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Naturalness, Primitiveness, Remoteness and Wilderness

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Naturalness, Primitiveness, Remoteness and Wilderness Naturalness, Primitiveness, Remoteness and Wilderness: Wilderness Visitors’ Understanding and Experience of Wilderness Qualities Bradley J. Johnson Troy E. Hall Department of Conservation Social Sciences, University of Idaho David N. Cole Aldo Leopold Wilderness Research Institute June 9, 2005 Notes: Paper based on Ph.D. dissertation data of Bradley J. Johnson while a graduate student at the University of Idaho. Research was funded by the Aldo Leopold Wilderness Research Institute and Region 6 of the U.S. Forest Service. Table of Contents Abstract ............................................................................................................................................1 Introduction ......................................................................................................................................2 Conceptual Background of the Qualities ...................................................................................3 Defining the Four Qualities .......................................................................................................4 Wilderness Experience.........................................................................................................4 Naturalness ...........................................................................................................................5 Primitive Recreation ............................................................................................................7 Remoteness ..........................................................................................................................7 Empirical Investigations of the Dimensions of Wilderness Experience ....................................8 Methodology ..................................................................................................................................10 Study Area ...............................................................................................................................10 Respondent Selection ...............................................................................................................12 Semi-Structured Interviews .....................................................................................................13 Analysis of Interview Data ......................................................................................................15 Coding Themes ..................................................................................................................16 Inter-rater Reliability .........................................................................................................17 Results ............................................................................................................................................19 Visitor Attainment of Experience Qualities .............................................................................19 Common Themes .....................................................................................................................24 Environmental Themes ......................................................................................................24 Social Themes ....................................................................................................................25 Unique Themes ........................................................................................................................27 Naturalness .........................................................................................................................27 Primitive Recreation ..........................................................................................................32 Remoteness ........................................................................................................................35 Wilderness..........................................................................................................................39 Discussion and Conclusions ..........................................................................................................44 Dimensions of the Four Qualities ............................................................................................45 Experiencing the Four Qualities ..............................................................................................47 Evaluation Versus Attainment of Experiences ........................................................................47 The Importance of Comparison .........................................................................................48 Recognition of Trade-offs ..................................................................................................49 Consideration of Overall Satisfaction ................................................................................49 Consideration of Self-Efficacy or Control over the Situation ...........................................49 Management Implications ........................................................................................................50 Attainment of Qualities ......................................................................................................50 Multifaceted Nature of Qualities .......................................................................................50 Explaining the Weak Use-Quality Relationship ................................................................52 Similarity of Day and Overnight Visitors ..........................................................................52 Subtle Quality Differences between Locations..................................................................53 2 Methodological Considerations .........................................................................................53 Conclusions ..............................................................................................................................54 References Cited ............................................................................................................................56 Appendix A. Interview Guide ........................................................................................................59 Appendix B. Code List ..................................................................................................................70 Appendix C. Inter-rater Reliability Worksheet ..............................................................................80 3 List of Tables Table 1. ...Intensity of Feeling During The Wilderness Experience ..............................................9 Table 2. ....Interview questions related to the four qualities ..........................................................15 Table 3. ...Number of In-Depth Interviews ...................................................................................15 Table 4. ...Level of Attainment by Concept/Quality .....................................................................20 Table 5: ...Wilderness Experience by Location (Number and Percent within Location) .............21 Table 6: ...Primitiveness by Location (Number and Percent within Location) .............................21 Table 7: ...Naturalness by Location (Number and Percent within Location) ...............................22 Table 8: ...Remoteness by Location (Number and Percent within Location) ...............................22 Table 9: ...Wilderness Experience by Day of Trip ........................................................................23 Table 10: .Primitiveness by Day of Trip .......................................................................................23 Table 11: .Naturalness by Day of Trip ..........................................................................................23 Table 12: .Remoteness by Day of Trip .........................................................................................23 Table 13. .Environment Themes Common to All Four Qualities .................................................24 Table 14. .Social Themes Common to All Four Qualities ............................................................26 List of Figures Figure 1. Naturalness Themes .....................................................................................................28 Figure 2. Primitiveness Themes ..................................................................................................32 Figure 3. Remoteness Themes.....................................................................................................35 Figure 4. Wilderness Experience Themes ...................................................................................39 4 ABSTRACT The idea that wilderness visitors have a clear understanding of Wilderness Act (1964) concepts is often assumed in literature and in management practices. However, little empirical research has tested this assumption. This paper clarifies and elaborates upon public understanding of four key wilderness qualities (naturalness, primitiveness, remoteness, and wilderness). In-depth, semi- structured interviews were conducted with 201 visitors in three Pacific Northwest wilderness areas during the summer of 2002. Study sites represented a range of environment types and difficulty of access. Findings point to a generally consistent set of factors that constitute wilderness visitors’ definitions of each concept, as well as considerable definitional overlap among the concepts. Naturalness is primarily affected by environmental features
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