ABSTRACT GUO, TIAN. Examining Low-Impact Recreation
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ABSTRACT GUO, TIAN. Examining Low-impact Recreation Behavior – The Effects of Values, Attitudes, and Timing of Educational Messaging. (Under the direction of Dr. Roger L. Moore and Dr. Jordan W. Smith). A considerable amount of previous research has documented the adverse impacts of recreation activities on the natural environment. These impacts, which include soil compaction and erosion, loss of vegetation and degraded wildlife habitat, can result in the severe degradation of ecosystem function and the quality of recreation experiences if left unmanaged. Promoting low impact recreation behaviors among visitors to natural areas is vital in order to protect natural resources while serving public recreation needs and facilitating the benefits associated with human-nature interactions. This dissertation examined low-impact recreation behaviors, focusing on three broad questions: 1) how have social-psychological theories guided low-impact recreation behavior research; 2) why do individuals comply with low-impact recreation behavioral recommendations; and 3) does the timing of educational messaging regarding compliance with low-impact recreation behavioral recommendations affect compliance with those behaviors. Collectively, this dissertation was designed to contribute to the theoretical development of outdoor recreation research and to inform visitor use management. It is my hope that this dissertation will assist natural resource managers and researchers in their efforts to provide high quality outdoor recreation opportunities while protecting the natural resources upon which those opportunities depend. © Copyright 2016 by Tian Guo All Rights Reserved Examining Low-impact Recreation Behavior – The Effects of Values, Attitudes and Timing of Educational Messaging by Tian Guo A dissertation submitted to the Graduate Faculty of North Carolina State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management Raleigh, North Carolina 2016 APPROVED BY: _______________________________ _______________________________ Dr. Roger L. Moore Dr. Jordan W. Smith Committee Co-Chair Committee Co-Chair _______________________________ _______________________________ Dr. Myron F. Floyd Dr. Montserrat Fuentes ii DEDICATION This dissertation is dedicated to my parents, Xianyuan Guo and Zhiyun Tian. You did a good job. 献给我的父母,郭先原和田志耘。 我爱你们。 iii BIOGRAPHY Tian Guo graduated in December 2016 with a Ph.D. from the Department of Parks Recreation and Tourism Management (PRTM), and a Master of Statistics Degree from the Department of Statistics. Guo’s general research interest is to promote mutually beneficial human-nature interactions through advancing our understanding of nature-based recreation outcomes and low-impact recreation behavior. Her current research focuses on the effects of personal values and environmental education on low-impact recreation behaviors. Her long-term research and teaching interests extend to the application of data sciences in natural resource management and promotion of community wellbeing. Her past research experience involves state parks economic impact studies, cross-cultural comparisons of outdoor recreation constraints, and case studies of community and sustainable tourism. Guo has also taught a required core course about analysis and evaluation for undergraduate students and guest lectured on nature-based recreation, ecological issues in tourism, and international tourism. She holds degrees from Sichuan University (BS, MS) in China, and the University of Minnesota (MS). In the fall of 2016, Guo will join the Leahy Lab in the School of Forest Resources at the University of Maine to continue her research on human-dimensions of natural resources as a postdoctoral research fellow. Off-campus, Guo is an Asian cuisine enthusiast and enjoys travelling with friends. iv ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I would like to first thank the 1,489 Appalachian Trail hikers and the 67 undergraduate students from North Carolina State University who generously donated their time for this project and shared their passion for nature and people. Also, my sincerest thanks to the Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management and Appalachian Trail Conservancy for funding this dissertation. It has been an absolute pleasure to work with Morgan Sommerville, Laurie Potteiger, and Tenny Webster from Appalachian Trail Conservancy on this project. I must also thank the faculty members who have served on my committee. To my co- chair Dr. Roger Moore my mentor, friend, great writer and thinker: you showed me what being an academic really means. To my co-chair Dr. Jordan Smith, who contributed tremendous time, effort and insight on this project: I am always inspired by your vision and deep understanding of research and your concise writing style. To Dr. Myron Floyd, who always asks the right questions that propel the project to a deeper level: I really enjoyed working with you. To Dr. Montserrat Fuentes, who generously provided advice and feedback on issues that were far beyond data analysis techniques: thank you for teaching me the value of integrating data science to practical issues. Finally, to Dr. Dennis Boos: I appreciate you generously stepping in for the defense process. I am very grateful to my family, friends and colleagues. There are so many of you who supported, encouraged, and compelled me to grow; I cannot possibly make a complete list. My four years in Raleigh would not have been the same without you. Thank you God; you make the impossible happen. v TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF TABLES ......................................................................................................................... ix LIST OF FIGURES ........................................................................................................................ x CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................... 1 References ................................................................................................................................... 4 CHAPTER 2: A REVIEW OF EMPIRICAL LOW-IMPACT RECREATION BEHAVIOR STUDIES: THE USE OF SOCIAL-PSYCHOLOGIAL THEORIES IN PREDICTION MODELS AND BEHAVIOR CHANGE INTERVENTIONS ...................................................... 6 Abstract ....................................................................................................................................... 6 Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 7 Methods..................................................................................................................................... 11 Article Search and Selection ................................................................................................. 12 Coding and Analysis ............................................................................................................. 13 Findings..................................................................................................................................... 17 Social-Psychological Predictors............................................................................................ 17 Predictability of Social-Psychological Models ..................................................................... 19 Behavioral Change Intervention ........................................................................................... 19 Discussion ................................................................................................................................. 22 Complex Human Behavior ................................................................................................... 23 Theory and Effective Behavioral Change Interventions ....................................................... 26 Limitation, Future Studies and Implications ......................................................................... 30 References ................................................................................................................................. 32 Table 2. 1. Keywords used in article search ......................................................................... 40 Table 2. 2. Socio-psychological factors conceptualized as predictors of compliance/non- compliance with low-impact recreation behavioral recommendations in past studies. ........ 41 Table 2. 3. Social psychological predictors examined in previous research ........................ 42 Table 2.4. Socio-psychological factors tested using factorial environmental design. .......... 43 Table 2.5. Socio-psychological factors targeted in theory-based behavioral change studies. ............................................................................................................................................... 44 CHAPTER 3: THE INFLUENCE OF BASIC VALUES ON COMPLIANCE WITH LOW- IMPACT RECREATION BEHAVIORAL RECOMMENDATIONS ........................................ 45 Abstract ..................................................................................................................................... 45 Introduction ............................................................................................................................... 46 Value System ........................................................................................................................ 49 Values-Low-impact Recreation