Management implications of changes in recreation activity motivation across physical settings

Abstract

Outdoor recreation management frameworks suggest that a diverse set of recreation opportunities is necessary to meet the needs and desires of a diverse population of recreationists. Managers of recreation resources must understand recreational demand if they wish to provide high-quality recreation opportunities to their users. The purpose of this study was to examine possible relationships between recreational activity choice, setting choice, and motivations among adult U.S. citizens who participated in one of four activities: hiking, walking, sightseeing, and camping in developed campgrounds. Data used in this study came from the National Survey on Recreation and the Environment. Between-groups analysis of variance was used to test for differences in mean importance scores for 13 motivations across seven environmental settings. Significant differences were found between motivation importance scores across the seven environmental settings for three of the four study activities. Results and implications are discussed.

Parent Publication

• Proceedings of the 2009 Northeastern Recreation Research Symposium

Citation

Graefe, David A; Schuster, Rudy M.; Green, Gary T.; Cordell, H. Ken. 2010. Management implications of changes in recreation activity motivation across physical settings. In: Watts, Clifton E., Jr.; Fisher, Cherie LeBlanc, eds. Proceedings of the 2009 Northeastern Recreation Research Symposium. Gen. Tech. Rep. NRS-P-66. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station: 257-263.