave blank.
Number of visits to
Yellowstone NP
a) Gender
(including this visit)
c) U.S. ZIP code or
b) Current name of country other
M=Male
d) Past 12
age
F=Female
than U.S.
months
e) Lifetime
Yourself
Member #2
Member #3
Member #4
Member #5
Member #6
Member #7
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Yellowstone National Park Visitor Study
Topic Area 1 – ED1
18. For you only, what is the highest level of education you have completed? Please mark (•) one.
O
Some high school
O
Bachelor’s degree
O
High school diploma/GED
O
Graduate degree
O
Some college
Topic Area 1 – LANG1
19. When visiting an area such as Yellowstone NP, which language(s) do most members of your personal
group prefer to use for the following?
a) Speaking:
O
English
O
b) Reading:
O
English
O
Other (Specify)
Other (Specify)
c) What services in the park need to be provided in languages other than English? Please specify a
service(s) or mark (•) “None.”
O
None
Service(s)
Topic Area 1 – GR4
20. a) Does anyone in your personal group have a physical condition that made it difficult to access or
participate in park activities or services?
O
Yes
O
No Go on to Question 21
b) If YES, what services or activities were difficult to access/participate in?
c) Because of the physical condition, which specific difficulties did the person(s) have? Please mark
(•) all that apply.
O
Hearing (difficulty hearing ranger programs, bus drivers, audio-visual exhibits or
programs, or information desk staff, even with hearing aid)
O
Visual (difficulty seeing exhibits, directional signs, or visual aids that are part of
programs, even with prescribed glasses, or due to blindness)
O
Mobility (difficulty accessing facilities, services, or programs, even with walking aid
and/or wheelchair)
O
Other (Please specify)
Yellowstone National Park Visitor Study
15
Topic Area 1 – RACE/ETH1
21. a) Are members of your personal group Hispanic or Latino? Please mark (•) one for each group
member.
Member Member Member Member Member Member
Yourself
#2
#3
#4
#5
#6
#7
Yes, Hispanic or
Latino
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
No, not Hispanic
or Latino
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
Topic Area 1 – RACE/ETH3
b) What is the race of each member of your personal group? Please mark (•) one or more for you
and each group member.
Member Member Member Member Member Member
Yourself
#2
#3
#4
#5
#6
#7
American Indian
or Alaska Native
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
Asian
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
Black or African
American
Native Hawaiian
or other Pacific
Islander
White
Topic Area 7 – ECON1
22. a) Which category best represents your annual household income? Please mark (•) one.
O
Less than $24,999
O
$50,000-$74,999
O
$150,000-$199,999
O
$25,000-$34,999
O
$75,000-$99,999
O
$200,000 or more
O
$35,000-$49,999
O
$100,000-$149,999
O
Do not wish to answer
b) How many people are in your household?
Number of people
Topic Area 6 – EVALSERV3
23. a) Commercial services at Yellowstone NP include lodging, restaurants/food service, stores, gift
shops, medical clinics, gas stations, etc. On this visit, what did your personal group like most
about the commercial services?
16
Yellowstone National Park Visitor Study
Topic Area 6 – EVALSERV2
b) On this visit, what did your personal group like least about the commercial services (lodging,
restaurants/food service, stores, gift shops, medical clinics, gas stations, etc.) in Yellowstone NP?
Topic Area 6 – OPMGMT3
24. Is there anything else your personal group would like to tell us about your visit to Yellowstone NP?
Topic Area 6 – EVALSERV1
25. Overall, how would you rate the quality of the facilities, services, and recreational opportunities
provided to your personal group at Yellowstone NP during this visit? Please mark (•) one.
Very poor
O
Poor
O
Average
Good
Very good
O
O
O
Thank you for your help! Please seal the questionnaire in the postage paid-envelope provided and drop
it in any U.S. mailbox.
Printed on recycled paper
Printed on recycled paper
Visitor Services Project
Park Studies Unit
College of Natural Resources
University of Idaho
P.O. Box 441139
Moscow, Idaho 83844-1139
OFFICIAL BUSINESS
| File Type | application/pdf |
| File Title | DETO Q |
| Author | Gary Machlis |
| File Modified | 2012-01-10 |
| File Created | 2012-01-10 |