Expedited Review Form

1024-0224_08-037_ExpeditedForm.pdf

Programmatic Approval for National Park Service-Sponsored Public Surveys

Expedited Review Form

OMB: 1024-0224

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National Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior
Social Science Program
Expedited Approval for NPS-Sponsored Public Surveys
1.

Project Title ⎢
Submission
Date:

2.

Abstract:

Visitor Use Survey of Golden Gate National Recreation Area Park
Lands

The Golden Gate National Parks Visitor Use study will provide the National Park Service and its
partners, the Presidio Trust and Golden Gate National Park Conservancy, with information about trip
and visitor characteristics, individual uses and activities, and opinions and perceptions of the park and
its management at four sites within the Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA). The study
will be conducted over five months in two parts: a short intercept survey to develop a visitor use
population profile across the four park sites, and a follow-up survey to secure more in-depth
information about visitors’ experiences. Sampling will be conducted at San Francisco County sites
within the park boundaries from June 15 through November 30, 2008. The surveys will inform the
development of the GGNRA General Management Plan and provide insight about how to improve
visitor experiences and engagement in stewardship of the parks.
(not to exceed 150 words)

3.

Principal Investigator Contact Information
First Name:
Title:
Affiliation:
Street Address:
City:
Phone:
Email:

4.

Emilyn

Last Name:

Sheffield

Professor
California State University, Chico
813B Menges Street
Sausalito

State:

530-570-9855

Fax:

CA

Zip code:

94965

415-561-4710

[email protected]

Park or Program Liaison Contact Information
First Name:

Michael

Last Name:

Title:

Director,
Strategic Planning & Social Sciences

Park:

Golden Gate NRA

Park
Office/Division:

Superintendent’s Office

Street Address:

Fort Mason, Building 201

City:

San Francisco

State:

Phone:

415-561-4725

Fax:

Email:

April 10, 2008
(revised 5/21/08)

[email protected]

CA

Savidge

Zip code:

415-561-4710

94123

Project Information
Golden Gate National Recreation Area

5.

Park(s) For Which Research
is to be Conducted:

6.

Survey Dates:

7.

Type of Information Collection Instrument (Check ALL that Apply)
‰

‰

8.

Mail-Back
Questionnaire

6/15/08

(mm/dd/yyyy)

™ On-Site
Questionnaire

‰

to

Face-toFace
Interview

11/30/08

™

(mm/dd/yyyy)

Telephone
Survey

‰

Focus
Groups

Other (explain)
Survey Justification:
(Use as much space as
needed; if necessary
include additional
explanation on a
separate page.)

Legal Justification: The National Park Service Act of 1916, 38 Stat 535, 16 USC
1, et seq., requires that the National Park Service (NPS) preserve the national
parks for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. At the field
level, this means resource preservation, public education, facility maintenance and
operation, and physical developments that are necessary for public use, health,
and safety. Allocation of funding is to be roughly in proportion to the seasonally
adjusted volume of use (P. L. 88-578, Sect. 6) and in consideration of visitor
characteristics and activities for determining carrying capacity (92 Stat. 3467; P.
L. 95-625, Sect. 604 11/10/78). Other federal rules (National Environmental
Policy Act, 1969 and NPS guidelines) require data on visitors and visitor use to be
incorporated into each park’s general management plan.
Social science research in support of park planning and management is mandated
in the NPS Management Policies 2006 (Section 8.11.1, “Social Science Studies”).
The NPS pursues a policy that facilitates social science studies in support of the
NPS mission to protect resources and enhance the enjoyment of present and future
generations (National Park Service Act of 1916, 38 Stat 535, 16 USC 1, et seq.).
NPS policy mandates that social science research will be used to provide an
understanding of park visitors, the non-visiting public, gateway communities and
regions, and human interactions with park resources. Such studies are needed to
provide a scientific basis for park planning, development, operations,
management, education, and interpretive activities.
Management Justification: A new general management plan and area plans are
now being formulated for park areas within the Golden Gate National Recreation
Area. Such general management and area plans are required for all units of the
National Park System and must be based on data concerning park use and users.
The proposed study will help develop these baseline data. It will also help the
park and its partners develop visitor use indicators and standards (required in all
GMPs), monitor visitor use, become better informed about areas needing
improvement, and understand how best to engage visitors in park stewardship.
Visitor Use Research to date has focused on developing this baseline at Muir
Woods and Muir Beach (Manning, 2005), Alcatraz (Manning et al, 1998, 2007),
and San Mateo (Manning, 2007a). Other research has been completed for trails
(Tierney, 2004, 2005, 2006), a key recreation user group (Farrell, 2003), ethnic
minorities (Roberts, 2007), pet management (Solop, 2002), and to aid in
transportation planning (Transportation Management Plans, 2002a, 2002b).
Similar baseline data for key park sites (Ocean Beach, Lands End, Presidio and
Crissy Field) in San Francisco County are missing, and collection of this
information is needed to support development of visitor use profiles and
indicators for key San Francisco sites, and the park in general, as part of the
park’s General Management Plan process in 2008.

