1024-0224 - Programmatic Approval Form for PINN

National Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior
OMB Control Number 1024-0224
Current Expiration Date:8-31-2014

Social Science Program
Programmatic Approval for NPS-Sponsored Public Surveys
1. Project Title: General Visitor and Camper surveys at the
Pinnacles National Monument (PINN)
2.

Submission Date : 12-11-2012

Abstract: Pinnacles National Monument (PINN) is in the process of updating the Long Range
Interpretive Plan and General Management Plan. Two mail back questionnaires will be used
to collect information from visitors to determine how well existing interpretive services are
meeting visitor needs and expectations; and to determine visitor’s needs and preferences of
programs and facilities that the park should offer at a recently acquired campground.
(not to exceed 150 words)

Principal Investigator Contact Information
First Name: Lena
Last Name: Le
Title: NPS Visitor Services Project (VSP), Director
Affiliation: NPS Visitor Services Project, PSU, College of Natural Resources, University of Idaho
Street Address: 875 Perimeter Drive MS 1139
City: Moscow
State: ID
Zip code: 83844-1139
Phone: 208-885-2585
Fax: 208-885-4261
Email: [email protected]

3.

4.

Park or Program Liaison Contact Information

First Name:
Title:
Park:
Street Address:
City:
Phone:
Email:

Nichole
Last Name: Andler
Chief of Interpretation
Pinnacles National Monument
5000 Highway 146
Paicines
State: CA
Zip Code
831-389-4486 ext 265
Fax: 831-389-4489
[email protected]

95043

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

Pinnacles National Monument

6. Survey
Dates:

04/05/2013

7.

Location
Pinnacles National Monument

Start Date

Type of Information Collection Instrument (Check ALL that Apply)
On-Site
Face-to-Face
 Mail-Back
Questionnaire
Interview
Questionnaire
Other (explain)

End Date
to

Telephone
Survey

04/21/2013

Focus Groups

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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, gateway communities and regions, and human
interactions with park resources. Information on visitor perceptions about security
and safety will also be evaluated. Such studies are needed to provide a scientific
basis for park planning, development and concession contract decisions.
The last VSP visitor study at Pinnacles NM was conducted in 2002. In 2012,
Clemson University conducted a Visitor Use and Capacity study to provide data on
visitor capacity and effects on visitor experience. The park is completing a General
Management Plan and will update the Comprehensive Interpretive Plan in 2014,
using data from this study. Park managers are also looking for feedback on the
operations at a newly acquired campground. The area is heavily used and needs
improvement in services and facilities. There is no information about
characteristics of current users. Park managers are looking for feedback about the
campground operation as well as interpretive operations, to determine visitor
satisfaction at the new site and to understand visitor’s knowledge of park
resources. This collection will provide information about economic impacts of
visitor spending in the local area which is needed during collaborative planning
efforts with the local communities.
The findings from the General Visitor Survey will be used to:
• provide input into planning (e.g. Long Range Interpretive Plan, potential
development of new programs, finding any gaps in current visitor services to
improve operations in the future)
• provide feedback about the current usage of the shuttle bus system to plan
for future demand
• provide basic information about the economic benefits of visitation to local
businesses and governments in the area
• obtain data about visitor activities, interests, length of stay, etc. to help shape
visitor services provided in the future as well as outreach efforts.
The findings from the Camper Survey will be used to:
• establish baseline profile of current users for customer service planning
purpose
• obtain data about current usage and future needs of services and facilities at
the campground.
• obtain information about visitor awareness of camping impact on resources
for Long Range Interpretive Plan and resource management.

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9.

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

(a) Respondent Universe:
General Survey: The respondent universe for this collection will be all
recreational visitors, age 16 and older, visiting the park during the study period
(April 5- 11). Visitors will be intercept at 4 park locations: East side overflow
parking area, East side Moses Spring parking lot, West side, and at the park
campground.
Camper Survey: The respondent universe for this collection will be recreational
visitors, age 16 and older, who use the park campground during the study period
(April 13-21). Visitors will be intercept at the park campground.
(b) Sampling Plan/Procedures:
Both surveys will follow the same procedure using mail-back questionnaires to
collect the following information from visitors:
•
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 study as they visit the
park during the seven-day study period.
The survey design and sampling plan for this visitor study are 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 consistently been used in 254 previous surveys conducted by
the NPS Visitor Services Project (VSP). Most of the questions have been used in
other VSP questionnaires or have been taken from the current NPS Pool of
Questions (OMB Control Number 1024-0224). A systematic sampling procedure,
based on the park’s visitation statistics from the previous year, will require
intercepting every nth visitor group to participate in the study.
Each interviewer will contact every nth visitor at the selected locations (West
Side, East side parking areas and the campground). The interviewers will be
trained in every aspect of on-site contact this includes: using sampling intervals,
avoiding sampling bias, and how to handle all types of interviewing situations,
including safety of the visitor and the interviewer. Quality control will be ensured
by monitoring interviewers in the field, and by checking their paperwork at the
end of each survey day.
(c) Instrument Administration:
Both surveys will follow the same administration method as follow:
The initial contact with visitors will be used to explain the study and determine if
visitors are interested in participating. This should take approximately 1 minute.
As each group is encountered, the survey interviewer will ask the individual with
the next birthday, and is at least 16 years of age, to serve as the respondent for
the study. All individuals approached will be asked the non-response bias
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questions (see item 9e below). The visitors that refuse to participate will be
asked if they would be willing to take two minutes to respond to the nonresponse bias questions listed below. The number of refusals will be recorded
and used to calculate the overall response rate for the collection.
Visitors selected for participation in the survey will be read the following script:
“Hello, my name is _________. I am conducting a survey for the
National Park Service to better understand your opinions about the
programs and services here at Pinnacles National Monument. Your
participation is voluntary and all responses will be kept anonymous.
Would you be willing to take a survey and mail it back to us using the
self-addressed envelope?”
If YES – then ask, “has any member of your group been asked to
participate in this survey before?”
If “YES” (already asked to participate) then, “Thank you for agreeing to
participate in this study we hope that you will return the questionnaire
soon. Have a great day.”
If “NO” (have not been previously asked to participate) then,
“Thank you for agreeing to participate. Who in your group is at least 16
years old and has the next birthday? Ask them to start the process by
answering the non-response bias questions (listed below). Record
responses in spaces provided on the tracking sheet. Hand them a survey
packet including the questionnaire and a self-addressed stamp envelope.
If NO– (soft refusal) - ask them if they would be willing to answer the nonresponse bias questions (listed below) and then thank them for their time.
Record responses in spaces provided on the tracking sheet.

