Expedited Form PEFO/NEPE

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

2.

3.

Project Title ⎢ Petrified Forest National Park (PEFO) & Nez Perce National Historical
Submission Date: Park (NEPE) VSP Formative Studies

Abstract:

The Visitor Services Project (VSP) is planning to conduct studies of interpretive exhibits at the
Petrified Forest National Park (PEFO) Rainbow Forest Museum and the Nez Perce National
Historical Park (NEPE) Visitor Center, using focus groups. At PEFO, the VSP will conduct three to
five focus groups during each of the following visitation periods: winter, spring, summer, and fall.
At NEPE, the VSP will conduct three to five focus groups during the summer season only.

Principal Investigator Contact Information
First Name:
Title:
Affiliation:

Street Address:
City:

4.

February 28, 2009

Margaret

Last Name:

Littlejohn

NPS Visitor Services Project (VSP) Director
NPS Visitor Services Project, PSU,
College of Natural Resources,
University of Idaho
6th & Line Streets, Room 17B
Moscow

Phone:

208-885-7863

Email:

[email protected]

State:
Fax:

ID

Zip
code:

83844-1139

208-885-4261

Park or Program Liaison Contact Information, PEFO
First Name:

Lyn

Title:

Chief of Interpretation

Park:

Petrified Forest National Park

Last Name:

Carranza

Park
Office/Division:
Street Address:

P.O. Box 2217

City:

Petrified Forest

Phone:

928-524-6228 ext. 245

State:

AZ

Zip code:

86028

928-524-3567
Email:

[email protected]

4.

Park or Program Liaison Contact Information, NEPE
First Name:

Terry

Last Name:

Title:

Chief of Interpretation

Park:

Nez Perce National Historical Park

O’Halloran

Park
Office/Division:
Street Address:

P.O. Box 1000

City:

Lapwai

Phone:

State:

ID

Zip code:

83540

208-843-7035
Email:

Terry_O'[email protected]

Project Information
5.

Park Where
Research is to be
Conducted:

Petrified Forest National Park
Nez Perce National Historical Park
6.

7.

8.

Survey Dates:

PEFO
June 30, 2009 - April
30, 2010

NEPE
June 30 - August 31, 2009

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

Mail-Back
Questionnaire

‰

Other
(explain)

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

‰

On-Site
Questionnaire

‰

Face-to-Face
Interview

‰

Telephone
Survey

X Focus Groups

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 visitor use data in impact assessment of development on users and resources as
part of each park's general management plan.
Managerial Justification.
PEFO and NEPE are planning to design new exhibits at the museum and visitor center,
respectively. The VSP will conduct a formative study of their existing temporary exhibits using
focus groups. As visitor types vary from season to season, focus groups will be conducted in all
four seasons at PEFO, in order to gather information that reflects the park’s various audiences.
Focus groups will be conducted during the summer months for NEPE, as that will generate the
necessary information for their needs.
The results will be used to find out how visitors learn about park themes and to what extent the
temporary exhibits are effective in communicating interpretive themes and key concepts to park
visitors. The results will be used as input into the design of permanent exhibits.

The research objectives are to:
•
Gauge the interest of audiences in the exhibits under development
•
Understand the effectiveness of exhibits in communicating the intended messages
•
Identify potential problems with the temporary exhibits
9.

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

(a) Respondent universe:
The respondent universe will be all visitors, aged 16 and older, who have experienced the exhibits,
been recruited by VSP and/or park staff, and agree to take part in the study.
(b) Sampling plan/procedures:
To recruit participants for the focus groups, a sign asking visitors to participate in the focus groups
will be posted in prominent and well-trafficked locations in the museum (PEFO) and visitor center
(NEPE). VSP personnel will train park personnel to answer questions and sign up participants. In
addition, VSP staff will personally invite participants, once they have viewed the exhibits.
PEFO:
During each season, it is estimated that 90 potential participants will be approached in order to
obtain 40 - 50 participants (5 focus groups, 8 - 10 participants per group). Each focus group will be
held at the park's Rainbow Forest Museum. This process will be repeated four times (once per
season), resulting in an estimated total of 360 potential participants and a maximum of 160 –
200 actual participants.
NEPE:
It is estimated that 90 potential participants will be approached in order to obtain a total of 40 - 50
actual participants (5 focus groups, 8 - 10 participants per group). Each of the focus groups will be
held at Nez National Historical Park during the summer season.
(c) Instrument administration:
Focus groups will be administered by Nancy Holmes, research assistant with the Visitor Services
Project. The contact and focus group scripts are included with this submission. Focus groups
will be recorded and transcribed in order to code and analyze the data. Individuals will be asked if
they want to participate in the recorded focus groups. Thus, individuals who do not feel
comfortable being recorded will be able to opt out of the focus group session. The recruiter will
thank these individuals for their time and move on to other visitors.
(d) Expected response rate/confidence levels:
It is expected that each focus group will include approximately 8 – 10 participants. Because this
study design is qualitative and uses purposive samples selected from targeted groups, there is no
statistical basis for generalizing the findings to all visitors. Therefore, response rates and
confidence levels/intervals do not present the same concerns as they do in quantitative studies
based on probability samples and employing inferential statistical analysis. Findings will provide the
exhibit development team with guidance on issues informing the design process.
(e) Strategies for dealing with potential non-response bias:
Since this is focus group research (as opposed to a representative survey), non-response bias is not
an issue.
(f) Description of any pre-testing and peer review of the methods and/or instrument
(recommended):
The instrument was developed by evaluation professionals at VSP based on the goals of the
exhibit design team and is similar to other formative studies conducted at NPS units. It was
by an experienced focus group facilitator at Washington State University.

10
.

13.

Total Number of PEFO PEFO 11. Estimated Time PEFO
200 (mins.) to Complete
360
1
Initial Contacts
Initial Contact |
Accept Instrument |
(refusals only) NEPE
Expected Respondents: NEPE NEPE
50
Accept Instrument
100
1
Return Instrument:

Reporting Plan:

PEFO
45
NEPE
45

12. Total PEFO
Burden 156
Hours:
NEPE
39
Total:
195

Once the focus groups have been completed, the VSP will create full transcripts and submit them
as an appendix in the final report. The reports, which will be submitted by VSP to PEFO and
NEPE and NPS, will describe the methodology used and present the VSP’s findings. The analysis
will include raw data, such as direct statements from participants; descriptive statements,
comments, and examples from participants that build on the raw data; and interpretation of the
data, including trends and patterns, consistency of responses, and recommendations to inform the
exhibit development process. A copy of the report will be archived by the NPS Social Science
Program.