Maine Freshwater Fishing Study, User's Guide to The
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Project Number 9033 ^~ . C ...... i H? 'i^LH££ Maine Freshwater Fishing Study User's Guide to the Data Set Prepared for ChemRisk Portland, Maine December 13, 1990 Prepared by: HBRS. Inc. University Research Park 585 Science Drive. Suite A Madison, Wl 53711-1060 WESTON TRANSMITTAL FORM TO: Troy Tucker Date: 12/18/02 | Job No.: 20122.246.001.9994 Re: ChemRisk document File No: 02-0328 WE ARE SENDING YOU: X Attached Under Separate Cover Prints Plans Samples Specifications Copy of Letter Change Order Shop Drawings X Other: see below Item No. Date No. of Description Copies 1 12/13/90 1 ChemRisk. 13 December 1990. Maine Freshwater Fishing Study User's Guide to the Data Set. WE ARE TRANSMITTING as checked below: For Approval X For Your Use Copies for Approval As Requested Returned After Loan to Us Copies for Distribution For Review and Comment Other (explain) Corrected Prints Signed: ^^c^^.^^i^ Date: 12/18/02 Amy R. Kirk Publications Coordinator REMARKS: As requested by Harlee Strauss, I'm sending you a copy of this document for your use. COPY TO: H. Strauss Project Files CPLAN01VO £0122246 001\CHEMRISKTRANSMITTAL_12-18-02 DOC QS-09-F-010-01, Rev. No.: 00, Rev. Date: OS/01/97 Maine Freshwater Fishing Study User's Guide to the Data Set Overview of the Data Set The mall survey data, matched with license Information provided by ChemRlsk. Is found In an archived file called CHEM.ARC on the first diskette. After the file Is unarchlved. the data set can be found In CHEM.DAT. The data set Is In fixed-field ASCII format There are 1,612 cases (respondents) In this data set, and the data for each case covers four rows. A complete description of each variable and Its codes are Included In the codebook. The column locations are Included In Appendix A. All variables are numeric unless noted as a text variable In Appendix A (Type; Une 4 columns 226 - 229, Address; Line 5 columns 1 - 34, City; Line 5 columns 35 - 52, State; Line 5 columns 53 - 54, Sex; Une 5 column 60, and Legalres; Une 5 columns 61 - 78). Identification numbers 9997, 9998. and 9999 do not have any of the original ChemRisk Information. The respondent deleted the ID number from the survey, so It was assigned a number outside the survey identification range. All numeric variables are right justified within the field, and all text variables are left justified within the field. If a question was not applicable, the field contains a ». For questions that were supposed to be answered but have a missing response, the field is filled with 9's. These missing values and not applicable values are listed by each variable in the codebook. Appendix B contains the comments by respondents about the survey and study. The second diskette is contains frequency distribution of the survey responses. This file is called CHEM.FRQ. CHEM.TMP Is the ASCII data template used to read the file CHEM.DAT. The third diskette contains a file called CHEMUSER.033. This is the WordPerfect 5.1 copy of the User's Guide to the data set. The diskette also contains CHEMTEXT.033. This file contains the WordPerfect 5.1 text for possible Inclusion in the report. This diskette also contains a file called CHEMUSER.ASC. This is the ASCII version of the User's Guide. It also contains a file called CHEMTEXT.ASC. This Is the ASCII version of the text for possible inclusion in the report. Sample Design Based on discussions with Dr. Boyle and Dr. Reiling of the University of Maine, personnel from ChemRisk decided to design a sample that would ensure completed surveys from a minimum of 100 anglers having the least likely set of characteristics in which ChemRisk was interested. This group of anglers was Identified as those anglers who had fished for, caught and eaten warm water species from flowing waters in the state of Maine during the previous fishing year. Based on the estimates of various types of anglers In the state of Maine provided by Dr. Boyle and Dr. ReBing, It was determined that obtaining the required number of completed surveys from this population would require approximately 1,363 completed surveys from a random sample of freshwater anglers In Maine. To determine the sample size required to obtain these 1,363 completed surveys two assumptions were made about the proportion of undelfverable surveys that might be expected and the response rate to deliverable surveys. The sampling frame used for this study was the population of Individuals holding a valid Maine residential fishing license In 1989. Based on the experience of Drs. Boyle and Relllng, It was felt that even if the sampling frame was the population of individuals holding a valid 1990 license, only 90 percent of surveys would be deliverable. Since the sampling frame used in this study was 1989 rather than 1990, an additional allowance for undeliverable surveys was made. For the purposes of calculating the required initial