1024-0224 Programmatic Review Form

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.

2.

Project Title: Transportation and User Capacity Assessment at
Sequoia and Kings Canyons National Parks (SEKI)

Submission
Date

1-2-2013

Abstract: Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks (SEKI) are increasingly focused on the
relationship between transportation systems and the quality of the natural
environment and visitors’ experiences. Management concerns include effects on
visitor crowding, traffic congestion, visitor stress, parking shortages, air pollution,
noise pollution, and impacts to wildlife and roadside vegetation. This project will
involve cooperative research and planning activities conducted in partnership
between Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks and researchers at Arizona State
University. The study will employ a cross-sectional survey design with data collected
from a stratified random sample of current SEKI visitors through an onsite
questionnaire. The study aims to understand the psychological, social, and behavioral
dimensions of national park visitors’ transportation-related experiences and decisions
to inform transportation planning and management and visitor use capacity decision
making in the parks. On-site sampling will occur April – August 2013.
(not to exceed 150 words)

3.

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

4.

Dave
Last Name: White
Associate Professor
Arizona State University
411 N. Central Ave., Ste. 550
Phoenix
State: AZ
Zip code: 85004
(602) 496-0154
Fax: (602) 496-0953
[email protected]

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

Colleen
Last Name: Bathe
Chief; Interpretation, Education and Partnerships
Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks
Interpretation, Education and Partnerships
47050 Generals Highway
Three Rivers
State: CA
Zip code: 93271
(559) 565-3130
Fax:
[email protected]

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

04/2013

Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks

TO

08/2013

7. Type of Information Collection Instrument (Check ALL that Apply)

8.

Mail-Back
Questionnaire
Other (explain)

On-Site
Questionnaire

Face-to-Face
Interview

Telephone
Survey

Focus Groups

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.
Data are needed to develop management options and planning alternatives
that will be used to address visitor capacity in the Sequoia and Kings Canyon
National Parks. Park managers need to understand how current transportation
systems are used to facilitate visitor movement, provide for quality visitor
experiences, and protect resources. It is explicitly stated in the Code of Federal
Regulations that consideration shall be given to strategies that promote
alternative transportation systems, reduce private automobile travel, and best
integrate private automobile travel with other transportation modes. These
efforts to investigate the transportation system will add value
(protection/rejuvenation of resources, improved visitor experience) to the park
(CFR Title 23 970.214).
This study builds upon research and planning efforts focused on visitors’
experiences and transportation in national parks (see: White, 2007; White et
al., 2011; Youngs et al., 2008). The goal of this research is to understand the
psychological, social, and behavioral dimensions of park visitors’
transportation-related experiences. This information collected will be used to
inform transportation planning and management and visitor use capacity
decision making.

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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:
The respondent universe for this study will include adult park visitors (aged 18
and older) visiting SEKI during randomly selected on-site sampling dates during
the study period (April – August, 2013). A total of 550 visitors will be contacted
and asked to participate in the survey.
(b) Sampling Plan/Procedures:
The study will employ a stratified random sampling strategy. Sampling will be
stratified by entrance station (Big Stump and Ash Mountain); time of day
(8:00am-1:00pm and 1:00pm-6:00pm) and by weekend and weekday,
proportionate to visitation estimates provided by the park.
(c) Instrument Administration:
Surveys will be administered by Student Conservation Association (SCA) interns
and ASU undergraduate research assistants working under the supervision of
SEKI staff and an ASU graduate research assistant project manager. The
questionnaire will be administered using tablet computer to facilitate skip
patterns The respondent will be handed the tablet to complete the
questionnaire and surveyor will be available for assistance.
Intercept locations will be park entrances/exits that provide adequate space
for pulling over vehicles and collecting data safely. Each location will have one
surveyor to serve as a flagger to control the traffic and one to serve as a data
collector. A general traffic control plan will be used and modified for
effectiveness at each location. At high-volume locations, a random start time
will be selected at the beginning of the sample period and a visitor group will
be intercepted approximately every 20 minutes (this sampling interval may be
adjusted if and when traffic volume fluctuates). At low-volume locations, all
visitor groups will be contacted. Groups will be greeted by the surveyor after
they pull off the road segment and introduced to the purpose of the study.
“Excuse me, sir/ma’am. We’re conducting a study for Sequoia and Kings
Canyon National Parks to understand visitor use in this area. Participation is
voluntary and all responses are anonymous. Would you be willing to take 15
minutes to help?”
If YES: “Thank you. Who in your group (who is at least 18 years old) has the
next birthday? Would you be willing to fill out this survey? Have you
completed a survey at a different location in the park?”
If YES: “Thank you, but we can only accept one response per group.
Thank you for your time.”
If NO: “Thank you. Please feel free to ask me any questions you have
about the survey.”
If NO: “I understand. I hope you enjoyed your visit.”

