1024-0224 Programmatic Form for Yosemite National Park

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

OMB Control Number 1024-0224
Current Expiration Date:8-31-2014

Programmatic Approval for NPS-Sponsored Public Surveys
1.

Project Title: Social science to support wilderness

planning at Yosemite National Park

2.

Submission
Date:

6-25-2012

Abstract: This study will use on-site and mail questionnaires to address Yosemite wilderness
visitors’ perceptions of resource conditions, attitudes toward management, and
experience quality. To maximize the response rate, survey data will be collected via
on-site self-administered questionnaires during summer 2012 from approximately
1,200 adult visitors (with 600 each from high use and moderate use trails) on
randomly selected days. A random sample of 1,000 visitors to low-use trails will be
drawn from wilderness permits; they will receive the survey via postal mail because it
is not feasible to administer the survey on-site at these locations. This study is being
conducted at the request of Yosemite National Park to support a wilderness planning
effort. All survey questions qualify for the National Park Service Programmatic review
process.
(not to exceed 150 words)

3.

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

4.

Troy
Last Name: Hall
Professor
University of Idaho, Conservation Social Sciences
PO Box 441139
Moscow
State: ID
Zip code: 83844
208-885-9455
Fax: 208-855-6226
[email protected]

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

Bret
Last Name: Meldrum
Branch Chief, Visitor Use and Social Sciences
Yosemite National Park
5083 Foresta Rd
El Portal
State: CA
Zip code: 95318
209-379-1216
Fax: 209-379-1131
[email protected]

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

7-4-2012

Yosemite National Park
TO

8-31-2012

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 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.
At Yosemite National Park, social science research is needed to understand
visitor’s wilderness experiences as well as determine public reaction to
potential management policies and actions as part of a new effort to create a
wilderness management plan. Managers at Yosemite want to know about
visitor and trip characteristics, social and biophysical conditions experienced,
and attitudes toward management. No such wilderness-wide social data have
been collected in Yosemite in recent decades. We propose to use a
combination of on-site and mail surveys, using questions from previous peerreviewed research, to collect these data.

9.

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

(a) Respondent Universe:

All adult visitors (18 years and older) exiting wilderness trails from May 1
through August 31, 2012.

(b) Sampling Plan/Procedures:

Based on consultation with Yosemite wilderness managers, wilderness trails
will be stratified by relative level of use into high, moderate, and low use
categories. Several comparisons among managerially relevant subgroups of
visitors are planned (for instance, high vs. moderate vs. low use trails; day vs.
overnight users), so target sample sizes have been set at 600 completed
surveys per use stratum (1,200 total surveys).
Table 1 provides estimates for the average number of surveys expected per
day and the number of sample days required to reach our target number of
completions for high-use and moderate-use trails.
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Table 1. Target number of sampling days required to meet sample size
requirements for high- and moderate-use trails (on-site survey)
Estimated
Stratum
Estimated
Days
Target
Initial
surveys/ day
of
(n)
Contacts
sampling
High use trails
20
30
1,715
600
Moderate use trails
15
40
1,000
600
Total
70
2,715
1,200
Guided by the numbers in Table 1, we will draw a random sample of dates for
surveying. For each sample date, a trail from within the specified stratum will
be randomly selected for survey administration. Surveys will be administered
for six hours per day, during the highest use time of day.
For low-use trails, the physical layout of trail access to Yosemite Wilderness
makes on-site sampling very inefficient, because trailheads are remote and
very few visitors can be expected per day. Therefore, mail surveys will be used
to sample visitors to low-use trails. Assuming a response rate of approximately
60%, we plan to draw a random sample of 1,000 wilderness permits.

(c) Instrument Administration:
On-site survey
All adult (18 years of age and older) visitors who exit the wilderness on
sampled days will be asked to participate in the study. The researchers will
adhere to both Federal and University of Idaho standards for informed consent
by stating the purpose of the research, assuring people that participation is
voluntary and anonymous, and offering to answer any questions about the
research. Visitors will be read the following script:
“Hello, my name is xxx. I am a graduate student from the University of
Idaho [or park volunteer] and I am conducting a survey for the
National Park Service at Yosemite. This survey will help the Park
Service managers to provide enjoyable experiences for wilderness
visitors. You have been randomly selected to participate in the study. If
you agree, your responses will be completely anonymous. Would you
be willing to answer some important questions regarding your visit
here? This will only take about 20 minutes. Are you willing to
participate? I need to speak to the person that has the next birthday (at
least 18 years old).

 If “NO” then, would you mind answering a few questions for me?
1. On this visit to Yosemite Wilderness, how long did you and
your personal group spend visiting the wilderness? (daytrip or
overnight)
2. How did you travel during this trip (foot or stock)?
3. Where do you live?

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If NO again then, “Thank you, I hope you enjoyed your visit.”
If “YES” then, “Your opinions do count. I am happy to answers any
questions about the survey instructions and to discuss the survey
further after you have completed the questionnaire. Have a great
day.”
People who agree to participate will be given a clipboard, pencil, and a copy of
the questionnaire. They will be asked to return the questionnaire to the
researcher once they have finished.
When refusals occur, any stated reasons for refusal will be recorded on a logsheet. The researcher will also ask two non-response bias questions and record
observable information such as gender, activity, and group size. People who
fully decline to participate will be thanked and the researcher will proceed to
the next group until the time block ends for each site.
Mail survey
For visitors using the low-use trails, the Dillman (2000) approach to surveying
will be used, with an initial survey mailing, a follow-up reminder postcard
(after 10 days), and a second survey mailing (two weeks after the postcard).
The visitors will be drawn from mandatory visitor permits required by
Yosemite National Park. The mail survey will include a cover letter explaining
the same information as presented in the approach script for the on-site
surveys:

Dear [Name],

The University of Idaho is conducting a survey for the National Park Service
at Yosemite. This survey will help the Park Service adopt management
practices that provide enjoyable experiences for wilderness visitors, while
protecting and preserving the natural resources for future generations to
enjoy. You were randomly selected from wilderness permits to participate in
the study. If you agree, your responses will be anonymous – your name will
not be used and your answers will not be connected to you. The survey will
take approximately 20 minutes. When you’ve completed the survey, please
send it back in the postage-paid envelope we’ve provided.

