Bundled Expedited Request for four on-site visitor Surveys (ROMO, CHIR, FOBO)

National Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior
Social Science Division

Expedited Approval for NPS-Sponsored Public Surveys
1.

Project
Title⎢
Submission
Date:
Abstract:

Visitor Services Project (VSP): Understanding Visitors’ Experience
at Chiricahua National Monument (CHIR)

Mail back surveys will be used to collect information from visitors Chiricahua National
Monument (CHIR). 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:

Denise

Title:

Chief of Interpretation

Park:

Chiricahua National Monument (CHIR)

Park
Office/Division:
Street Address:
City:

Schultz

Interpretation
12856 E Rhyolite Creek RD

Wilcox

State:

AZ

Zip code:

85643

Phone:

520-824-3560 x307

Fax:

Email:

[email protected]

520-847-2221

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

8.

3/1/2011

Chiricahua National Monument (CHIR)
(mm/dd/yyyy)

to

3/7/2011

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.
Study findings will be used:
• As input into planning (e.g., General Management Plan, Comprehensive Interpretive
Plan, Long Range Interpretive, Plan, Wilderness Plan, Resource Management Plan,
Backcountry Management Plan).
• To design interpretive and educational programs to match visitor interests and needs.
Interpretive media at some parks are outdated, and wayside exhibits need to be replaced or
added in many areas.
• To design future visitor facilities or to prepare plans for renovating existing facilities.
• To evaluate visitor behavior for potential impacts on natural and cultural resources.
• To determine whether concession services in parks are meeting visitor needs.
• To provide local businesses and governments with a better understanding of how visitors
contribute economically to the area.
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 the
studies as they visit this park location during a 7-to 14-day period.
This survey will contribute to soundscape management in Mount Rainier National Park by
informing the identification of potential indicators and standards for soundscape conditions in
this park. Indicators of quality are defined as measurable, manageable variables that act as
proxies for the quality of park resources and visitor experiences. Standards define the
minimum acceptable condition of these indicator variables. The management process involves
identifying indicators and standards of quality; monitoring the indicator variables; and taking
management actions to ensure that quality standards for each indicator are maintained.

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 VSP-trained
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. 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 locations shown below:

Park
CHIR

Intercept Locations
Entrance Station

(c) Instrument administration:
The initial contact with visitors 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 used in a non-response bias check. They will also be asked to record their name,
address, phone, and email address on the interviewer’s log sheet. Phone and email addresses
are used to follow up and check on non-response bias among non-respondents. 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
completion of the survey. 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 will be mailed after 35 working days with a stamped,
addressed replacement questionnaire.
(d) Expected response rate/confidence levels:

The number of questionnaires to be distributed is based on each park’s visitation data and the
number of days of surveying. The table below gives a projection of the expected sample sizes,
response rates, and associated confidence intervals and confidence levels for each park.

Park

CHIR

Number
of Survey
Days

Number of
initial
Contacts

Expected
Number of
Responses

Expected
Response
Rate

Margin of
Error +/%

7

458

298

65%

3.4

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 on a log 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
Initial Contacts
Expected
Respondents:

13.

Reporting Plan:

458

298

11.

Estimated Time to
Complete Initial
Contact

3

Instrument (mins.)

20

12.

Total
Burden
Hours:

122

The results of the studies will be presented in internal agency reports for NPS managers.
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.