sample, It was assumed that 81 percent (90 percent * 90 percent) of surveys would be deliverable. In addition, a response rate of 75 percent to the deliverable surveys was assumed. Using these assumptions, a required sample size of approximately 2,244 was calculated. Because of uncertainties about the response rate and the proportion of undeliverable surveys, a slightly larger sample size of 2,500 was selected. Survey Implementation Two thousand five hundred residences were sent an advance letter on October 9, 1990 to Inform them of the survey and explain the reasons the study was being conducted. The survey instrument was mailed on October 16, 1990. The survey packet contained a letter explaining the study, a question and answer sheet to explain basic questions people might have, a survey, and a stamped return envelope. If a survey packet came back as undeHverable, another packet was sent to the new address when applicable. On October 23, 1990 a thank you/reminder postcard was sent to everyone. The postcard thanked people who had already completed and returned the survey, and reminded those who had not returned the survey to do so soon. On November 7, 1990 a first follow-up survey packet was mailed to 1,111 nonrespondents. The packet was identical to the initial packet, but the accompanying letter asked to have the survey returned by December 3. 1990 so analysis would be able to begin. The following table presents the response summary for this study. 1.612 completed surveys were returned for a response rate of 64 percent. These 1,612 completed surveys represent 69 percent of the surveys that were actually deliverable. We feel there are two reasons that the response rate fell below the 75 percent of deliverable surveys that was expected. The first factor was that we had hoped to gain some sponsorship of the survey from some organization In Maine. This turned out to be Impossible and the survey was sent out under HBRS sponsorship. Surveys under the sponsorship of a market research firm such as HBRS typically have lower response rates, all else equal, than surveys Identified as being sponsored by a university or state agency. In addition, after the survey process was initiated, It became apparent that the dlent required data earlier than was originally anticipated. This change In time frame precluded any attempt to Increase the response rate to 75 percent by using an additional contact However, even at the slightly lower response rate, the objective of obtaining at least 1,360 completed surveys was stni achieved. Table 1: Response Summary for Maine Freshwater Fishing Survey Number Completed Interviews 1,612 Did not fish in 1989-1990 28 Undeltverable as addressed 171 Deceased 10 Refusal 25 Out of the country 1 No Response 653 Pretest Sample 50 Extra Sample 403 Initial Sample Size 2,953 This survey Is about your freshwater fishing experiences In Maine. Your name was selected because you purchased a Maine resident fishing license In 1989. 1. About how old were you when you took your first freshwater fishing trip In Maine? (FILL IN BLANK) Q1 2-75 years old the first time I ever fished in Maine 99 Missing 2. Ho wwould you describe your fishing ability? (CIRCLE ONE NUMBER) Q2 1 9 Novice Intermediate Expert Missing 3. Did you go freshwater fishing in Maine in 1989? (CIRCLE ONE NUMBER) 03 1 No 2 Yes 9 Missing Did you go fishing in Maine during either the 1989-1990 ice fishing season or during the 1990 open- water fishing seasons? (CIRCLE ONE NUMBER) Q4 1 No 2 Yes- -> Skip to Questions 9 Missing 5. What was the most important reason why you did not go fishing during the 1989-1990 ice fishing season or the 1990 open-water seasons? (CIRCLE ONE NUMBER) Q5 1 Health problems 2 Too busy with other activities 3 I lost my interest in fishing 4 Other (please describe: See List #1) 9 Missing • Not applicable If you didn't fish during the 1989-1990 ice fishing season or make any 1990 open-water fishing trips, please skip to Question 25. 6. We would like to know more about the factors or she characteristics that are Important In choosing the location where you fish. Please Indicate how Important each factor or site characteristic, listed below. Is to you. (CIRCLE ONE NUMBER FOR EACH CATEGORY) Not Somewhat Very Not Important Important Important Missing Applicable Q6_1 Easy access from a road 1 2 3 9 * Q6_2 Availability of public access 1 2 3 9 • Q6_3 Maintained boad launch 1 2 3 9 * Q6_4 Type o f water (pond, river , etc.) 1 2 3 9 * Q6_5 Size o f body o f water 1 2 3 9 * Q6_6 Easy t o fish from th e shore 1 2 3 9 * Q6_7 Special fishing regulations 1 2 3 9 • Q6_8 Chance o f catching a trophy fish 1 2 3 9 * Q6_9 Desirable species of fish 1 2 3 9 • Q6_10 Chance t o catch many fish 1 2 3 9 * Q6_11 Past fishing success 1 2 3 9 • Q6_12 Not likely to get skunked 1 2 3 9 • Q6_13 Location where friends fish 1 2 3 9 * Q6_14 Few anglers 1 2 3 9 • Q6_15 Beauty o f surrounding area 1 2 3 9 * Q6_16 Close t o motels, restaurants, etc.