1024-0224 Form PINN

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

P rogrammatic Approval for NPS-Sponsored Public Surveys

OMB Control Number 1024-0224

Current Expiration Date: 8-31-2014

1.

Project Title:

Application of the Visitor Experience and Resource Protection (VERP) Program in Pinnacles National Monument

Submission Date:

4—25-2012

2.

Abstract:

The purpose of this study is to gather information that will help support visitor management concerning recent transportation system decisions at Pinnacles National Monument (PINN). A quantitative survey of visitors will be conducted to 1) assess visitor opinions regarding their experiences related to a range of related potential transportation management alternatives at this site, and 2) gather data to validate indicators and help formulate standards of quality for the visitor experience. The survey will be conducted onsite with visitors.

(not to exceed 150 words)

3.

Principal Investigator Contact Information

First Name:

Jeffrey

Last Name:

Hallo

Title:

Assistant Professor

Affiliation:

Clemson University

Street Address:

280B Lehotsky Hall, Clemson University

City:

Clemson

State:

SC

Zip code:

29634

Phone:

(864)656-3237

Fax:

(864)656-2226

Email:

[email protected]

4.

Park or Program Liaison Contact Information

First Name:

Brent

Last Name:

Johnson

Title:

Park Botanist

Park:

Pinnacles National Monument

Park Office/Division:

Research and Resource Management Division

Street Address:

5000 Highway 146

City:

Paicines

State:

CA

Zip code:

95043

Phone:

831/389-4486 ext. 259

Fax:

831/389-4489

Email:

[email protected]

Project Information

5.

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

Pinnacles National Monument (PINN)

6.

Survey Dates:

5/20/2012

to

10/31/2012

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. Annual increases in visitation to the national park system has raised the tensions between conserving important park resources while at the same time providing quality recreation experiences. Visitor carrying capacity has therefore become increasingly important and often missing variable in park planning and management. In its most generic form, carrying capacity has been defined as the amount and type of visitor use that can be accommodated in a park or related area while sustaining resources and the quality of the visitor experience. The National Park Service developed the Visitor Experience and Resource Protection (VERP) framework to address carrying capacity in the National Parks. This framework has been successfully applied to natural and recreational resources in diverse units of the National Park System. Because of the high intensity of visitation at Pinnacles National Monument (PINN), park managers are forced to address the issues of visitor carrying capacity and use in the Park’s general management planning process. The VERP framework will be used to provide documentation needed to demonstrate the monument’s commitment to protecting resources and providing quality experiences. The information gathered from the proposed information collections will be used to address visitor carrying capacity, visitor use and transportation management needs, at PINN. More specifically, this project will provide research support for the PINN General Management Plan. Two recent studies were conducted at PINN addressed the issues of transportation and visitor use (Nelson Nygaard Consulting Assoicates, 2008, and Littlejohn & Gramann 2003) but are limited in their ability to meet managers’ current need to understand the carrying capacity of the park. Therefore, this study will be used to address the issues of visitor experiences and attitudes toward current transportation management alternatives, indicators, and standards of quality at PINN.

9.

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

Respondent Universe: The sample universe will be all visitors who are (1) visiting Pinnacles National Monument (2) age 18 or older, and (3) are at the park between May 20, 2012 and October 31, 2012. Sampling Plan/Procedures: We will randomly sample every nth visitor group departing the park. One member from each group will be asked to complete the survey. This individual will be chosen from the group by selecting the person with the most recent birthday. If the individual chosen or the group refuses to participate in the survey, then the next eligible group to depart from the parking lot will be asked to participate. All surveys will be conducted on-site at the end respondent’s visit to the park. Respondents will complete surveys at specific locations near where they have parked their vehicle. The respondent will be asked to return the survey to the on-site survey administrator, once it is completed. The research staff from Clemson University will administer the survey on-site and be available to answer any questions. If the group declines to participate in the survey, non-response bias questions will be asked. We will then select the next eligible group in the sampling process. Sampling will occur on approximately 21 days during the survey sampling period. The goal is to collect 350 completed surveys (approximately 16 per day), and sampling will continue until this goal is met. Based on documented response rates (see next page) we anticipate having to approach 389 visitors to meet the goal of 350 completed surveys. Instrument Administration: Park visitors will be approached by university research staff and asked to participate in the study. The initial contact will be used to explain the study and determine if visitors are interested in participating (see attached script). This should take approximately 1 minute. If a group is encountered, the research staff member will ask the individual within the group who has the next birthday to serve as the respondent for the study. At this point, the potential survey respondent will be asked 3 questions from the survey to collect information that will be used in the non-response bias analysis (see questions below). The following script will guide the introduction: Hi, my name is ________________. I’m from Clemson University. We’re helping the National Park Service gather information to guide visitor use management at Pinnacles National Monument. Would you be willing to fill out a questionnaire about your experiences here at the Monument? Participation is voluntary and your responses will be anonymous. The questionnaire will take about twenty minutes to complete. . I need to speak to the person that has the next birthday (at least 18 years old). Are you willing to participate? 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) What type of group are you traveling with today? 2) How many times have you visited Pinnacles National Monument in the last four years? 3) What is the primary reason for your visit to Pinnacle National Monument today? If NO– (hard refusal) - end the contact and thank them for their time. Expected Response Rate/Confidence Levels: The expected response for this survey is 350. Based on previous experience in conducting similar data gathering, it is expected that 90% of individuals approached will be willing to participate in the survey. [A similar visitor survey at Cumberland Island National Seashore - OMB Number: 1024-0224 (NPS # 09-009) – had a response rate of 94.8%]. This suggests that we will have to approach at least 389 visitors to reach the expected response number. All visitors who agree to complete a survey are expected to submit a completed survey. Study findings for the survey are estimated to be accurate within 5.2 percentage points, based on a sample size of approximately 350 surveys and using a 95% confidence level.