9.

Survey Methodology: (Use
as much space as needed;
if necessary include
additional explanation on a
separate page.)

Summary:
The methodology for the Golden Gate National Parks Visitor Survey consists of a
two-phase survey. In the first phase, an eight-minute on-site intercept
questionnaire will collect trip characteristics, basic patterns and preferences for
site use, and demographic information. The on-site intercept also utilizes bilingual
or multilingual survey personnel and questionnaires in three languages to increase
the response rate from persons with limited English language proficiency. Two of
the four park sites have significant visitation from Spanish-speaking and Chinesespeaking visitors. Each respondent who completes the on-site intercept will be
asked to participate in a second follow-up telephone interview for more in-depth
feedback, as recommended by a design panel of social science experts convened
at the park in January 2008. This approach represents a good balance between
cost-effectiveness, desired response rates, and the need to get stronger baseline
information for these popular park sites.
The research methodology, including the two-phase design, the survey
instruments, and the sampling plan, was developed using a design panel
comprised of three survey research specialists and a six-person team of program
and planning professionals from the parks. The research specialists included Dr.
Dan Stynes from Michigan State (Professor emeritus), Dr. Fred Solop from
Northern Arizona University, and Dr. Chase Harrison from Harvard University.
Additional information about the design and administration of the Golden Gate
National Parks Visitor Survey is provided below. The intercept and follow-up
survey instruments are attached. Introductory scripts and reporting log are
included as well.
Determining the research modes for the two-phase survey
Telephone interviews and self-administered questionnaires are the two most
common survey research modes used in park research. Dillman (2007) notes that
through the late 1970s telephone surveys using TDM (Total Design Method)
techniques often achieved higher response rates than self-administered mail
surveys. Since then, response rates for most surveys have declined, and both mail
and telephone surveys require more persistence to achieve acceptable response
rates (Dillman, 2007).
When industry-standard survey design techniques and protocols are used in
general population surveys, response rates between 50% and 70% can be obtained
with either type of survey. The response rate variation within a particular mode is
generally larger than the between-mode variation. General population mail-back
survey response rates range between 35% and 70% (Johnson, 2005). Random
digit dialing (RDD) telephone survey response rates range from 35% to 60%
(Johnson, 2005). Further, all survey researchers have noted declines in
participation rates in recent years, regardless of the mode selected. Dillman (2007)
indicates that special population surveys often exhibit response rates that are eight
to ten percentage points higher than general population surveys. He also details a
variety of techniques that can increase response rates, and reports numerous
examples of special population surveys with returns rates between 70 and 75
percent (Dillman, 2007). This research effort is a special population survey; so
higher return rates in the 65% to 70% range can be anticipated.
These return rates are consistent with recent surveys in national parks and at the
Golden Gate National Recreation Area. In 2006, for example, the University of
Idaho completed eleven Visitor Service Project surveys in national parks. These
surveys were distributed on-site at national parks where people were requested to
complete and return them by mail. Contact data were collected to send reminders.
Response rates ranged from 63.3% to 81.1%. Seven of the survey response rates

