Social Science & Natural ResourcesMondaySocial Science Methods OverviewReview Lab Assignment

WednesdaySurveys, Interviews, and Observation

FridayLab DebriefOther Examples of Social Science Research

ESRM 304Environmental and Resource Assessment

Social Science & Natural Resources

Research Design, Methods & Measures

ESRM 304Environmental and Resource Assessment

Social and Cultural Values Across the Landscape Gradient

Urban Wildland

The Study of Human Dimensions

Social Science Disciplines

• psychology• sociology• economics• political science• anthropology• geography• policy• planning

Carrying Out an Investigation

decide on a focusdevelop research questions

choose a research approach

collect the data

carry out analysis

report what you’ve found

select methods

Research Cycle

Robson & Galvan

decide on a focusdevelop research questions

choose a research approach

report what you’ve found

Sources of questions:

professor told me topersonal interests

observationtheory

management issueprogram effectiveness

What is the unit of analysis ?

individualgroup

community

relationship amongvariables

decide on a focusdevelop research

questions

choose a research approach

Question drives the approach

historicaldescriptivedevelopmentalcasecorrelationalcausaltrue experimentquasi experimental

Historical – to reconstruct the past objectively and accuratelyA study reconstructing the recreation/human use practices on the national forests over the past century.

Descriptive – To describe systematically a situation or area of interest factually and accurately. Population census studies, public opinion surveys, observations studies, status studies, survey of the literature.

Developmental – To investigate patterns and sequences of growth and or change as a function of time. A longitudinal study following the patterns of recreation participation from adolescence through retirement.

Case – To study intensively the background, current status, and environmental interactions of a given social unit: an individual, group, institution, or community. The case history of the youngest person to summit Mt. Everest; an intensive study of a group of Sherpa's who smoke; an intensive study of the socio-economic characteristics of second home communities.

Correlational – To investigate the extent to which variations in one factor correspond with the variations in one or more other factors based on correlation coefficients.The investigate relationships between participation in certain types of recreation activities and demographic variables such as age, income, gender and race. Causal – To investigate possible cause and effect relationships by observing some existing consequence and search back through the data for plausible casual factors.To investigate differences and similarities between such recreations groups as those who are self propelled vs. those who chose motorized vehicles.

True experiment – To investigate possible cause and effect relationships by exposing one or more experimental groups to one or more treatment conditions and comparing the results of one or more control groups not receiving the treatment. To investigate the effectiveness of three methods of teaching navigation to cross country hikers.

Quasi experimental – To approximate the conditions of the true experiment in a setting which does not allow the control and or manipulations of all relevant variable.

choose a research approach

select methods

interviewssurveys

observations data sets

archival materialsethnography

journalingdocumentsdiscourse

collect the data

carry out analysisselect methods

Sampling frame

random samplestratified random sample

“snowball” samplepurposeful

Practicality

access to datatimecost

human subjects protection

arrange practicalitiescollect the data

carry out analysisselect methods

What do the data tell you?

patternsdifference

relationshipscausality

inference

Analytical Techniques

statisticscontent analysis

carry out analysis

report what you’ve found

Who wants to know?

research sponsorsscientific community

professionals/managerscollaborators

public How to communicate?

scientific journalstechnical reports

manualsbooks

public presentationsposters

scientific journals

professional journals

technical reports

fact sheet

Carrying Out an Investigation

decide on a focusdevelop research questions

choose a research approach

collect the data

carry out analysis

report what you’ve found

select methods

Research Cycle

Robson & Galvan

Regional Context

• City parks• County parks• Regional Parks• State Parks• National Parks• International Parks

Social Science Field ResearchSt Edwards State Park

St Edwards State Park

316 acres

3,000 ft shore

Parks Planning - Program

Current Status

Facilities and Infrastructure

Active RecreationPassive RecreationUnintended Consequences

Active Recreation

Play ParkGymnasium, Swimming PoolReserved PicnicsSports Fields baseball, soccer

Bike RidingHorseback Riding

Public Events

Passive Recreation

Hiking/WalkingDog WalkingPicnicsBirdingShoreline Activity

Unintended Activities/Management Challenges

Motor vehiclesVandalism GraffitiWater activities (swings)Personal security on trailsSite deterioration

Invasive species Hazard Trees

Off-site Social Issues - St. Edward

Adjacent property owners – using park as they see fit….cutting trails, building forts, after hours usage, dogs off leash, motorcycles on trials, bicycle BMX courses, opposition to appropriate park practices..i.e.. hazard tree removal?

Social Science Research

Approach to understanding the siteWhat do you want to know…..and who cares?

Approach to understanding the site

What do you want to know?....and who cares?

• Who is using the park?• Where do they come from?• How is it being used?• What are the benefits to the users?• When does use occur?• Where does use occur?• Are there conflicts among users?• Are there unacceptable environmental impacts?

• Approaches to seeking public input and consensus on park management decisions?

Many recreation assessment models available

• Recreation Opportunity Spectrum

• Visitor Impact Management

• Visitor Experience and Resource Protection

• Limits to Acceptable Change

Purpose of the site assessment is to provide a quality visitor experience while protecting the resource that is essential to providing the experience.

Process for Visitor Impact Management (VIM)

Developed by researchers working for the U.S. National Parks and Conservation Association for use by the U.S. National Park Service.

The process addresses three basic issues relating to impact:

• problem conditions • potential causal factors • potential management strategies

Nilsen, Per, Grant Taylor, A Comparative Analysis of Protected Ares Planning and Management Frameworks. In Proceedings – Limits of Acceptable Change and Related Planning Processes. GTR INT-GTR-371. 1997

Factors, Indicators and Standards

The list of possible indicators of impact includes:

Physical impacts:

• soil density, pH, compaction, drainage, chemistry, productivity• amount and depth of litter and dust• area of barren core and of bare ground• area of complete campsites• number and size of fire rings• number of social trails• visible erosion

Biological impacts:

• soil fauna and microfauna• ground-cover density and loss of ground cover• diversity and composition of plant species• proportion of exotic plant species• plant species height, vigour and diseases• trees—mutilation, seeding regeneration, exposed roots• wildlife species—diversity, abundance, sightings• presence or absence of indicator species• reproduction success

Social Impacts:

• number of encounters• by activity type with other individuals/day• by size of group• with other groups/day• by mode of transport• by location of encounter• visitor perception of crowding• visitor perception of impact on the environment• visitor satisfaction• visitor complaints• visitor reports of undesirable behaviors

Standards are established for each indicator based on the management objectives that specify acceptable limits, or appropriate levels for environmental modification and use.

Why are these actions important?

Because it leads to providing a quality recreation experience

Review Lab Assignment

The purpose of this lab exercise is to give you an opportunity to collect and analyze measurements related to visitor use of St. Edwards State Park.

Zone 1Trails 12 and 11

Zone 2Building influence area

Zone 3Hillside trails and waterfrontTrails 4 and 5

ZONE 1 - Trails 12 and 11. Volunteer and Entrance

North NTS

Zone 2 – Building Influence Area

North NTS

Zone 3 – Trails 4 and 5. Seminary and Grotto

North NTS