Although the questionnaire will be self-administered, the surveyor will be
available to provide assistance when necessary.

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(d) Expected Response Rate/Confidence Levels:
A total of 275 visitor groups will be intercepted at each of the sampling
locations (Big Stump and Ash Mountain) for a total of 550 overall contacts.
Based on previous on-site surveys conducted in Yosemite National Park (White
et al., 2011) and Canyon de Chelly National Monument in 2006 (White, van
Riper, Wodrich, Aquino, & McKinney, 2007), a final response rate of 75% is
anticipated. A 75% response will yield approximately 412 completed
questionnaires overall. Based on this, the overall sampling error will be
approximately +/- 5% at the 95% confidence interval.
Number of
Initial Contacts
550

Expected
Response
Rate
75%

Expected
Number of
Responses
412

Margin of
Error +/%
5%

(e) Strategies for dealing with potential non-response bias:
A large color postcard will be provided to all groups contacted to encourage
participation in the study and to minimize non-response. To assess potential
non-response bias, surveyors will use an on-site contact log to document
sampling location, time of day, gender, number of children present, personal
group size, and comments regarding reason for refusal. Analyses will be
performed to determine if respondents differed significantly from nonrespondents, and the implications, if any, for interpreting the results will be
discussed. If necessary, data weighting may be applied during the analysis
phase.
(f) Description of any pre-testing and peer review of the methods and/or
instrument (recommended):
Survey research methods and the questionnaire instrument were reviewed by
NPS officials. The methods and instrument have also been reviewed by
nationally-recognized scholars including: Dr. Randy Gimblett, University of
Arizona; Dr. Steve Lawson, Resource Systems Group; and Dr. Geoff Lacher,
Arizona State University. Questionnaire items are identical to those used in
previous studies in several other national park sites and nearly all appear in the
NPS Pool of Known Questions (OMB Control Number 1024-0224).

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Burden Estimates: We plan to approach at least 550 individuals during the sampling period. With
an anticipated response rate of 75%, we expect to receive 412 total responses
for this collection.
We expect that the initial contact time will be at least one minute per
person (550 x 1 minute = 9hours). We expect that 138 (25%) visitors will
refuse to participate during the initial on-site contact, for those individuals
we will note their reason for refusal and record information that will be
used for the non-response check on the on-site contact log: sampling
location, time of day, gender, number of children present, personal group
size. This is estimated to take no more than 2 minutes (138 x 2 = 5 hours)
to complete each session.
We expect that 412 agree to participate and will complete the
questionnaire. With that, an additional 20 minutes will be required to
complete the process (412 response x 20 minutes = 137hours). The burden
for this collection is estimated to be 151 hours.

11.

Estimated Number of Contacts
Total Number of Initial
550
Contacts

Estimation of Time
Estimated Time (mins.) to
Complete Initial Contact

Estimated number of
on-site refusals
Total Number of
Responses (Spring and
Summer – combined)

On-site Refusal/
nonresponse
Time to complete and
return surveys

138
412

1

Estimation of Respondent Burden
Estimated Burden Hours
9

2

Estimated Burden Hours

5

20

Estimated Burden Hours

137

Total Burden

151

Reporting Plan: Analysis and results will include frequency distributions and descriptive statistics
for all questionnaire variables as well as selected cross-tabulations and other
comparisons. Depending on the variable, appropriate statistical analyses will be
conducted, including correlations (Pearson’s rho), Chi-square, Analysis of
Variance (ANOVA), factor analysis, and scale reliability analysis.
Electronic version (in PDF and MS Word file formats) of the completion report
will be provided to the park representatives. NPS Denver Service Center; and the
NPS Social Science Program for inclusion in the Social Science Studies Collection
within 12 months after the collection is completed.

References
White, D. D. (2007). An interpretive study of Yosemite National Park visitors' perspectives toward alternative transportation
in Yosemite Valley. Environmental Management, 39(1), 50-62.
White, D. D., van Riper, C. J., Wodrich, J. A., Aquino, J. F., & McKinney, C. (2007). Canyon de Chelly National Monument
Visitor Survey Final Technical Report. Phoenix, AZ: Arizona State University.
White, D. D., Aquino, J. F., Budruk, M., & Golub, A. (2011). Visitors’ experiences of traditional and alternative transportation
in Yosemite National Park. Journal of Park and Recreation Administration, 29(1), 38-57.
Youngs, Y. L., White, D. D., & Wodrich, J. A. (2008). Transportation systems as cultural landscapes in national parks: The case
of Yosemite. Society & Natural Resources, 21(9), 797-811.

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