INFORMATION TO USERS This m anusci^ has been reproduced from the microfilm master. UMI films die text directfy from the originalor copy submitted. Thus, some thesis and dissertation copies are in typewriter face, while others may be from any type of conqmter printer. The quality of this reproduction is d q ia d a t upon the quality of the copy submitted. Broken or indistinct print, colored or poor quality illustrations and photographs, print bleedthrough» substandard margins, and in q m ^ r alignment can adverse^ affect reproduction. In the unlikely event that the author did not send UMI a complete manusaÿt and there are missing pages, diese will be noted. Also, if unauthorized copyri^ material had to be removed, a note win indicate thedeletiarL Oversize materials (e.g., maps, drawings, charts) are rqiroduced by sectioning the original, beginning at the iqiper left-hand comer and conthimngfftnn left to l i ^ in equal sections with small overlqis. Each original is also photographed in one eqx)sure and is included in reduced form at the bade of the book. Photographs included in the original manuscr^ have been reproduced xerographically in this copy. Higher quality 6" x 9" black and white photographic prints are available for aiy photogr^hs or illustrations ^^)earing in this copy for an additional diarge. Contact UMI directly to order. UMI A Bell & Howell Information Company 300 North Zeet3 Roao. Ann Arbor. Ml 48106-1346 USA 313/761-4700 800/521-0600 THE MEANING OF WILDERNESS DISSERTATION Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy in the Graduate School of The Ohio State University By Anthony Paul Murphy ******* The Ohio State University 1996 Dissertation Committee: Approved by R. Fortner N. Andrew B. Dervin Adviser J. Heimlich College of Education UMI Number: 9620050 UMI Microform 9620050 Copyright 1996, by UMI Company. All rights reserved. This microform edition is {notected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code. UMI 300 North Zed> Road Ann Arbor, MI 48103 To my family, friends, and mentors who helped me in defining my meaning of wilderness; to the wilderness preservationists who went before me; and to the planet that sustains and influences me. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I express sincere appreciation to Dr. Rosanne W. Fortner for her guidance and insight through the research. Thanks go to the other members of my advisory committee, Drs. Neil J. Andrew, Brenda L. Dervin, and Joe E. Heimlich, for their suggestions and comments. The technical assistance and constructive criticisms of Dr. Eric J. Dolin and Jennifer R. Dolin is gratefully acknowledged. Gratitude is expressed to Julie Hunt, and the staff of the GLOBE Program for their support and encouragement throughout the process. A sincere thanks to Kate Kelsch, for your unshakable faith in me and your willingness to endure with me the vicissitudes of my research. I express deep gratitude to the participants in the study who gave so much of themselves in the interviews and made the research enjoyable and interesting. Finally, a word of thanks to all those people along the way, including my family, who expressed excitement in the research and shared with me their meaning of wilderness. m VTTA August 25, 1963 ........................................... Bom — Killamey, Co. Kerry, Ireland 1985 .................................................................. B. Sc. (Ed.), Thomond College of Education, Limerick, Ireland 1985-1989 ................................................. Outdoor/Environmental Educator, Cappanalea Outdoor Education Centre, Co. Kerry, Ireland 1988 .................................................................. Leader, British School Exploring Society Expedition to Northern India 1989 ........................................................... M. Sc., Thomond College of Education, Limerick, Ireland. (Incorporated into University of Limerick in 1992.) 1991-1992 ................................................. Enviroiraiental communicator/ educator, Audubon Center of the NorthWoods, Minnesota. 1992-1994 ................................................. Graduate Associate, Ohio Sea Grant, The Ohio State University. 1995-1996 ...... ................................................. Dean John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellow at The GLOBE Program 1996-Present .............................................. Science and Environmental Education Specialist, The GLOBE Program IV PUBLICATIONS 1995 ...................................................................... Landis, G.E., T. Murphy, T. Schretter, and D. Haury. An exploratory study of educators’ use of the Internet. Journal of Science Education and Technology. 3 (4’). 181-190. 