Visitor Survey

Climate Change Survey, 2011

Section 1—Your Site Visit

1. How long have you already been at the site during this trip? ______ hours OR ______ days
   
   

2. Which of the following did you participate in or use on this trip? (Check all that apply.)

1.  A ranger or educator-led talk.

2.  A ranger or educator-led walk.

3.  A ranger or educator-led evening (or campfire) program.

4.  Exhibits at the museum or visitor center.

5.  Brochures or written material distributed by the site. Please describe: ______________

6.  Wayside exhibits located at pullouts, along trails or at trailheads.

7.  A Junior Ranger Program (by myself or with children in my group).

8.  One or more park or refuge podcasts that were viewed online.

9.  A film or multi-media program that was viewed onsite.

10.  I visited the site’s webpage.

11.  I spoke informally with an employee or volunteer.

12.  Other ___________________________________________________________

3. a. Please indicate on a scale of 1-5 the extent to which the following factors influenced your decision to visit this site. (Circle the number of your choice.)

	Did Not Influence				Strongly Influenced
I saw the roadside sign and decided at that moment to stop by.	1	2	3	4	5
I came because my spouse/friend/relative wanted to come.	1	2	3	4	5
I am bringing friends or relatives who are visiting.	1	2	3	4	5
I was looking for something fun to do with members of my group.	1	2	3	4	5
I came as part of a trip or vacation.	1	2	3	4	5
I have an interest in outdoor recreation.	1	2	3	4	5
I have an interest in history.	1	2	3	4	5
I have an interest in nature.	1	2	3	4	5
I have an interest in educational programs.	1	2	3	4	5
I like visiting national parks, wildlife refuges and similar sites.	1	2	3	4	5
Other: ___________________________	1	2	3	4	5

• b.______Which is the most important reason for you to visit this park or wildlife area?
  (Write the number from the question 3a list.)

Section 2—Your Onsite Experience

4. a. During your visit to this site so far, indicate the extent to which you: (Circle the number of your choice.)
   
   
   

	Not at All				A Lot
Learned something new about climate change.	1	2	3	4	5
Understood something better about climate change.	1	2	3	4	5
Thought about climate change differently.	1	2	3	4	5
Formed an intellectual connection to the meanings and significance of climate change.	1	2	3	4	5

 b. Please describe the thoughts you have had about climate change while visiting this site.

*Has any information caught you by surprise?

*Has a personal experience come to mind during your visit?

*Have you shared any thoughts with your group members?

4. a. During your visit to this site so far, has anything you’ve experienced related to the topic of climate change: (Circle the number of your choice.)
   
   
   

	Not at All				A Lot
Touched you in some way?	1	2	3	4	5
Stirred up any feelings?	1	2	3	4	5
Reached you at a personal level?	1	2	3	4	5
Triggered an emotional connection to the meanings and significance of climate change?	1	2	3	4	5

 b. Please describe the feelings you have had while visiting this site related to the topic of

climate change.

*Has anything caused sadness, joy, amazement or any other feeling?
*Has anything reminded you of a previous experience?
*Have you shared any feelings with your group members?

4. a. During your visit to this site so far, has anything you’ve experienced related to the topic of climate change: (Circle the number of your choice.)
   
   
   

	Not at All				A Lot
Developed important concepts?	1	2	3	4	5
Provided a balanced presentation of differing viewpoints?	1	2	3	4	5
Helped you build skills to assess environmental issues?	1	2	3	4	5
Provided you with opportunities to move from awareness to action?	1	2	3	4	5

 b. As a result of your visit to this site, please describe how you might think or act

differently in the area of climate change.

Section 3 -- Your Views about Climate Change and Global Warming

Recently climate change, sometimes referred to as global warming, has been getting attention in the news. Global warming refers to the idea that the world’s average temperature has been increasing over the past 150 years, may be increasing more in the future, and that the world’s climate may change as a result.

7. What do you think? Do you think that global warming is happening?

Yes…

…and I’m extremely sure.

…and I’m very sure.

…and I’m somewhat sure.

…but I’m not at all sure.

No…

…and I’m extremely sure

…and I’m very sure

…and I’m somewhat sure

…but I’m not at all sure

…I don’t know

8. Assuming global warming is happening, do you think it is …

 Caused mostly by human activities.

 Caused mostly by natural changes in the environment.

 Caused by both natural changes in the environment and human activities.

 None of the above because global warming isn’t happening.

9. How worried are you about global warming?

 Very worried.

 Somewhat worried.

 Not very worried.

 Not at all worried.

10. How much do you think global warming will harm you personally?

• A great deal.

• A moderate amount.

• Not at all.

• Don’t know.

11. When do you think global warming will start to harm people in the United States?

• They are being harmed now.

• In 10 years.

• In 25 years.

• In 50 years.

• In 100 years.

• Never.

12. How much do you think global warming will harm future generations of people?

• A great deal.

• A moderate amount.

• Not at all.

• Don’t know.

13. How much had you thought about global warming before today?

• A great deal.

• A moderate amount.

• Not at all.

• Don’t know.

14. How important is the issue of global warming to you personally?

• Extremely important

• Very important

• Somewhat important

• Not too important

• Not at all important

15. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement: “I could easily change my mind about global warming.”

 Strongly agree

 Somewhat agree

 Somewhat disagree

 Strongly disagree

16. How many of your friends share your views on global warming?

 None

 A few

 Some

 Most

 All

17. Which of the following statements comes closest to your view?

 Global warming isn’t happening.