Number of Visitors contacted on site

Expected Response Rate

Expected Number of Responses

Margin of Error +/- %

389

90%

350

5.2

Strategies for dealing with potential non-response bias: The number, date, and time of refusals will be recorded and reported on the visitor contact form. During the initial contact, the interviewer will ask each visitor 3 questions taken from the survey. These questions will be used in a non-response bias analysis. What type of group are you traveling with today? How many times have you visited Pinnacles National Monument in the last four years? What is the primary reason for your visit to Pinnacle National Monument today? Non-response bias will also be examined by collecting selected observable characteristics of every group contacted (e.g., group type, group size, presence or absence of children). If given, the reasons for refusals (e.g., lack of time, not interested, language, etc.) will also be noted. If visitors continue to decline to give basic information we will record the observational data on the log sheet. The results of the non-response bias check will be described in a report and the implications for park planning and management will be discussed. During the survey administration the respondents will be asked to rate a series of photographs to indicate their acceptable level of crowing based on the number of people shown in the photographs (see photo posters). The survey administrator will show the respondents a series of photographs. The photographs will be shown to the respondent one at a time. The order that photos will be presented to different respondents will alternate between incrementally increasing and decreasing the number of people A total of twelve photographs (two sets of 6) will be used for survey questions 12 and 13. Description of any pre-testing and peer review of the methods and/or instrument development The questions included in these surveys have been designed and reviewed by the principal investigator, research staff and graduate students, and park and regional staff, and many are similar to questions used in surveys and interviews at other national park areas. Findings from these types of questions have been used by park managers and have been published in the peer-reviewed scientific literature.

10		Burden Estimates:			With a response anticipated rate of 90%, we plan to approach 389 individuals. During the initial contact, we will ask all visitors approached if they would respond to the 3 non-response questions to complete each session. We expect that the initial contact time will be at least two minutes per person (389 x 2 minutes = 13 hours). We expect that 49 (10%) people will refuse to participate in the onsite interview. For these individuals we will record their reason for refusal. For those who agree to participate (n=350) we expect that all (350 people, or 100%) will complete and return the survey, with that, an additional 20 minutes will be required (350 response x 20 minutes = 117 hours). The burden for this collection is estimated to be 121 hours.
		Total Number of Initial Contacts			389		Estimated Time (mins.) to Complete Initial Contact/non-response questions	2		Estimated Burden for initial contact (Hours)	13
		Expected number of annual responses			350		Time to complete on-site interview (minutes)	20		Estimated Burden Hours to complete survey	117
			Total Annual Burden Hours								130
	11.		Reporting Plan:	The results of this information collection activity will be presented in an internal agency report and will be available upon request. Response frequencies, distributions, measure of central tendency (e.g., mean and median), and measures of variance (e.g., standard deviation) will be used to characterize and report survey findings. Where appropriate, t-tests and ANOVA will be used to examine difference in mean survey responses. A copy of the technical study report will be submitted as required, to the NPS Social Science Program for inclusion in the Social Science Studies Collection

REFERENCES CITED

(1) Nelson Nygaard Consulting Assoicates. (2008). Pinnacles National Monument Transportation Study Review. Report delivered to the U.S. Department of Interior, National Park Service.

(2) Littlejohn, M, & Gramann, J. (2003) Pinnacles National Monument Visitor Study, Spring 202, Report 133. Cooperative Park Studies Unit, University of Idaho.