Assessing information needs and communication behaviors of national forest summer visitors

James D. Absher; Brijesh Thapa; Alan R. Graefe

Treesearch

Assessing information needs and communication behaviors of national forest summer visitors

Informally Refereed

Authors:

James D. Absher, Brijesh Thapa, Alan R. Graefe

Year:

2002

Type:

General Technical Report

Station:

Northern Research Station

Source:

In: Todd, Sharon, comp., ed. 2002. Proceedings of the 2001 Northeastern Recreation Research Symposium. Gen. Tech. Rep. NE-289. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Research Station. 43-48.

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Abstract

Information needs and satisfaction with various media are studied on the San Bernardino National Forest. Personal contact with rangers or staff is preferred, and about one-third to one-half of all visitors reported using various print media (brochures, maps, etc.). Least used were websites or mass media. Second, an adaptation of communication theory, uses and gratifications, is tested. Results suggest that the uses and gratifications scales are reliable and stable, and that visitors want orientation, reassurance and educational messages, in decreasing order of importance. Each of these topics was compared between day and overnight visitors.

Parent Publication

Proceedings of the 2001 Northeastern Recreation Research Symposium

Citation

Absher, James D.; Thapa, Brijesh; Graefe, Alan R. 2002. Assessing information needs and communication behaviors of national forest summer visitors. In: Todd, Sharon, comp., ed. 2002. Proceedings of the 2001 Northeastern Recreation Research Symposium. Gen. Tech. Rep. NE-289. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Research Station. 43-48.