An Examination of the Leave No Trace Visitor Education Program in Two US National Park Service Units Wade Vagias Clemson University, [email protected]

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An Examination of the Leave No Trace Visitor Education Program in Two US National Park Service Units Wade Vagias Clemson University, Lostvagias@Hotmail.Com Clemson University TigerPrints All Dissertations Dissertations 8-2009 An Examination of the Leave No Trace Visitor Education Program in Two US National Park Service Units Wade Vagias Clemson University, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://tigerprints.clemson.edu/all_dissertations Part of the Recreation, Parks and Tourism Administration Commons Recommended Citation Vagias, Wade, "An Examination of the Leave No Trace Visitor Education Program in Two US National Park Service Units" (2009). All Dissertations. 393. https://tigerprints.clemson.edu/all_dissertations/393 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Dissertations at TigerPrints. It has been accepted for inclusion in All Dissertations by an authorized administrator of TigerPrints. For more information, please contact [email protected]. AN EXAMINATION OF THE LEAVE NO TRACE VISITOR EDUCATION PROGRAM IN TWO US NATIONAL PARK SERVICE UNITS ____________________________________________________________ A Dissertation Presented to the Graduate School of Clemson University ____________________________________________________________ In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Management ____________________________________________________________ by Wade M. Vagias August 2009 ____________________________________________________________ Accepted by: Robert B. Powell, Committee Chair Fran P. Mainella D. DeWayne Moore William C. Norman Brett A. Wright ABSTRACT The purpose of this dissertation was to examine overnight National Park Service (NPS) backcountry visitors’ behavioral intentions to comply with promoted LNT principles as well as their opinions regarding the efficacy of various LNT education delivery strategies. Leave No Trace is the most pervasive outdoor skills and ethics training program addressing human powered recreationists in existence however, empirical investigations into the efficacy and diffusion of the program have been scant to nonexistent. The study sample was obtained by intercepting visitors at backcountry permit issuing stations in Glacier National Park (GNP) in northwest Montana and Olympic National Park (ONP) in northwest Washington during the summer 2007. Primary study data were collected following a modified Dillman (2007) procedure using mail-back self- administered questionnaire with multiple contacts to increase the response rate. 836 valid addresses were collected and 593 questionnaires were returned providing an overall response rate of 70.9%. The first manuscript discusses the conceptual foundation, development, cross- validation, and psychometric qualities of the Backcountry Visitor Ethics Scale – Version 1 (BCVES-V1), a research instrument designed to measure attitudinal conformity with the LNT principles for responsible recreation. The resulting measurement model, a second-order three-construct 15-item scale, exhibited satisfactory fit properties across both samples and is largely consistent with the conceptual framework used to develop the ii measure. The second manuscript utilized an extended version of the Theory of Planned Behavior (TBP) to gauge the theory’s effectiveness in predicting behavioral intentions to comply with LNT principles. The resultant model explained as much as 44.3% of the variance in intentions to comply with promoted practices; however, significant predictors of intentions vary by unit. The third manuscript discusses the diffusion and perceived effectiveness of the LNT visitor education program through the lens of Rogers Diffusion of Innovations Theory (Rogers, 2003). Results indicate the vast majority of respondents were aware and supportive of the LNT program, and highlight the role of both family- friends as well as the NPS for diffusing the LNT message amongst recreationists. T-test analyses indicate marginal effectiveness of four primary dissemination strategies on self- reported knowledge of LNT principles; however, effectiveness varies widely by unit. iii DEDICATION To Jenna, Charlie, Abbey, and to our yet to be named little bean. I love you all more than you know. iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS As with almost any adventure in life, the document you are holding would not have been possible without the support of numerous individuals. Heartfelt thanks to my advisor, chair, kayaking partner, and friend, Dr. Bob Powell. Bob, without your help, not only would the dissertation likely not have happened but the degree as well. Brett, thank you for believing in me and in my ability to carrying out the project. Fran, thank you for reminding me that my research must first be of benefit to those on the ‘front lines’ of protected area management. Bill, thank you for your insight and friendship over the past four years. And thank you DeWayne. Without your courses, guidance, and assistance throughout my time at Clemson, this dissertation and manuscripts contained within would be of far lesser form. The research was funded by the Wilderness Stewardship and Recreation Management Division of the NPS, Garry Oye, Chief. Special thanks to Rick Potts for conceiving the project and providing the necessary funding. In-kind support was provided by the park research coordinators and backcountry staff at both Glacier and Olympic National Parks; special thanks to Brian McKeon at Glacier and Jerry Freilich at Olympic for making the time spent in each unit so enjoyable. The PRTM Department at Clemson University must be acknowledged for support and assistance throughout my four years as a student. Many thanks to Karin Emmons provided technical support and assistance throughout the duration of the study. Finally, thanks to the 593 NPS overnight visitors who completed and mailed back a questionnaire. v TABLE OF CONTENTS Page TITLE PAGE .................................................................................................................... i ABSTRACT ..................................................................................................................... ii DEDICATION ................................................................................................................ iv ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ............................................................................................... v LIST OF TABLES .......................................................................................................... ix LIST OF FIGURES ........................................................................................................ xi CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................... 1 Background & Introductory Information ................................................. 1 Synopsis of the Theoretical Frameworks ................................................. 6 Problem Statement ................................................................................... 8 Study Purposes ......................................................................................... 9 Study Goals ............................................................................................ 10 Study Objectives .................................................................................... 11 Site Selection Criteria ............................................................................ 14 Definition of Terms................................................................................ 14 Study Contributions ............................................................................... 15 Dissertation Outline ............................................................................... 16 II. METHODS .................................................................................................. 18 Introduction & Chapter Overview ......................................................... 18 Item Development, Purification, & Refinement .................................... 19 Operationalization of Items by Theoretical Framework & Construct .......................................................................................... 25 Study Sites, Target Population, & Sampling Procedures ...................... 28 III. MANUSCRIPT #1: DEVELOPMENT, PSYCHOMETRIC QUALITIES, AND CROSS-VALIDATION OF THE BACKCOUNTRY VISITOR ETHICS SCALE – VERSION 1 (BCVES-V1) .......................................................................................... 34 vi Table of Contents (Continued) Page Abstract .................................................................................................. 34 Introduction & Purpose .......................................................................... 36 Conceptual Framework: The LNT Principles ....................................... 37 Literature Review................................................................................... 39 Development of the BCVES–V1 ........................................................... 45 Methods.................................................................................................. 49 Results .................................................................................................... 53 Cross Validation of the Configural Measurement Model ...................... 60 Discussion .............................................................................................. 67 Conclusion ............................................................................................. 71 Directions for Use of the BCVES-V1 ...................................................
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