Expedited Review Form & Letters

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:

Creating Stewardship Through Discovery at Biscayne National
Park

The purpose of this investigation is to provide insight on antecedents and outcomes of park
visitors’ participation in the National Park Service BioBlitz/All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory
(ATBI) program at Biscayne National Park. Data will be collected from participants (mostly
members of visiting school groups) in the Biscayne NP BioBlitz in April 2010 via a short
onsite survey with a follow-up mailback/online survey. The collected data will provide
insight on why participants chose to take part in the Biscayne BioBlitz/ATBI program and the
outcomes associated with their participation.
(not to exceed 150 words)

3.

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

4.

Last Name:

Gerard

Kyle

Associate Professor
Texas A&M University
2261 TAMU
College Station

Phone:

979.862.3794

Email:

[email protected]

State:
Fax:

TX

Zip code:

77843

979.845.0446

Park or Program Liaison Contact Information
First Name:

Last Name:

Myrna

Title:

Deputy Superintendent

Park:

Biscayne

Palfrey

Park
Office/Division:
Street Address:
City:
Phone:
Email:

10/27/2009

9700 SW 328 Street
Homestead
786.335.3653
[email protected]

State:
Fax:

FL

Zip code:

33033

Project Information
5.

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

6.

Survey Dates:

7.

Type of Information Collection Instrument (Check ALL that Apply)
;Mail- Back Questionnaire

Biscayne National Park

04/29/2010

(mm/dd/yyyy)

;On- Site

Questionnaire

8.

to

Face- to- Face

Interview

06/30/2010

‰

(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.)

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.
A BioBlitz (or All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory) is a special type of field study in
which teams of scientists work with students, teachers, and other groups vsiting
parks to find and identify as many species of plants, animals, microbes, fungi, and
other organisms as possible. In recent years, National Geographic has partnered
with the NPS to organize and promote BioBlitzes in national parks across the
country. In 2008, a BioBlitz at Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area
near Los Angeles attracted approximately 4,000 volunteers from among visitors,
school groups, and residents of nearby communities. A 2007 BioBlitz at Rock
Creek Park in Washington, DC attracted over 2,000 participants. NPS staff at
Biscayne NP project participation at around 1,500. National Geographic has
established a website for the Biscayne BioBlitz to help promote the program. In
addition, the park will release a public announcement through local media outlets
in the lead-up to the event.
Literature Review. Although BioBlitzes have been conducted in national parks for
over a decade, little is known about the reasons why park visitors participate in
such activities. Nor has much research been conducted of the outcomes of this
engagement for participants. This investigation is the first systematic study of its
kind, and its findings will provide the NPS with valuable information on how to
conduct BioBlitz programs in the future to benefit parks, visitors, and residents of
nearby communities who participate. Besides the collection of taxonomic data,
there appear to be important secondary benefits that accrue to visitors who take
part in BioBlitzes. Data collected through university-funded in-depth interviews
of a small sample of BioBlitz participants in Texas uncovered several outcomes,
including a more intimate tie to the host park, to the species of interest, and to
other program participants (Kyle & Eccles, 2009). Another outcome reported in
the interviews was an increased sense of stewardship for natural resources in
general. These qualitative findings have been used in guiding the construction of
this survey.

9.

Survey Methodology: (Use
as much space as needed; if
necessary include

(a) Respondent universe:
Participants in the April 2010 Biscayne NP BioBlitz in Florida who are 18 years
of age or older

additional explanation on a
separate page.)