ranged between 64.0% and 78%. (Data retrieved from the University of Idaho
Park Studies Unit website).
Recent written on-site surveys at the Golden Gate National Parks have reported
return rates of 60% to 70% (Manning, 2003, 2004, 2005, Tierney, 2004) and in
the most recent 2007 Visitor Survey Card (NPS customer satisfaction survey),
response rate at the park exceeded 90% (University of Idaho, 2007.) The
telephone response rate for a recent GGNRA-sponsored general population
telephone survey on GGNRA management topics also was 64% (Solop, 2002).
These findings suggest that a follow-up survey response rate of 60% - 65% is
achievable.
The design team recommended an on-site intercept as the preferred mode for the
first phase of the survey. After careful consideration of each method, a telephone
interview was selected as the mode for the follow-up survey. The follow-up
telephone interview will be initiated within three to five days of the on-site survey
using contact information provided by the intercept respondents. (A small sample
of non-respondents will also be contacted and asked four questions (two forced
choice and two attitudinal) to identify non-response patterns other than those
associated with observable characteristics.) Other measures to assess and address
non-response are described in that section below.
Among the primary reasons for this decision:
1) Overall response rates for both survey modes have been comparable in
studies in the GGNRA.
2) All three professional public opinion survey organizations responding to
the park’s request for proposals recommended a telephone interview for
the follow-up survey.
3) The cost differences between the two follow-up survey modes were
minor.
4) The major issues that have made random digit dial (RDD) surveys more
challenging in recent years (e.g., unlisted numbers, fax machines and
other equipment requiring dedicated telephone lines, the proliferation of
multiple numbers within a single household, large numbers of mobile
telephones, and increased individual reluctance to participate in
telephone interviews) are not factors in this visitor study since
participants will be recruited and can provide their preferred telephone
contact numbers during the on-site intercept exchange.
5) Survey response rates are generally lower for ethnic minorities,
immigrants, persons with lower levels of education and income, and
persons with limited English language skills (Census, 2003, 2004; CHIS,
2003; Link, Mokdad, Stackhouse, Flowers, 2006; Galea & Tracy, 2007;
Griffin, 2002), and mailback surveys among minority populations have
been known to be especially difficult (APA, 2000; Floyd, 1999;
Henderson, 1998; McAvoy, Winter, Wilson-Outley, McDonald, &
Chavez, 2000; Stanfield & Dennis, 1993). Alternative approaches, such
as telephone surveys, are recommended (Floyd, 1999, 2001; Gramann,
1996; Henderson, 1998; McAvoy et al., 2000; Stanfield & Dennis, 1993;
Wicks & Norman, 1996).
6) McAvoy et al. (2000) suggested that telephone surveys are more
appropriate than mailed or internet surveys for minority communities,
and Roberts (2008, personal communication) stated that “interviewers
matched by ethnicity and language skills are desirable and, more
importantly, essential for greatest response.”
7) Tierney, Dahl, and Chavez (1998) conducted telephone interviews of
culturally diverse Los Angeles residents regarding outdoor recreation and
stated: “An important survey concern with sampling diverse cultures is
the language of the interview. We minimized bias against non-English
speakers by translating the survey and making interviews available, in

