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
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