Frontcountry encounter norms among three cultures

Abstract

Existing normative studies have focused on backcountry encounter norms reported by North Americans. This study extends previous research by comparing encounter norms reported by three different cultures - North Americans, Europeans, and Japanese - in a frontcountry day use recreation area. Data were obtained from on-site surveys distributed at the Columbia Icefield in Jasper National Park. Results indicated that European and Japanese respondents were more likely to have an encounter norm than the North Americans. Although the tolerance limits did not vary by culture, consistent with previous research, when contacts exceeded norm tolerance limits, crowding increased regardless of cultural origin.

Parent Publication

• Proceedings of the 1994 Northeastern Recreation Research Symposium

Citation

Vaske, Jerry J.; Donnelly, Maureen P.; Doctor, Robert M.; Petruzzi, James P. 1995. Frontcountry encounter norms among three cultures. In: Vander Stoep, Gail A., ed. Proceedings of the 1994 Northeastern Recreation Research Symposium; 1994 April 10-12; Saratoga Springs, NY.: Gen. Tech. Rep. NE-198. Radnor, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Forest Experiment Station. 162-165