English, Spanish, and Mandarin.”
8) Experienced bilingual surveyors are readily available, offering a cost
effective means to learn more about LEP urban visitors to the large, high
volume urban GGNRA.
The use patterns and experiences of LEP park users are particularly valuable in an
urban setting with high percentages of LEP and/or immigrant residents. Bay Area
counties have substantial numbers of residents with limited English proficiency
(LEP), with higher levels of oral fluency (compared to written fluency) in
Spanish, Cantonese, and Mandarin.
(a) Respondent universe:
The respondent universe is all adult visitors, 18 years of age and older, visiting
one of the four survey sites during the sampling period.
At park sites anticipated to be visited by large numbers of people with Limited
English Proficiency (LEP), translated versions of the surveys will be available in
up to three languages: Spanish, Chinese/Mandarin, and Chinese/Cantonese.
Bi/multilingual intercept surveyors (English/Spanish, English/Mandarin,
English/Cantonese) will be employed to help increase the participation rate of
LEP visitors.
(b) Sampling plan/procedures:
Intercept Survey:
The population for the Golden Gate National Parks Visitor Survey will consist of
a stratified random sample of adult visitors to the Golden Gate National Parks
during the time period of June 15, 2008 through November 30, 2008. These
months reflect the peak and shoulder seasons of the park sites.
The design panel recommended a stratified, dual-stage cluster sampling design.
Visitors at four park sites (Crissy Field, Lands End, Ocean Beach, Presidio) in
San Francisco County will be surveyed. Intercept points will include vehicle
parking lots, trailheads, transit boarding areas, and pedestrian and bike exit gates.
The sampling period includes peak and shoulder use periods at the parks.
A stratified, even random sample of weekends and weekdays will be selected for
the four park area. A minimum of five weekdays and five weekend days of
sampling will be completed at each of the sites, with sampling periods from 8 am
–7:30 pm, given the park’s visitation patterns.
To ensure a valid and reliable sample, approximately 1,600 initial on-site contacts
will be made at each of the above four park sites, with an anticipated response rate
of 60%. This will result in 960 completed intercept surveys at each park site.
During each sampling day, at least one trained surveyor and one assistant, will be
stationed at four intercept points within each of the four park sites.
During a sampling period, the surveyor will approach every nth visitor/visitor
group to exit the site. [Note: the sampling intervals will be determined by site
managers’ field knowledge and actual counts, e.g., n=10 at sampling points with
between 76-125 visitors per hour, n=5 at points with 31-75, and n=1 visitor/visitor
group following a completion, where there are ≤ 30 visitors or visitor groups per
hour]. If a surveyor encounters a group, he/she will seek the person in the group
who is 18 or older old with a birthday closest to each month of year on a rotating
basis (i.e., start with January, then for the next group February will be used, etc.)
and ask that individual to participate in the survey. After completing this contact,
the surveyor will ask the nth exiting visitor/visitor group to participate in the
survey.

At each intercept sampling point, counts and refusal information will be recorded.
Observable information (day, date, time, party size, gender, presence or absence
of children in group) will be collected in a log. Reasons offered for nonparticipation (e.g., lack of time, lack of interest, language difficulties) will also be
noted on the refusal log. This information can be used to address differential rates
of participation in the intercept survey. A copy of the log is included.
Visitors will complete an on-site, self-administered questionnaire in the presence
of a trained surveyor who will answer questions. Questions that are likely to
emerge will be addressed during surveyor training. Park staff will also prepare a
reference/fact sheet to assist the interceptors with common questions.
Intercept questionnaires will be collected on-site as they are completed.
Respondents who agree to complete the follow-up survey will provide contact
information so the research staff can contact the respondents for the follow-up
telephone survey. Contact information (e.g., mail/email addresses and telephone
numbers) and preferences for the follow-up survey (e.g., time of day, language of
follow-up interview) will be collected. A brief rationale for complete contact
information follows.
Mail/email addresses (in addition to telephone numbers) will enable the survey
team to contact respondents by alternative means if a telephone number is
illegible or if a telephone number is disabled, inactive or changed during the
course of the survey. Mail and email addresses will also enable the survey team to
provide additional park information to respondents who indicate a desire to learn
more about events, activities, and opportunities in the parks. A wealth of printed
and electronic information is available from the park, and “lack of information” is
a commonly reported barrier to increased visitation, especially in underrepresented communities (Chavez, 2001; Roberts, 2007; Solop, Hagen, &
Ostergren, 2003).
Mail/email addresses will also make it easier to identify international visitors to
ensure proper arrangements to complete the follow-up survey. The interceptor
will be able to ascertain the person’s international status at a glance by looking at
the mailing address and/or suffix on the email address (e.g., .fr for France, .uk for
Great Britain, .de for Germany) on the Appreciation and Contact Information
Card. The interceptor will then be able to discuss the most convenient means to
complete the follow-up survey. The international visitor, for example, may prefer
to complete the follow-up survey via her/his mobile telephone while still in the
U.S. Or, s/he may prefer to complete the follow-up survey after returning home.
International calling cards and telephone over IP now make global calling
affordable and feasible for international guests speaking English, Spanish,
Cantonese, or Mandarin. Also worth noting, since these are self-identifying
respondents for the follow-up survey, the random digit dialing (RDD) protocols
used in most general populations surveys will not be required and international
visitors will not be excluded due to RDD of only domestic calls.
The site coordinator will collect completed intercept surveys each day and ensure
that the contact cards and intercept surveys are properly prepared for further
processing.
Follow-up Survey:
The major issues that have made random digit dial (RDD) surveys more
challenging in recent years (e.g., unlisted numbers, fax machines and other
equipment requiring dedicated telephone lines, the proliferation of multiple
numbers within a single household, large numbers of mobile telephones, and
increased individual reluctance to participate in telephone interviews) are not