If NO– (hard refusal) - end the contact and thank them for their time.

Once the visitor has agreed to participate in the study, we will ask them to
provide or personally record their name, address, and phone number or email
address on the survey log sheet – this information will be only be used to followup with all non-respondents. At the end of the survey sampling period, all
visitors accepting a survey packet on-site will be mailed a thank you/reminder
post card within 11 working days. A reminder letter with a stamped, addressed
replacement questionnaire will be sent to non-respondents 21 working days
after completion of on-site contacts. A second reminder letter will be mailed to
non-respondents after 35 working days with a stamped, addressed replacement
questionnaire.
(d) Expected Response Rate/Confidence Levels:
General Survey: The response rate for this collection is based on VSP surveys at
similar park sites. Based on the survey sample size, there will be 95% confidence
that the survey findings will be accurate to within 3.8 percentage points (Table 1
below). Thus, the proposed sample size will be adequate for bivariate
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comparisons and will allow for comparisons between study sites and more
sophisticated multivariate analysis. If the response rate is below what would
typically be expected, the VSP will call a sample of non-respondents to try to
increase the response rate. For dichotomous response variables, estimates will
be accurate within the margins of error and confidence intervals will be
somewhat larger for questions with more than two response categories (Table
1).
A total of 685 visitors will be contacted during the sampling period. Based on
previous and nearly identical studies conducted by the VSP, 630 (92%) visitors
will agree to participate in the survey. The number of refusals will be recorded
and reported in a survey log, and will be used in calculating the response rate. Of
those who agree to participate approximately 409 visitors (65%) are expected to
complete and return the survey by mail.
Camper Survey: A total of 293 visitors will be contacted during the sampling
period. We expect that 270 (92%) visitors will agree to participate in the survey.
The number of refusals will be recorded and reported in a survey log, and will be
used in calculating the response rate. Of those who agree to participate
approximately 189 visitors (70%) are expected to complete and return the
survey by mail. The proposed sample size will provide a result within 5% margin
of error.
Table 1: Expected/Actual Response Rates/Confidence Levels
Number
of Initial
Contacts

Number
Accepting
Survey

Expected
Response
Rate

Expected/
Number of
Responses

Margin
of Error
+/- %

685

630

65%

409

3.8%

293

270

70%

189

5%

978

900

PINN 2013
General Survey
(April 5- 11)
Camper Survey
(April 13-21)
Total

589

(e) Strategies for dealing with potential non-response bias:
During the initial contact, the interviewer will ask each visitor four 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) How many people are in your group?
3) How did this visit to fit into your travel plans? (primary destination, one of
several destinations, not a planned destination).
4) How old is the person who will complete the questionnaire?
Responses will be recorded on a log for every contact. Results of the nonresponse bias check will be described in a report and any 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):
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The questionnaire format and many of the questions have been used in 254
previous VSP survey instruments. The questions are taken from the currently
approved list of questions in NPS Pool of Known Questions (OMB Control
Number: 1024-0224; Current Expiration Date: 8-31-2014). Variations of the
questions have been reviewed by NPS managers and university professors.
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Burden
Estimates:

For the General Survey we will approach 685 random visitors and for the
Camper Survey we will approach 293 random visitors. A total of a total of
978 individuals during both sampling periods. From this, we plan to obtain
verbal agreement to participate in the survey from 900 individuals (General:
n=630 and Campers: n=270).
We expect that the initial contact time will be two minutes per participant
(978 x 2 minutes = 33 hours). During the initial on-site contact, everyone will
be asked to answer the four questions (listed above in item 9e) that will be
used for the non-response check.
General Survey
For those who agree to participate (n= 630) we expect that 409 will complete
and return the survey. An additional 20 minutes will be required to complete
and return the questionnaire (409 responses x 20 minutes = 136 hours).
Camper Survey
For those who agree to participate (n=270) we expect that 189 will complete
and return the survey by mail. An additional 10 minutes will be required to
complete and return the questionnaire (189 responses x 10 minutes= 32
hours).
The total burden hour this collection will be 201 hours.

Table 2: Estimation of Burden

11.

Estimated Number of Contacts

Estimation of Time

Estimation of Respondent Burden

Total Number of Initial
Contacts
General Survey

978

2

Estimated Burden Hours

33

409

Estimated Time (mins.) to
Complete Initial Contact
General Survey

20

General Survey

136

Camper Survey

189

Camper Survey

10

Camper Survey
Total Burden

32
201

Reporting The study results will be presented in an internal agency report for NPS managers.
Plan: Response frequencies will be tabulated and measures of central tendency computed
(e.g., mean, median, mode, as appropriate). The report will be archived with the NPS
Social Science Program for inclusion in the Social Science Studies Collection as required
by the NSP Programmatic Approval Process; and 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 a special report for the NPS
covering overall use estimates and local economic impacts.

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