Monitoring Backcountry Indicators in Denali NP&PRES

OMB Control #: Not yet assigned
Expiration date: Not yet assigned
Semi-Structured Interview Guide
The Paperwork Reduction Act requires approval of all federal government surveys by the Office
of Management and Budget. This survey has been approved under this Act. The Office of
Management and Budget control number and expiration date is available at your request.
Additional information about this survey and its approval is available at your request.* The
questions I would like to ask will only take about 20 minutes to complete. All of your answers
are voluntary.
Would it be okay if I recorded this interview? If not, I can take written notes.
1. Could you expand on the ratings of the importance of items A through F? (Interviewer can
read items A-F. Add item G for overnight users.) In other words, why were some rated as
important and others not important as indicators of the quality of your backcountry
experience? [Topic Area 6: Individual Perceptions of their Park Experiences]
1a. (If all were important) If you had to rank the items rated, which would you choose
as the most important and which as the least important? [Topic Area 6: Individual
Perceptions of their Park Experiences]
1b. (If some were not important) Although you feel some are not important, do you
think it’s still useful for Denali National Park to monitor these items? [Topic Area 7:
Individual Opinions on Park Management]
2. Are there other factors besides those mentioned that are important to the quality of your
experience in the Denali backcountry? [Topic Area 6: Individual Perceptions of their Park
Experiences]
2a. (If interviewee is not specific on the suggestions) Could you narrow your
suggestion(s) to a factor(s) Denali National Park could monitor?
3. I would like to explore the issue of the impacts of modern human use on the backcountry
experience at Denali National Park. As mentioned in the survey you completed, modern
human use refers to modern equipment, such as chain saws and motorized vehicles. It doesn’t
include aircraft in flight, or portable devices that a person could reasonably carry without
assistance, such as cell phones, GPS units, tents, or fuel-burning stoves.
3a. To what extent did evidence of modern human use, such as chain saws and motorized
vehicles, have a positive or negative impact on your backcountry experience during this trip?
(Ask them to elaborate as necessary) [Topic Area 6: Individual Perceptions of their Park
Experiences]

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3b. (Depending on answer to 3a) Is it useful for the park to try to monitor impacts of
this type of modern human use? [Topic Area 7: Individual Opinions on Park
Management]
3b.1 (If yes) Is monitoring encounters with modern equipment an adequate measure
of impacts of modern human use on the backcountry experience? [Topic Area 7:
Individual Opinions on Park Management]
3c. (If no to 3b.1) What would you suggest the park monitor as a measure of the impact
of modern human use on the backcountry experience? [Topic Area 7: Individual
Opinions on P ark Management]
3d. (If yes to 3b.1) Are there other factors related to the impact of modern human use on
the backcountry experience the park should monitor? [Topic Area 7: Individual
Opinions on Park Management]

*Additional Information Provided upon Request.
OMB Approval number:
Expiration Date:
Person Collecting and Analyzing Information:

(Not yet assigned)
(Not yet assigned)
(Peter Fix, 323 O’Neill, University of Alaska

Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK 99775, [email protected])
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. No action may be taken against you for
refusing to supply the information requested. No personal data will be recorded.
You may direct comments on the number of minutes required to respond, or on any other aspect of this
survey to:

Peter Fix, 323 O’Neill, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK 99775, [email protected]

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