Recreation Conflict - Norm Measurement This study explores some of the theoretical and methodological issues with
measuring visitor norms in recreations. Because there are theoretical and
methodological similarities between research on recreation-related norms and
contingent valuation, three methodological issues are identified for study
from the contingent valuation literature: question format, starting point
bias, and information bias. Using data from a study of crowding norms at
Arches National Park in 1998 and the Grand Canyon National Park in 1997, the
relationship between these methodological issues and crowding-related norms is
studied. Few statistically or substantively significant differences in
crowding-related norms were found to be associated with these methodological
issues. Study findings suggest that measures of crowding-related norms may be
relatively "robust," and this may add weight to the "validity" of the theory
and methods associated with crowding-related norms in outdoor recreation. Manning, R., P. Newman, W. Valliere, B. Wang and S. Lawson. 2001. "Respondent
self-assessment of research on crowding norms in outdoor recreation." Journal
of Leisure Research 33(3): 251-271. As norms are used are increasingly used to set recreation management
standards, it is important to ensure the validity of norms research. Borrowing
techniques developed in contingent valuation, a battery of of questions was
used to measure respondent self-assessment of studies conducted in three U.S.
National Parks. The results indicated that most respondents: 1) understood the
questions being asked, 2) felt the photographs used in the studies
realistically represented a range of use densities at the study sites, 3) were
confident in their ability to report crowding norms, and 4) felt the National
Park Service should use such data in formulating park management policy. Few
differences in crowding norms were found between respondents who were
confident in their answers and those who were less confident. These findings
offer some support for the validity of measures of crowding norms in outdoor
recreation. However, the issues of validity is complex and needs to be
researched further in relation to recreation norms. Manning, R., W. Valliere and B. Wang. 1999. "Crowding norms: Alternative
measurement approaches." Leisure Sciences 21(2): 97-115. This article compares three different issues related to norm-measurement in
recreation research: numerical versus visual approach, long versus short
question format, and evaluation dimension. Norms are increasingly being used
to set management standards in recreation in attempts to meet recreation
management objectives, ensure visitor satisfaction and minimize conflict. This
study uses data drawn from a multi-phase program of research on crowding on
the carriage roads of Acadia National Park, Maine. The different
norm-measurement techniques can yield significant differences in visitor norms
use of multiple measures and multiple evaluation dimensions, such as
preference, acceptability and management action, may be warranted. The study
findings also suggest that commonly used norm-measurement approaches may lead
to crowing-related standards of quality that are overly conservative.
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Manning, R., S. Lawson, P. Newman, D. Laven
and W. Valliere. 2002. "Methodological issues in measuring crowding-related
norms in outdoor recreation." Leisure Sciences 24(3-4): 339-348.