factors in this visitor study since participants will be recruited and can provide
their preferred telephone contact numbers during the on-site intercept survey.
Using contact information provided on-site, a follow-up telephone interview will
be initiated within three to five days of the intercept survey. A telephone
interview mode was selected for the follow-up for the following reasons:
1) A telephone interview will minimize recall associated with time passage.
Using a telephone mode for the follow-up will enable the park to
complete both phases of the survey within one week of the initial
intercept survey for the majority of survey respondents.
2) A prior general interest, telephone population survey for the park (Solop,
2002) yielded a high (64%) response rate. The response rate for the
follow-up can be expected to exceed that of a general interest telephone
survey since respondents have already indicated a willingness to
participate and have provided a preferred contact number.
3) Telephone surveys are reported to have higher participation rates from
groups typically under-represented (e.g., lower income and educational
attainment levels, non-native speakers of English, persons of color) in
national park settings (see above citations).
4) Bay Area counties have substantial numbers of residents with limited
English proficiency (LEP), with higher levels of oral fluency (compared
to written fluency) in Spanish, Cantonese, and Mandarin. Knowledge of
the use patterns and experiences of LEP park users are particularly
valuable to the NPS in an urban setting with high percentages of LEP
and/or immigrant residents.
5) Experienced bilingual or multilingual surveyors are utilized and readilyavailable in the Bay Area, offering a cost-effective means to learn more
about LEP urban visitors to large, high-visitation urban national parks.
The park is interested in generating valid and reliable visitor use information at
each of four park sites. Toward that end, approximately 405 telephone interviews
will be completed for each site. That is, of the 960 anticipated respondents on-site
during the intercept survey (i.e., 60% of 1,600 initial contacts), 624 (65%) are
expected to agree to do the follow-up, and approximately 405 (65% of those
already agreeing to do follow-up and providing their contact information) will
actually complete the follow-up telephone interview for each of the four sites.
This will yield an estimated total sample for the telephone survey of 1,620.
Contact information provided by visitors intercepted on-site will be utilized
within 24 hours of their visit. A CATI system will be employed for the follow-up
telephone interview. Bilingual interviewers will be available for survey
respondents who indicate a desire to complete the follow-up survey in Spanish,
Mandarin, or Cantonese. A comprehensive record will be maintained and
provided on the disposition of each contact.
Established protocols will be utilized to increase survey response rates, including
multiple follow-up contacts and conversion strategies for non-respondents to
maximize completions. More information on the proposed administration of both
survey instruments is summarized in the next section.
(c) Instrument administration:
Intercept Survey:
The Design Team recommended an exit survey for the on-site intercept. Visitors
leaving the site will be approached and read this script by a trained surveyor:
“Hello. I am [name and affiliation]. We are undertaking a study on behalf of the
National Park Service to help improve this park site. Have you already been
approached and asked to participate in our study?”
If yes, thank you for your time.