Sampling plan/procedures:
A face-to-face interview will be conducted with park visitors on board an NPS
shuttle that will transport those who are participating in the BioBlitz from a
dedicated parking lot to the park. A team of five researchers will select every
second individual/group boarding the shuttle and invite them to participate in the
interview. For groups, the person with the next birthday and who is 18 years of
age or older will be invited to participate. The interviews are designed to last no
longer than 5 minutes.
(b) Instrument administration:
Face-to-face interviews: The face-to-face interviews will be conducted by trained
interviewers from Texas A&M University on board the shuttle bus. A log will be
maintained by interviewers recording the disposition of each contact.
Mailback survey & online survey: At the conclusion of the face-to-face interview,
respondents will be asked to participate in a more extensive survey examining
their BioBlitz experience. Those who agree will be given the option to receive a
hard copy of the questionnaire via mail or online. If they ask for a hard copy, their
names and addresses will be recorded. If they prefer to take the survey online,
they will be asked their email address and will be sent a link that will take them to
the online survey.
The mailback survey will be sent out one week following the onsite contact. It
will take about 30 minutes to complete. Protocols outlined by Dillman (2009a)
will be followed. The survey packet will include a self-addressed, postage-paid
return envelope. A week following the initial mailing, a reminder/thank you
postcard will be sent to all respondents. Finally, a replacement survey packet will
be sent to non-respondents two weeks following the initial mailing.
For those taking the survey online, an email with the web link will be sent to
respondents one week following the onsite contact. Protocols outlined by Dillman
(2009a) for Internet surveys will be followed. Reminder emails with the web link
will be sent each week for three weeks following the initial face-to-face interview.
(c) Expected response rate/confidence levels:
Face-to-face interviews: We expect response rates for the face-to-face interviews
to be 90%. This is due to the brevity of the initial onsite contact and the fact that
all interviews will be conducted on board buses transporting BioBlitz participants
to Biscayne NP. Approximately 500 groups or individuals on board buses will be
contacted, with an estimated 450 completing the initial onsite interview.
Mailback/online surveys: Based on previous work, the expected response rate for
the mailback and online surveys is approximately 67% (Kyle et al., 2003; Kyle et
al., 2004; Tseng et al., 2009). This will yield a final sample of 285 interviews.
This is a conservative estimate, as there is some evidence to indicate that mixedmode designs, such as those implemented here, increase response rates (Dillman
et al., 2009b; Dillman et al., 2009a; Kaplowitz et al., 2004). Assuming 285
completed interviews and a finite population of 1,500 participants, the 95%
confidence interval for means and proportions will be +/-5.2%.

(d) Strategies for dealing with potential non-response bias:
Detection of non-response bias will utilize the following protocols. For face-toface interviews, observable information (e.g., gender of respondent, size of group)
of every party contacted will be recorded by the interviewers on the survey log. In
addition, interviewers will attempt to ask one question from the onsite interview
to all those who initially refuse to participate. This is, “Have you participated in

Bioblitzes/ATBI programs at other national parks?” Comparisons between those
agreeing and refusing to respond to the full onsite interview will be made.
For visitors choosing to participate in the face-to-face interviews, but who do not
return a completed mailback/online survey, comparisons will be made between
respondents and non-respondents using all data collected onsite through the faceto-face interviews. Non-response bias (if any) will be reported and implications
for interpretation of results will be discussed.
Description of any pre-testing and peer review of the methods and/or instrument
(recommended): The measures used in the survey instrument were developed
from:
1. Work published in peer-reviewed outlets:
a. Place attachment - Kyle et al., 2005;
b. Enduring involvement - Kyle et al., 2007;
c. Motivation – Manfredo et al., 1996; and
d. Environmental values – Dunlap et al., 2000
2. In-depth interviews with participants in previous BioBlitzes – Kyle &
Eccles, 2009.
3. Peer review of the survey design and content was provided by the
following – Staff from Biscayne NP; the NPS Human Dimensions of
Biological Resources Program in Fort Collins, CO; the Resources and
Science Division at Yosemite National Park; and faculty at Texas A&M
University. Their critiques and suggestions have been integrated into the
current draft of the instrument and study design.

10.

Total Number of
Initial Contacts |
Expected Respondents:

13.

Reporting Plan:

500

285

11.

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

5

30

12.

Total
Burden
Hours:

184

The final technical report delivered to the park will contain a description of the
study purpose and key findings. Frequencies and/or means and proportions will be
presented for each question. A comparison of those responding online vs. by mail
also will be reported. A final copy of the report will be transmitted to the NPS
Social Science Division for archiving in the Social Science Studies Collection.

REFERENCES CITED
Dillman, D. A., Smyth, J. D., & Christian, L. M. (2009a). Internet, mail, and mixed mode surveys: The tailored design
method. Wiley & Sons: New York.
Dillman, D. A., Phelps, G., Swift, K., Kohrell, J., Bereck, J., & Messer, B. J. (2009b). Response rate and measurement
differences in mixed-mode surveys using mail, telephone, interactive voice response (VCR) and the internet Social
Science Research, 38, 1-18.
Dunlap, R. E., Van Liere, K. D., Mertig, A. G., Jones, R. E. (2000). Measuring endorsement of the New Ecological
Paradigm: A revised NE scale. Journal of Social Issues, 56, 425–442.
Kaplowitz, M. D., Hadlock, T. D., & Levine, R. (2004). A comparison of web and mail survey response rates. Public
Opinion Quarterly, 68, 94-101.
Kyle, G. T. & Eccles, K. (2009). Creating stewardship through discovery. Texas AgriLife Communications, Texas A&M
University: College Station, TX thesis. Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas.
Kyle, G. T., Absher, J. D., Norman, W., Hammitt, W. E., & Jodice, L. (2007). A modified involvement scale. Leisure
Studies, 26, 399-427.
Kyle, G. T., Graefe, A., & Manning, R. E. (2005). Testing the psychometric properties of a place attachment scale.
Environment and Behavior, 37, 153-177.
Kyle, G. T., Graefe, A., Manning, R. E., & Bacon, J. (2004). The effect of place attachment on users’ perception of social and
environmental conditions encountered in a natural setting. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 24, 213-225.

