1024-0224 NPS Programmatic Form

National Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior

Social Science Division

Expedited Approval for NPS-Sponsored Public Surveys

1.

Project
Title⎢
Abstract:

Submission
Date:

Visitor Services Project (VSP): Understanding Visitors’
Experience at Congaree National Park (CONG)

4-15-2011

Mail back surveys will be used to collect information from visitors Congaree National Park
(CONG). The surveys will be used to gather information concerning visitor satisfaction about
the park’s services and facilities. The data will be used to prepare National Park Service
planning documents, such as: General Management Plans (GMP), Resource Management
Plans (RMP), Wilderness Plans, and Long-Range and Comprehensive Interpretive Plans. The
information from these visitor studies will be used to by park managers to inform decisions
about park operations. The information will also be shared with park partners and gateway
communities to assist in mutual planning efforts. The questionnaires will be designed to
systematically collect data that will include information on trip/visit characteristics (e.g.
activities, evaluation of park services/facilities, perceptions of park experiences, and opinions
concerning park management).
(not to exceed 150 words)

3.

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

4.

Last Name:

Margaret

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
First Name:

Last Name:

Tracy

Title:

Superintendent

Park:

Congaree National Park (CONG)

Park
Office/Division:
Street Address:
City:

Swartout

Management
100 National Park Road

Hopkins

Phone:

803-776-4396

Email:

[email protected]

State:
Fax:

SC
803-783-4241

Zip code:

29061

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)
On-Site Questionnaire
Face-to-Face
X Mail-Back
Questionnaire
Interview
‰

8.

4/27/2011

Congaree National Park (CONG)
(mm/dd/yyyy)

to

5/3/2011
Telephone
Survey

(mm/dd/yyyy)

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 visitor use data in impact assessment of development on
users and resources as part of each park's general management plan.
Managerial Justification
In 2003, Congaree Swamp National Monument became Congaree National Park. As a
designated Wilderness area, International Biosphere Reserve, Globally Important Bird
Area, and the largest intact tract of old-growth floodplain forest in North America,
Congaree National Park provides a sanctuary for plants and animals, and a research
site for scientists. Activities include hiking, primitive camping, bird watching,
picnicking, canoeing and kayaking, ranger guided interpretive walks and canoe tours,
nature study, and environmental education programs. Since the last VSP survey in
2005, visitation has increased and additional visitor services, external programs and
outreach activities have been offered to the public. The superintendent has spent a lot
of time and effort to increase awareness of the park and wants to measure whether
these efforts have been effective.
This survey has been designed to help managers to learn more about the people who
use the park, how they learn about it, the activities they do and their opinions about
the services/programs offered by the park. The results from this survey will also help
the manager to determine more effective ways to reach the public in the surrounding
areas of Columbia, SC.

9.

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

(a) Respondent universe:
A systematic sample of all visitors, age 16 and older, will be contacted by VSPtrained interviewers at selected locations in each park.
(b) Sampling plan/procedures:
The survey and sampling design for this visitor study is based upon Dillman's
Tailored Design Method (TDM). The TDM has been shown to increase response
rates, improve accuracy, and reduce cost and burden hours. The methodology has
been used in 214 previous surveys conducted by the VSP. Most questions have been

included in other VSP questionnaires or appear in the NPS Known Pool of Questions.
A systematic sampling procedure will be based on the park’s visitation statistics from
the previous year. We will intercept every nth visitor group to participate in the study,
as they arrive at the park visitor center. Each interviewer will be trained in the
intercept and interview procedures. A supervisor will be on-site during the survey to
ensure that interview procedures are followed. On-site visitors will be intercepted at
the location shown below:
Park
CON

Intercept Location
Trailhead outside the visitor center

(c) Instrument administration:
A mail-back questionnaire will used to systematically collect data from visitors,
including: individual characteristics, trip/visit characteristics, individual activities,
individual evaluation of park services/facilities, individual perceptions of their park
experiences and individual opinions on park management. Park visitors will be
randomly selected to participate in this study during a 7-to 14-day period
The initial contact with visitor groups will take approximately 1 minute. This time
will be used to explain the study and determine interest of participation. The number
of visitor groups who refuse will be recorded and used to calculate response rates.
Visitors who volunteer to participate in the study will be asked five questions (2
additional minutes) to collect information that will be used in a non-response bias
check. They will also be asked to record their name, phone, and email address on the
interviewer’s log sheet. Phone and email addresses will be used to follow up with
additional questionnaire mailings as necessary.
If a group agrees to participate, the researcher will give the survey to the individual
(16 years or older) within the group who has the next birthday. Participants will be
given a stamped, addressed questionnaire to complete and mail back to the Visitor
Services Project.
All participants will be mailed a thank you/reminder post card 11 working days after
the end of the sampling period. A reminder letter with a stamped, addressed
replacement questionnaire will be sent to all non-respondents 21 working days after
completion of on-site contacts. A second reminder letter and a stamped, addressed
replacement questionnaire will be mailed to the remaining non-respondents after 35
working days following the end of the sampling period.
(d) Expected response rate/confidence levels:
The number of questionnaires to be distributed is based on the park’s visitation data
and the number of days of surveying. The table below gives a projection of the
expected sample size, response rate, and associated confidence intervals and
confidence level for this park.

Park

Number Number
of Survey of initial
Days
Contacts

CONG

28

1962

Expected
number of Expected
question- Number of
naires
Responses
distributed
1792

1373

Expected
Response
Rate

Margin
of Error
+/-%

70%

2.3

For dichotomous response variables, estimates will be accurate within the margins of
error and levels of confidence described above. The confidence intervals will be
somewhat larger for questions with more than two response categories.
(e) Strategies for dealing with potential non-response bias:
During the initial contact, the interviewer will ask each visitor five questions taken
from the survey. These questions will be used in a non-response bias analysis.
1) What type of group are you traveling with today?
2) (If with an organized group-tours, school, etc.) How many people are in your
group?
3) How many in your party are, 18 years and older?
4) How many are in your party are 17 years and younger?
5) How old is the person who will complete the questionnaire?
Responses will be recorded for every survey contact. Results of the non-response bias
check will be described in a report and the implications for park planning and
management will be discussed.
(f) Description of any pre-testing and peer review of the methods and/or
instrument (recommended):
The questions included in this survey were initially designed and reviewed by the
principal investigator, research staff, and scientists at the University of Idaho. The
questionnaire format and many of the questions have been used in 214 previous VSP
survey instruments. Questionnaires were peer reviewed by NPS managers and
university professors.
10.

Total Number of 1,962
Initial Contacts

Expected 1,373
Respondents:

11.

Estimated Time to 3
Complete Initial Contact

Estimated time to 20
Complete Instrument
(mins.)

1
2
.

Burden 98
Hours:

Burden 458
Hours:
TOTAL 556

13.

Reporting Plan: The results of the studies will be presented in internal agency reports for NPS
managers at Congaree National Park. Response frequencies will be tabulated and
measures of central tendency computed (e.g., mean, median, mode, as
appropriate).The reports will be archived with the NPS Social Science Program for
inclusion in the Social Science Studies Collection. They will also be posted on the
Park Studies Unit VSP website at: http:/psu.uidaho.edu/vsp.reports.htm. Hard copies
will be available upon request. The economic data will be used to produce special
reports for the NPS covering overall use estimates and local economic impacts.