If no, continue with script.
“Would you be willing to participate in an eight minute survey? Participation is
voluntary.”
If visitor replies “YES”, the surveyor will continue with: “Thank you. Here is the
questionnaire. Please answer all the questions that apply to you. If you have any
questions, please ask me. These maps will help you locate trail names and
facilities for some of the questions.”
If the visitor replies “NO,” the surveyor will say: “Thank you. I hope you enjoyed
your visit.”
Note. Translated versions of the intercept survey will be available for visitors with
limited English proficiency (LEP). Bilingual field staff will be recruited for park
areas where site managers have noted frequent visitation from Spanish-speaking
or Chinese-speaking persons with LEP.
Intercept Data Analysis and Reporting:
Intercept surveys will be assigned unique identification numbers for tracking. The
site coordinator will review surveys for completeness and legibility. Open-ended
responses will be coded using a coding table. When the survey fielding process is
completed, data will be coded and entered into a statistical package for data
analysis. Files will be reviewed for accuracy and cleaned to reflect proper variable
and value labels.
Follow-up Survey:
The follow-up survey will be administered as a telephone interview to
approximately 405 visitors initially contacted at each park: Crissy Field, Lands
End, Ocean Beach, and Presidio. A certified, public opinion research center will
conduct data collection, data entry, and data analysis using proven techniques in
telephone survey research. Professional survey research staff will oversee the
project, including training, fielding the survey, and analyzing and reporting the
information. The research center will adhere to established telephone survey
research design methods for quality control and data integrity.
A research administrator will oversee administration of the survey, certifying
adherence to accepted professional standards for management of the survey
research process. Established telephone survey protocols, including callback
procedures, conversion protocols, and techniques to deal with other non-response
issues will be utilized. These protocols have been tested and found to be effective
in maintaining sample representativeness and reducing non-response bias and
errors from certain groups of people not being available at particular times of the
day. Bilingual interviewers will be available for survey respondents indicating a
desire to complete the follow-up survey in Spanish, Mandarin, or Cantonese. In an
effort to recruit hard-to-reach respondents, ensure adequate response rates, and
minimize the potential for non-response error, interviewers will make a minimum
of six callback attempts to each active telephone number in the sample database.
To the extent possible, callback dates and times will be schedule to best match
respondents’ availability. Pre-screener hang-ups, post-screener break-offs, and
initial (soft) refusals will receive up to three refusal conversion attempts.
When the survey fielding process is completed, data will be exported from CATI
to a statistical analysis package. Files will be reviewed for accuracy and cleaned
to reflect proper variable and value labels. All verbatim questions will be coded
using a coding table. The data file can then be weighted, if necessary, to
accurately account for nonrandom sampling error or to more accurately reflect the
demographics of the visitor population at the park site.

A complete record and documentation of data management steps and procedures,
including final response rates, number of contacts, and response rates by question
will be included in the final report. The final report will include an analysis of the
information obtained in the original intercept study as well as a substantive
analysis of the data from the follow-up telephone survey.
A CATI system will be used. CATI systems automatically limit interviewers to
valid responses, display scripts in the respondent’s preferred language, branch to
appropriate questions based on previous responses, and transfer data from
completed interviews to a password-protected database on a secure server. CATI
system administration enhances consistency between interviewers and enables
them to enter respondents’ answers, including verbatim responses to open-ended
questions, directly into the database. CATI programming also displays essential
administration instructions, including appropriate and standardized probes, and
allows interviewers to enter special notes to explain any unusual circumstances or
respondent comments. The CATI system also automatically records sample
release dates, contact attempt data, and completion dates for each sample record.
(d) Expected response rate/confidence levels:
Intercept survey: Based on previous experience in conducting similar intercept
surveys in the park (Alcatraz, 2006), it is expected that about 60% of visitors (or
about 960 of 1,600 contacted at each of four sites) will be willing to participate.
This represents a total for all sites of 3,840 completed intercepts. Findings from
phase one are expected to have a margin of error of +/- 3.3 percentage points at
the 95% confidence interval for each site. This is critical for each park area to be
able to establish representative visitor inputs into its decisions on visitor-use
indicators and standards and to determine what constitutes desirable visitor
experience conditions for each of these sites in its new General Management Plan.
Follow-up survey: The expected response rate to the follow-up telephone survey
is 65%. Findings in phase two are expected to have a margin of error of +/- 5
percentage points at the 95% confidence interval for each of the four sites. This
precision level is critical for determining site-specific visitor use indicators and
standards for each of the four areas and to provide a stable baseline for future
monitoring..
(e) Strategies for dealing with potential non-response bias:
Non-response bias will be addressed in three ways. First, a comprehensive
strategy will help maximize survey response rates by using well-trained survey
teams, bilingual staff and instrumentation, and comfortable settings to complete
the intercept survey. Bilingual instruments and staff, multiple callbacks, and
refusal conversion techniques (Dillman, 2007) will also help to improve the
response rate on the telephone follow-up.
Second, a small sample of non-respondents to the follow-up telephone survey will
be contacted and asked to answer four questions (two forced choice and two
attitudinal) to identify non-response patterns on attitudinal parameters of key
interest to the park. The attached refusal conversion protocol for the follow-up
survey describes the approach and questions to be asked.
Third, non-response bias will be examined by comparing selected characteristics
of the sample population with characteristics observed and recorded for every
group intercepted on-site (e.g., group size, gender, transportation/access mode) for
the intercept and follow-up surveys. If necessary, data collected from respondents
in the initial intercept survey can then be weighted (using cell-based poststratification weighting procedures) to account for non-response on key
demographic characteristics. The sample of follow-up respondents can also be