Kyle, G. T., Absher, J., & Graefe, A. (2003). The moderating role of place attachment on the relationship between attitudes
toward fees and spending preferences. Leisure Sciences, 25, 1-18.
Manfredo, M. J., Driver, B. L., & Tarrant, M. A. (1996). Measuring leisure motivation” A meta-analysis of the Recreation
Experience Preference scales. Journal of Leisure Research, 28, 188-213.
Tseng, Y., Kyle, G. T., Shafer, C. S., Graefe, G. R., Bradle, T., & Schuett, M. (2009). Exploring the crowding-satisfaction
relationship in recreational boating. Environmental Management, 43, 496-507.

Biscayne NP BioBlitz Survey Letters/Emails

Cover letter sent with hardcopy and online questionnaire
[Date]
Dear Biscayne BioBlitz Participant:
Thank you for participating in this important study. Our goal is to learn
why people participated in the Biscayne National Park BioBlitz and All
Taxa Biodiversity Inventory. This information will assist us in planning
future BioBlitzes in Biscayne and other national parks.
This questionnaire is only being given to a select number of BioBlitz
participants, so your answers are very important! It should take about 30
minutes to complete this questionnaire.
If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Gerard Kyle, Texas A&M
University, 2261 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843-2261, phone: 979862-3794, email: [email protected]
We appreciate your help.
Sincerely,

Dr. Gerard Kyle
Project Director
Texas A&M University

Follow-up postcard sent to all participants receiving the hardcopy
questionnaire one week after the BioBlitz.
Dear Biscayne BioBlitz Participant:
Thank you for participating in the survey about the Biscayne National Park
BioBlitz and All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory. We look forward to hearing from you.
A select number of people were contacted for this study, so your opinions are
very important!
If you have already returned your questionnaire, thank you. If not, please mail it
today.
We appreciate your help.
(Insert signature)
Dr. Gerard Kyle
Project Director
Texas A&M University
Follow-up e-mail sent to all participants receiving the online questionnaire
one week after the BioBlitz.

Dear Biscayne BioBlitz Participant:
Thank you for participating in the survey about the Biscayne National Park
BioBlitz and All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory. We look forward to hearing from you.
A select number of people were contacted for this study, so your opinions are
very important!
If you have already completed your questionnaire online, thank you. If not, please
go to [insert web link] and complete it today.
We appreciate your help.
Dr. Gerard Kyle
Project Director
Texas A&M University

2nd follow-up letter with replacement questionnaire sent to nonrespondents requesting the hardcopy questionnaire one week after the
post card reminder

[DATE]
Dear Biscayne BioBlitz Participant:
I am writing about the survey of BioBlitz participants at Biscayne National Park in
which you agreed to participate. The waiting period for incoming questionnaires
is almost over, and we have not yet received yours. I would appreciate you
completing another one unless you mailed it within the past few days.
The staff of Biscayne National Park is anxiously awaiting the survey results. They
want to use your ideas and opinions in making decisions about future BioBlitzes.
I urge you to complete the enclosed questionnaire and return it by (Month Day).
Your contribution to the success of this study is greatly appreciated.
Should you have questions regarding your questionnaire, please contact
me by phone 979-862-3794 or by email: [email protected]
[insert electronic signature]
Dr. Gerard Kyle
Project Director
2nd email reminder sent to online nonrespondents one week following the
first reminder
[DATE]
Dear Biscayne BioBlitz Participant:
About two weeks ago, we emailed you a link to a questionnaire about your
participation in the Biscayne National Park BioBlitz and All Taxa Biodiversity
Inventory. If you have completed the online questionnaire, please accept our
sincere thanks. If you have not, please do so today. We sincerely appreciate
your help because it is only by asking participants like yourself to share their
viewpoints that we will develop a better understanding of why park visitors
participate in BioBlitzes
If you have any questions please e-mail me at [email protected] or call me at
979-862-3794.

3rd email reminder sent to online nonrespondents one week following the
second reminder
[DATE]
Dear Biscayne BioBlitz Participant:
About three weeks ago, we emailed you a link to a questionnaire about your
participation in the Biscayne National Park BioBlitz and All Taxa Biodiversity
Inventory. The waiting period for incoming questionnaires is almost over, and we
have not yet received yours. I would appreciate you completing another one
online unless you did so within the past few days. The link to the questionnaire is
[insert web link]
We sincerely appreciate your help.
If you have any questions please e-mail me at [email protected] or call me at
979-862-3794.