 Humans can’t reduce global warming, even if it is happening.

 Humans could reduce global warming, but people aren’t willing to change their behavior, so we’re not going to reduce global warming.

 Humans could reduce global warming, but it’s unclear at this point whether we will do what’s needed.

 Humans can reduce global warming, and we are going to do so successfully.

18. Do you think citizens themselves should be doing more or less to address global warming?

 Much more.

 More.

 Currently doing the right amount.

 Less.

 Much less.

• Don’t know.
  
  
  

19. Do you think global warming should be a low, medium, high, or very high priority for the President and Congress? (Topic Area 6 – Individual Perceptions of their Park Experiences)

• Low

• Medium

• High

• Very high

20. People disagree whether the United States should reduce greenhouse gas emissions on its own, or make reductions only if other countries do too. Which of the following statements comes closest to your own point of view?

The United States should reduce its greenhouse gas emissions…

 Regardless of what other countries do

 Only if other industrialized countries (such as England, Germany and Japan) reduce their emissions

 The US should not reduce its emissions

 Don’t know

21. How much do you trust or distrust the following as a source of information about global warming? (Please place a check in the appropriate box)

	Strongly distrust	Somewhat distrust	Somewhat trust	Strongly trust
Family & friends
Environmental organizations
Corporations or businesses
Religious leaders
Scientists in general
NASA scientists
Park rangers or refuge educators
Mainstream news media
List source you trust most: ______________ Why do you trust this source most?: __________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________
List source you distrust most: ______________ Why do you distrust this source most?: _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________

22. Over the past 12 months, how many times have you done these things? (Please put a check in the appropriate box)

	Never	Once	A few times (2-3)	Several times (4-5)	Many times	Don’t Know
Written letters, emailed, or phoned government officials to urge them to take ac­tion to reduce global warming.
Attended a community meeting or rally about global warming.
	Never	Once	A few times (2-3)	Several times (4-5)	Many times	Don’t Know
Volunteered with or donated money to an organization working to reduce global warming.
Purchased carbon offsets.
Bought green products.
Told my friends about what I’ve learned.
Actively pursued more knowledge about climate change.
Rewarded companies that are taking steps to reduce global warming by buying their products.
Punished companies that are opposing steps to reduce global warming by NOT buying their products.

23. Over the next 12 months, would you like to do each of the following… (Please put a check in the appropriate box)

	Less frequently	About the same as now	More frequently
Write letters, email, or phone government officials to urge them to take ac­tion to reduce global warming.
Attend a community meeting or rally about global warming.
Volunteer with or donated money to an organization working to reduce global warming.
Purchase carbon offsets.
Buy green products.
Tell my friends about what I’ve learned.
Actively pursue more knowledge about climate change.
Reward companies that are taking steps to reduce global warming by buying their products.
Punish companies that are opposing steps to reduce global warming by NOT buying their products.

24. Which comes closer to your own view:

 Most scientists think global warming is happening.

 Most scientists think global warming is not happening.

 There is a lot of disagreement among scientists about whether or not global warm­ing is happening.

 Don't know enough to say.

25. Personally, how well informed do you feel you are about … (Please put a check in the appropriate box)

	Not at all informed	Not very well informed	Fairly well informed	Very well informed
The different causes of global warming
The different consequences of global warming
Ways in which we can reduce global warming

Section 4—Demographics

26. What is your gender? (Please check.)

 Male

 Female

26. What is your age? (Check one.)

 under 18	 45 – 54
 18 - 24	 55 – 64
 25 – 34	 65 – 74
 35 - 44	 75 and over

26. What is the highest grade of school or year of college that you completed? (Check one.)

 Less than high school

 High school graduate or GED

 Some college or associate degree

 Four year college degree

 Masters, doctoral, or professional degree

26. Are you Hispanic or Latino?

 No

 Yes

26. What is your race? (Check one or more.)

 American Indian or Alaska Native

 Asian

 Black or African American

• Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander

 White

26. Which category best describes your total household income in 2010 before taxes? (Check one.)
    
    
    

 Less than $14,999	 $75,000 to $99,999
 $15,000 to $24,999	 $100,000 to $149,999
 $25,000 to $34,999	 $150,000 to $199,999
 $35,000 to $49,999	 Over $200,000
 $50,000 to $74,999

26. Are you a permanent resident or citizen of the U.S.?

 No ― What is your country of origin? ______________________________

 Yes ― What is your zip code and state of residence?

Zip Code _____________________________

State _______________________________

26. a. Which of the following best describes your personal group you are traveling with? (Check one.)

• Myself alone

 Myself with family (including spouse/partner and/or other family members/relatives)

 Myself with family and friends

 Myself with friends

 Other (Please specify) _______________________________________________

• b. Are there any children under age 18 in your group?

 No

 Yes ― How many children are in each of these age categories?

______ Number of children under 5 years old.

______ Number of children age 5-12

______ Number of children age 13-17

26. Do you consider yourself a:

 Republican

 Democrat

• Independent

Thank you for your time!

Privacy Act and Paperwork Reduction Act statement:

16 U.S.C. 1a-7 authorizes collection of this information. This information will be used by park managers to better serve the public. Response to this request is voluntary and anonymous. No action may be taken against you for refusing to supply the information requested. Permanent data will be anonymous. An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number.

Burden estimate statement: Public reporting for this form is estimated to average 15 minutes per response. Please direct comments regarding the burden estimate or any other aspect of this form to Anita L. Davis at [email protected] or (301) 614-6669.

Please record any additional comments below.

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