(d) Expected Response Rate/Confidence Levels:
For the on-site survey, the nature of the survey and the in-person appeal lead
us to expect a response rate of approximately 70%. This level of response has
been reached with similar surveys conducted by the University of Idaho in
wilderness areas.
For the mail survey, we anticipate a response rate of 60%. While slightly higher
than obtained in other mail surveys, the high level of interest in Yosemite and
wilderness among potential respondents is expected to lead to high levels of
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response. (Note: non-response bias concerns are addressed later.)
203 usable questionnaires are needed for a 95% confidence interval and a 3%
margin of error for the type of questions we will ask. However, we plan to
conduct factor analysis on various scales, which requires a minimum of 10-15
subjects per scale item (Hair et al. 2010). This sample size will also permit
comparisons of managerially relevant subgroups, such as campers vs. day
users. Some important user groups – such as High Sierra Camp users and John
Muir Trail through-hikers – are somewhat rare, and the target sample size will
ensure that adequate numbers of these important subgroups are included in
the study. There will be no attempt to generalize the findings outside the
scope of this collection.

(e) Strategies for dealing with potential non-response bias:
During the initial contact, the interviewer will ask each visitor three questions
taken from the survey. These questions will be used in a non-response bias
analysis. The following approach will be used during the initial contact:
If YES – ask non response bias questions. Record responses in spaces
provided on the tracking sheet.
If NO– (soft refusal) - ask if they would be willing to answer non response
bias questions. Record responses in spaces provided on the tracking sheet
Non Response Bias Questions.

1. On this visit to Yosemite Wilderness, how long did you and
your personal group spend visiting the wilderness?
(daytrip or overnight)
2. How did you travel during this trip (foot or stock)?
3. Where do you live?
If NO– (hard refusal) - end the contact and record observable data on
the survey log sheet and thank them for their time.

1) How many hours did you spend in the wilderness?
2) How many years have you visiting Yosemite wilderness?
3) Where do you live?
Responses to these questions and observable characteristics (e.g., gender,
personal group size and type, presence of children, and weather conditions)
will be recorded on the survey log will be recorded on a log for every contact.
The results of the non-response bias check will be described in a report and
the implications for interpreting the results will be discussed.

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(f) Description of any pre-testing and peer review of the methods and/or
instrument (recommended):

The measures in this study are well established and have been tested for
validity and reliability. In the attached instrument, questions are annotated (in
shaded boxes) to show the connections to the NPS approved Pool of Known
Questions (PKQ). Variations to PKQ are noted. Where questions are not from
the PKQ, we provide a citation to published sources that have used the
questions.
We have completed a peer-review of the proposed sampling plan and
measures by soliciting feedback from faculty within the University of Idaho’s
Conservation Social Sciences department.
10.

Burden Estimates: With an anticipated response rate of 70%, for the on-site survey we plan to
approach 1,715 individuals. We expect that the initial contact time will be two
minutes per person (1,715 x 2 minutes = 57 hours). For those who agree to
participate (1,200 people), an additional 20 minutes will be required to
complete the questionnaire (1,200 response x 20 minutes = 400 hours).
For the mail survey, with an anticipated response rate of 60%, we will send
questionnaires to 1,000 individuals. The time required to read the cover letter
will be two minutes per person (1,000 x 2 minutes = 33.3 hours). For those
who agree to participate (600 people), an additional 20 minutes will be
required to complete the questionnaire (600 responses x 20 minutes = 200
hours).
The total burden for this collection is estimated to be 690 hours.
Estimated Number of Contacts

Estimation of Time (Minutes)

Estimation of Respondent Burden

Total Number of Initial Contacts

To Complete Initial Contact

Estimated Burden Hours

On-site
1,715
Mail
1,000
Total Number of Responses

On-site
2
Mail
2
To Complete and Return Surveys

On-site
Mail
Estimated Burden Hours

On-site
Mail

11.

1,200
600

On-site
Mail

20
20

On-site
Mail

57
33

400
200
Total Burden 690

Reporting Plan: A report will be issued to Yosemite and the NPS Social Science Program
containing (1) overall descriptive results of the questionnaires, and (2) analysis of
how visitors’ attitudes and perceptions vary among managerially important
subgroups, for example, day and overnight visitors and visitors to trails with
different use densities. Analyses of the survey data will include descriptive
statistics (means, standard deviations, frequencies), comparative analyses (chisquare, t-test, and ANOVA), and regression analyses to determine the strongest
predictors for experience quality and support for management policies.

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References Cited
Dillman, D. A. (2000). Mail and internet surveys: The tailored design method. New York: John Wiley and Sons.
Hair, J.F. Jr., Black, W.C., Babin, B.J., Anderson R.E. (2010). Multivariate Data Analysis, 7th ed. Prentice Hall:
Upper Saddle River, NJ.

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