1024-0224 Programmatic Form For Congaree Focus Group

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

2.

3.

Project Title: Visitor Services Project (VSP): Understanding
Black/African American visitation experiences – a
Columbia SC focus group study

10/11/2011

Abstract: Congaree National Park (CONG) is committed to the national effort of keeping
national parks relevant to the American public. It is especially important for the
managers at Congaree to reach underserved populations. CONG has requested the
Visitor Services Project’s (VSP) assistance in conducting a series of focus groups to
better understand the recreation needs and the visitation barriers of the African
American communities in the local area surrounding CONG, especially in Columbia,
SC. The results will help the park manager design programs and activities that meet
their desires to connect with the local African American communities.
(not to exceed 150 words)
Principal Investigator Contact Information
First Name:
Title:
Affiliation:
Street Address:
City:
Phone:
Email:

4.

Submission
Date

Lena
Last Name: Le
NPS
NPS Visitor Services Project (VSP) Assistant Director
NPS Visitor Services Project, PSU, College of Natural Resources, University of Idaho
Moscow
State: ID
Zip code: 83844-1139
208-885-2585
Fax: 208-885-4261
[email protected]

Park or Program Liaison Contact Information
First Name:
Title:
Park:
Park
Office/Division:
Street Address:
City:
Phone:
Email:

Tracy
Superintendent
Congaree National Park

Last Name: Swartout

100 National Park Road
Hopkins
State: SC
803-647-3971
Fax: 803-783-4241
[email protected]

Zip code: 29061

Project Information
5. Park(s) For Which Research is
to be Conducted:
6. Survey Dates:

Congaree National Park (CONG)

11-7-2011

to

1-25-2012

7. Type of Information Collection Instrument (Check ALL that Apply)
 Mail-Back
Questionnaire

 On-Site
Questionnaire

 Face-to-Face
Interview

Telephone
Survey

 Focus
Groups

 Other (explain)
8.

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 nonvisiting public, gateway communities and regions, and human interactions with
park resources. Such studies are needed to provide a scientific basis for park
planning, development.
Managerial Justification.
CONG is committed to outreach efforts to make national parks relevant to
American publics. The managers at CONG are interested in knowing more
about the recreation behaviors of Black/African Americans in the local
communities surrounding the park. According to the 2010 U.S Census Bureau
statistics, 45.9% of the population in Richland County, SC is Black/African
American. Current visitation statistics at CONG is not reflective of the diversity
of the area’s population.
The VSP proposes to conduct 10-12 focus groups sessions with a sample of
Black/African Americans within communities in and around Columbia, SC. The
information collected will be used to help the NPS determine if additional
programs and activities are needed to maximize the park’s outreach efforts
towards the Black/African American communities
The research objectives are to:
• understand recreational behaviors, preferred recreational activities,
and significance of outdoor settings through discussion with
Black/African American community members;
• learn about problems or barriers that may prevent Black/African
Americans from visiting the park;
• determine the types of programs and the topics that would attract
Black/African American visitors from local areas to use the park
resources.

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 Black/African American adults at least 18
years of age who are year-round residents of Columbia, or Richland County,
SC. According to the U.S. Census Bureau 2010 Census 176,487 individuals selfidentified as Black or African American. Discounting those who are under 18,
the target population for this study is approximately 90,000 individuals.
(b) Sampling Plan/Procedures:
To generate lists of potential focus group participants the VSP will use the
following approach:
The VSP will start the process by meeting with the executive board members
of the South-East Rural Community Outreach Organization (SERCO), local
Pastors of predominately African American Churches, Friends of the Congaree
(a non-profit friends group) and a group of Black/African American park
volunteers and identified community leaders. After we’ve described the study,
we will ask members from the groups listed above, to provide 10-12 names
and contact information of church members or local leaders that would be
suited to serve as potential participants in the study. We will use this list of
names to initiate the snowball process.
We will contact each person on the initial list, describe the study, and ask them
to provide the names of at least 5 people who they think would be suited to
serve as potential participants in the study. This will serve as the first wave of
contacts.
A goal of the recruiting process would be to have maximum variation in the
sample. In order to achieve this we will ask each contact (whenever possible)
to provide the names and contact information of individuals within different
demographic categories (age, marital status, length of residency, and gender).
We will continue the process until we receive a total of approximately 300
names.
People who received 3 more recommendations during the snowball process
will be selected first then we will go down the list to people with 2
recommendations and then 1 if necessary. The selected individuals will be
contacted by VSP staff by phone (se attached script) to invite them to focus
group discussion. A tally will be kept as participants are recruited to ensure
that individuals with diverse characteristics (age, gender, length of residency)
are included. Those who agree to participate will be divided into 12 different
focus group sessions of 6-8 individuals per session. In past focus group studies
conducted by the VSP the point of saturation has typically reached been after
5-6 focus groups, however, given the size and diversity of Columbia, it is
advisable to increase the number of focus groups. It is estimated that 300
individuals will be contacted to obtain 96 committed participants. For those
who declined to participate, age, gender, length and location of residency will
be recorded for non-response bias analysis.
Since each focus group session will be 90 minute long and intensive we will
offer refreshment, up to $20 as reimbursement for traveling expenses, a free

