Understanding all-terrain vehicle users: The human dimensions of ATV use on the island portion of Newfoundland and Labrador by © Celina F. Waight A thesis submitted to the School of Graduate Studies in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science Department of Geography Memorial University of Newfoundland May 2014 St. John’s Newfoundland ABSTRACT This research examined the underlying factors that influence the attitudes of ATV users toward the environment, as well as the biophysical and social impacts of the activity. The recreation specialization framework was also deployed to assess how the attitudes and management preferences of ATV users change at different levels of engagement in the activity. Quantitative questionnaires were randomly distributed to ATV users across 35 communities on the Burin Peninsula on the southeast coast of the island of Newfoundland. Results showed that the attitudes of ATV users were primarily driven by beliefs about the environmental and social outcomes of the activity, type of ATV use, social involvement in ATVing, riding frequency, and whether they reside in urban or rural communities. Findings also revealed that experienced ATV users were less likely to agree with the potential impacts of the activity, while novice participants exhibited more concern for the environment, and were more supportive of resource management intervention overall. ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to thank the Social Science and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) who provided funding for this research through the Joseph‐Armand Bombardier Canada Graduate Scholarship. Major funding was also provided by the Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Science (IBES) and Memorial University of Newfoundland. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to my supervisor Dr. Alistair Bath, first for presenting me with the opportunity to pursue graduate studies, and then for providing me with guidance, support and good conversation along the way. Thanks also to my committee members Dr. Dean Bavington and Dr. Yolanda Wiersma for strengthening my thesis with your invaluable advice, comments and constructive feedback. I would also like to acknowledge the support I received from Jeffrey Pittman of the NL Department of Innovation, Business and Rural Development in Marystown, who provided me with direction on the ground and was instrumental in raising awareness of the project on the Burin Peninsula. I am also grateful to the Garnish-Point Rosie and Marystown Trail Associations, as well as to the many residents of the Burin Peninsula who participated in this research. Your kindness and hospitality made my fieldwork an unforgettable experience! Last, but certainly not least, I would like to thank my husband Byron for his encouragement, support and assistance over the past 2 years. Thank you for moving across the country (and back!) so that I could achieve my goal. I could not have done it without you! iii Table of Contents ABSTRACT ....................................................................................................................... ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ............................................................................................... iii Table of Contents ............................................................................................................. iv List of Tables ..................................................................................................................... vi List of Figures ................................................................................................................... vii Chapter 1: Thesis Overview ............................................................................................ 1 1.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................ 1 1.2 ATV use in Newfoundland and Labrador .............................................................................. 3 1.3 Research purpose and objectives ........................................................................................... 6 1.4 Organization of the Thesis ..................................................................................................... 7 1.5 References ............................................................................................................................ 10 Co-authorship Statement ............................................................................................... 13 Chapter 2: The human dimensions of all-terrain vehicle use: Basic theories, key literature and future research ........................................................................................ 14 2.1 Abstract ................................................................................................................................ 14 2.2 Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 14 2.2.1 Human dimensions of natural resource management ................................................... 16 2.3 Environmental attitudes and behaviour ................................................................................ 18 2.3.1 Environmental attitudes and outdoor recreation participation ...................................... 27 2.3.2 Recreation specialization .............................................................................................. 34 2.3.3 Recreation specialization and environmental attitudes ................................................. 40 2.4 Key Research on OHV/ATV users ...................................................................................... 42 2.4.1 Comparative studies on OHV/ATV users ..................................................................... 43 2.4.2 Within-activity studies on OHV/ATV users ................................................................. 48 2.4.3 Desired benefits and meanings of OHV/ATV use ........................................................ 51 2.5 Discussion ............................................................................................................................ 53 2.6 References ............................................................................................................................ 57 Chapter 3: Factors influencing attitudes among ATV users on the island portion of the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada .............................................. 69 3.1 Abstract ................................................................................................................................ 69 3.2 Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 69 3.3 Factors Affecting Attitudes .................................................................................................. 72 3.4 Study Area ........................................................................................................................... 77 3.4.1 ATV Use on the Burin Peninsula .................................................................................. 81 3.5 Methods ................................................................................................................................ 83 3.5.1 Operationalization of Variables .................................................................................... 87 3.5.2 Analysis ......................................................................................................................... 88 3.6 Results .................................................................................................................................. 90 iv 3.6.1 Univariate Results ......................................................................................................... 90 3.6.2 Multivariate Analysis .................................................................................................... 94 3.6.3 Regression Analysis ...................................................................................................... 96 3.7 Discussion ............................................................................................................................ 97 3.8 References .......................................................................................................................... 104 Chapter 4: Recreation specialization among ATV users and its relationship to environmental attitudes and management preferences on the island Newfoundland ......................................................................................................................................... 110 4.1 Abstract .............................................................................................................................. 110 4.2 Introduction ........................................................................................................................ 110 4.3 Recreation Specialization ................................................................................................... 112 4.3.1 Environmental Attitude-Behaviour Correspondence .................................................. 115 4.3.2 Recreation Specialization and Environmental Attitudes ............................................. 117 4.3.3 Recreation Specialization and Management Preferences ............................................ 119 4.4 Methods .............................................................................................................................