Visitor meanings of place: using computer content analysis to examine visitor meanings at three national capitol sites

Abstract

A mix method study designed to explore the meanings, interest, and connections visitors ascribe to three National Park Service sites: National Capital Parks Central, Rock Creek Park, and George Washington Memorial Parkway's Great Falls Park. The researchers employed the focus group interview technique and asked visitors prior to and then after an interpretive encounter what the resource and the place meant to them. Both hand-coding and the Minnesota Contextual Content Analysis (MCCA) software program were used in the analysis process. Selected findings suggested audiences' understanding and appreciation of the park resource.

Parent Publication

• Proceedings of the 2001 Northeastern Recreation Research Symposium

Citation

Chen, Wei-Li Jasmine; Pierskalla, Chad L.; Goldman, Theresa L.; Larsen, David L. 2002. Visitor meanings of place: using computer content analysis to examine visitor meanings at three national capitol sites. 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. 339-345.