canoe trip led by park volunteers or a gift certificate donated by bookstore
association (Eastern National) to recruit enough participants and to encourage
retention through the focus group sessions. The incentives will be donated and
handled by the Friends of Congaree and Eastern National. The offer of
incentive will be clearly stated in recruiting materials.
(c) Instrument Administration:
Focus groups will be administered by VSP personnel. The focus group scripts
are included as a separate document. Each session will take approximately 90
minutes to complete. The sessions will be voice-recorded and transcribed. The
transcripts will be analyzed and used to provide results for the final reports.
Contact information and full transcripts will be kept in a locked cabinet. Codes
will be used in all analyses and publications to protect participants’ identity.
(d) Expected response rate/confidence levels:
It is expected that each focus group will include approximately 6-8
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 no present the same concerns as they do in
quantitative studies based on probability samples and employing inferential
statistical analysis. The findings will be used to provide CONG staff with
information that can be used in the development of their outreach process.

Snowballing Process

Number of
Initial
Contacts

Expected
Response
Rate

Expected
Number of
Responses

300

30%

90

(e) Strategies for dealing with potential non-response bias:
Based on our sampling design, we expect to interview approximately 210
respondents that will be routed through the non-response bias analysis part
of the survey. During each initial contact, everyone contacted will be asked
the following questions to be used in the non-response bias analysis. One
non-response bias pre-measurement screening questions will be asked to
determine survey eligibility and conformance with the study universe. These
questions will screen non-respondents to ensure they are 18 years of age or
older, and that they identify as African American before they are asked the
non-response bias analysis questions.
•
•
•
•
•

Age
Race
Gender
Years of residency in the area
Have you ever visited a National Park?

A non-response bias analysis will be conducted on multiple levels. A post hoc
analysis of non-contact records and completed interviews will be conducted
based on sample frame characteristics. Additionally, a random subsample of

non-respondents who answered the non-response variables will be compared
to completed interviews based on demographic and socioeconomic
characteristics in order to identify and assess any significant differences
among respondents and non-respondents. Further analysis will be conducted
using third party data sources, such as Current Population Survey (CPS) data
from the U.S. Census Bureau to determine any differences between the
sample of completed interviews and the study universe.
(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 CONG outreach program. The script had been tested using a
group of African American students at University of South Carolina in
Columbia (n=5). The questions and the length of focus group session have
been verified for clarity and cultural sensitivity.

10

Burden Estimates:

We plan to approach 300 individuals during the snowballing process. We
expect that the initial contact time will be at least five minutes per person
(300 x 5 minutes = 25hours). We expect that based on the selection
process, 210 people not be eligible to participate in the focus groups. We
will record the basic demographic information (age, length of residency,
and gender) that will be used for the non-response check this time is
included in the initial contact time described above.
For those who are selected to participate in the study (90) we expect that
it will take at least 90 minutes to complete the focus group sessions (90 x
90 minutes – 135 hours). The total burden for this collection is estimated
to be 160 hours.

Total Number of Initial
Contacts
Expected number of
focus group
participants

300

90

Estimated Time (mins.) to
Complete Initial Contact
Time to complete focus
group sessions (mins.)

5

Estimated Burden
Hours

25

90

Estimated Burden
Hours

135

Total Burden

11.

160 Hours

Reporting Plan: Once the focus groups have been completed, the VSP will create full transcripts
of each focus group and submit them as an appendix to the final report. The
report will describe the methodology and provide analyses that will include all
raw data and an interpretation of the data that will include themes and patterns,
consistency of responses, and recommendations. This information will be
provided in a manner that will be used to inform the park’s outreach efforts. The
final report will be submitted by the VSP to CONG and NPS and a copy will be
archived by the NPS Social Science Division. There will be a potential publication

in peer-reviewed journals. All personal information will be removed from reports
and publications to protect participants’ identities.