1995 ...................................................................... Murphy, T. P. That’s Entertainment! ! — Or Is It? Science Activities. 32 (1), 20-23. Spring. 1993 Murphy, A. P. The Portrayal of the Environment and Development in Two Commercial Movies. Journal of Environmental Education. 2 5 (1). 30-36. FaU. 1993 Fortner, R.W., Mayer, V.J., and Mu^hy, T.P. ACES— Activities for the Changing Earth Svstem. Funded with a grant from the National Science Foundation. ISBN: 1-883756-00-6. 1987 Murphv. T. One Step Into the Outdoors. Published through Cappanalea Outdoor Education Centre, Killorglin, Ireland, with support from ^ Department of Education and County Kerry Vocational Educadonial Committee. FIELDS OF STUDY Major Field: Education TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ........................................................................... üi VITA ...................................................................................................................... iv LIST OF TABLES .................................................................................... vii LIST OF FIGURES .................................................................................. x CHAPTER PAGE I. INTRODUCTION ......................................................................... 1 II. REVIEW OF LITERATURE ..................................................... 21 III. METHODOLOGY AND METHOD ............................................ 82 IV. RESULTS ......................................................................................... 109 V. CONCLUSIONS AND DISCUSSION ....................................... 310 APPENDICES A. Sense-Making Instruments for Visitors and Non-Visitors to Wilderness ................................................................................... 359 B. Codes for Analyzing Data .............................................................. 375 LIST OF REFERENCES ............................................................................ 381 vi LIST OF TABLES TABLE PAGE 1. Definitions of the Aspects of an Individual’s Meanings for the Term Wilderness ........................................................... 4 2. Assumptions on which Quantitative, Qualitative and Sense-Making Theories are based ........................................... 93 3. Sampling Frame for Interviews of Judgmental Sample ................. 105 4. Techniques for Establishing Trustworthiness Utilized in this Study .. 108 5. Characteristics of the Participants in the Undergraduate Visitors (Fish) Group and the Number of Wilderness Trips Experienced 114 6. Characteristics of the Rrst and Most Recent Wilderness Experiences for the Undergraduate Visitors (Fish) ..................... 116 7. Media which made the Undergraduate Visitors (Fish) Most Concerned about Society’s View of Wilderness, and Media which had an Indirect Impact on the Participant’s Meaning of Wilderness. Events which had the Most Important Impact on the Meaning of Wilderness are also shown ..................................... 136 8. Methods Used by Undergraduate Visitors (Fish) to Demonstrate the Different Values Placed on Wilderness ................................ 142 9. Areas Considered to be Wilderness which were Visited, and Specific Wilderness Areas Listed by the Undergraduate Visitors (Fish) ............................................................................................. 151 vu 10. Characteristics of the Participants in the Graduate Visitor (Mammals) Group and the Number of Wilderness Trips Experienced ................................................................................ 160 11. Characteristics of the First and Most Recent Wilderness Experiences for the Graduate Visitors (Mammals) ......................... 163 12. Media which made the Graduate Visitors (Mammals) Most Concerned about Society’s View of Wilderness, and Media which had an Indirect Impact on the Participant’s Meaning of Wilderness. Events which had the Most Important Impact on the Meaning of Wilderness are also shown ........................................................ 182 13. Methods Used by Graduate Visitors (Mammals) to Demonstrate the Different Values Placed on Wilderness ................................. 192 14. Areas Considered to be Wilderness which were Visited, and Specific WUdemess Areas Listed by the Graduate Visitors (Mammals) ................................................................................... 201 15. Characteristics of the Participants in the Undergraduate Non-Visitor (Birds) Group and Reasons for Not Visiting Wilderness ...................................................................................... 211 16. Media which made the Undergraduate Non-Visitors (Birds) Most Concerned about Society’s View of Wilderness, and Media which had an Indirect Impact on the Participant’s Meaning