Studies in Outdoor Recreation: Search and Research for Satisfaction

2. Social Aspects of Outdoor Recreation Use and Users

22 2 Social Aspects of Outdoor Recreation Use and Users Recreation Use and Users Information on recreation use and users was recognized early as potentially important for a number of reasons (e.g., Bury 1964). Even relatively simple data from campground registration forms, such as size of camping groups, can be useful to campground planners and designers. Several early studies suggested ways in which information on recreation use and the characteristics of users can and should be integrated into recreation management (Lime and Buchman 1974, Plumley et al. 1978, Knopf and Lime 1984). These range from monitoring the popularity of recreation activities so as to more efficiently plan budgetary, personnel, and other resource needs to determining the residence and education levels of visitors in order to more effectively conduct public information and education programs. A related issue concerns the desirability of collecting this type of information on a regular basis to determine trends in outdoor recreation. Outdoor recreation research has been conducted for a long enough period to begin to document such trends. A number of important trend-related studies can be found in the literature. For example, a comparison of five recreation use studies conducted over a twentyfive -year period at Yosemite National Park, California, found a substantial shift in use toward single-day hikers (Van Wagtendonk 1980). Day users and other shortterm visitors have distinct facility and service needs, and these should be reflected in management programs. Trend-related research on wilderness use in general suggests that, while there is considerable variation among individual areas, use tended to increase rapidly in the 1960s and 1970s, level off or even decline in the 1980s, and begantoclimbagaininthe1990s(Lucas1985,RoggenbuckandLucas1987,D.Cole 1996). Other trend-related research has tracked perceived crowding and other issues over time using longitudinal studies, comparative analyses, and other approaches, and these studies are discussed later in this book. A series of national conferences SOCIAL ASPECTS OF OUTDOOR RECREATION 23 on trends in outdoor recreation began in 1980 and met every five years through 2000, when they were unfortunately discontinued. Proceedings of these conferences represent a valuable source of information on trends in a variety of specific outdoor recreation activities and in outdoor recreation in general (LaPage 1980, Wood 1985, Thompson et al. 1995). Several papers and books on outdoor recreation trends have been prepared by senior researchers and provide valuable historical perspectives on outdoor recreation (Clawson 1985, Lucas 1985, Merriam 1986, Beaman 1997, Cordell and Super 2000, Gartner and Lime 2000). This and the following chapter examine social and descriptive aspects of outdoor recreation.Thischapterfocusesonmeasuresofrecreationactivityandcharacteristics of recreationists, including their social characteristics and cultural influences on recreation activity and behavior. Chapter 3 addresses attitudes, preferences, and perceptions of visitors to outdoor recreation areas. Outdoor Recreation Activity The first and most straightforward form of research into social aspects of outdoor recreation was measurement of recreation activity. Initial efforts, going back for some areas and agencies well before World War II, were primarily simple counts of visitors to recreation areas. Later efforts became more sophisticated, including measures of length of stay and categorization of visits by specific activities such as camping and hiking. Use measurement is often difficult due to the dispersed nature of outdoor recreation activity. A number of studies beginning in the 1960s have developed and evaluated various use sampling procedures.1 Many recreation areas, particularly backcountry and wilderness areas, rely on use permits and self-registration as a primary source of information. However, a variety of relatively sophisticated techniques have also been developed, including mechanical and electronic counting devices, optical scanners and cameras, direct and indirect observation, and selfadministered , personal interview, telephone, mail, and Internet surveys. The literature on alternative use methods for monitoring recreation use, particularly in backcountry and wilderness areas, has been compiled into helpful manuals that outline advantages and disadvantages of alternative approaches (Hollenhorst et al. 1992a, S. Yuan et al. 1995, Watson et al. 1998a, Hornback and Eagles 1999, Watson et al. 2000, Broom and Hall 2009). For example, use permits allow collection of extensive and accurate data, but can be costly to administer and may be burdensome to visitors. Self-registration can provide extensive data with less administrative cost, but noncompliance must be monitored to assess its accuracy. Indirect counts using electronic or mechanical devices along with self-registration and/or periodic visitor 24 STUDIES IN OUTDOOR RECREATION surveys can meet many research and management needs by providing data...