weighted to match the characteristics of the intercept sample. The results of the
check for non-response bias in both the intercept and follow-up surveys will be
reported and the implications for interpreting the results of each will be discussed.
(f) Description of any pre-testing and peer review of the methods and/or
instrument (recommended):
All aspects of the research effort were designed and/or reviewed by one or more
members of the team of social science experts formed to develop and advise on
research methods, instrument design, and sampling (Dr. Dan Stynes, Dr. Fred
Solop, and Dr. Chase Harrison. The intercept and follow-up surveys contain
questions asked in previous NPS surveys.
Attachments:
• Literature Review
• Log
• On-site Intercept Survey (including the Appreciation and Contact Information
Card )
• Follow-up Telephone Survey
• Refusal Conversion Protocol for the Follow-up Telephone Survey
10.

13.

Total Number of
Initial Contacts |
Expected Respondents:

Reporting Plan:

a.
6400

a.
3840

b.
2496

b.
1620

Estimated Time to
Complete Initial
Contact | Instrument
(mins.):

a.
1
min.
b.
4
min.

a.
8
min.
b.
12
min.

12. Total
Burden
.
Hours:

1109

The results of this information collection will be presented in an internal agency
report and will be available upon request. The report will include a summary of
findings and question-by-question analysis of results. Univariate statistical
distributions from each survey question will be included in the report, along with
a number of cross-tabulations. Selected subgroup analyses will be completed. A
complete record and documentation of data management steps and procedures,
including response rates by question, will be included in the final report. A copy
of the technical study report will be archived with the Social Science Program of
the National Park Service for inclusion in the Social Science Studies Collection.

Combined list of references cited in expedited form or attached literature review.
American Psychological Association. (2000, January). Guidelines for research in ethnic minority communities. Council of
National Psychological Associations for the Advancement of Ethnic Minority
Census Bureau. (2004). Meeting 21st Century demographic data needs—Implementing the American Community Survey
report 11: Testing the use of voluntary methods-Additional results. Washington, DC.
Census Bureau. (2003). Meeting 21st Century Demographic Data Needs—Implementing the American Community survey
report 3: Testing the use of voluntary methods. Washington, DC.
Chavez, D.J. (2001). Managing outdoor recreation in California: Visitor contact studies 1989-1998. USDA Forest Service
General Technical Report 180. U.S. Government Printing Office.
CHIS (2003). The CHIS 2001 sample: Response rate and representativeness. California Health Interview Survey-Technical
paper # 1. Available from the California Health Interview Survey, UCLS Center for Health Policy Research, 10911
Weyburn Avenues, Suite 300, Los Angeles, CA 90024.
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