1024-0224 Programmatic Fom

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
Submission Date
1.

2.

1-24-2013

Project Title: Visitors’ perceptions of natural sounds in the backcountry and designated wilderness
areas managed by the National Park Service.
Abstract: Through sound monitoring efforts, parks can learn about the acoustical environment
as a whole and identify desirable and appropriate sound sources, as well as those that
are undesirable in the park setting. Information gathered can then be used to identify
the potential impacts of non-natural sounds The Natural Sounds and Night Skies
Division requested a survey of visitors recreating in wilderness areas to evaluate the
perception of sound quality observed during medium-length hikes (e.g. hikes that last
several hours versus multiple days and are less than 8 miles in duration). The results
of this study will provide information about visitor perception of desirable and
appropriate sounds observed while hiking in a national park setting.
(not to exceed 150 words)

3.

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

4.

Paul
Last Name: Schomer
Standards Director, Acoustical Society of America
Schomer and Associates, Inc.
2117 Robert Drive
Champaign,
State: IL
Zip code: 61821
(217) 359-6602
Fax: (217) 359-3303
[email protected]

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

Frank
Last Name: Turina
Program Manager, Policy Planning and Compliance
National Park Service, Natural Sounds and Night Skies Division
1201 Oakridge Drive
Fort Collins
State: CO
Zip code: 80525
(970) 225-3530
Cell: (970) 631-5260 Cell
[email protected]

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

June 1, 2013

Bryce Canyon National Park
TO

August 17, 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.
The opportunity to experience natural sounds and silence is becoming rare in
our modernized world. National parks are among the last refuges where
people can experience natural quiet. Efforts to protect the acoustical
environment in our national parks are driven by the Wilderness Act and
National Park Service (NPS) management policies. But before any action can be
taken, park planners and managers need reliable data about a park's existing
acoustical environment. Wilderness Act of 1964 requires the National Park
Service (NPS) to preserve the wilderness character of protected wilderness
areas; and the NPS Management Policies (2006 section 4.9) and the NPS
Director’s Order #47 directs park managers to (1) measure baseline acoustic
conditions, (2) determine which existing or proposed human-made sounds are
consistent with park purposes, (3) set acoustic management goals and
objectives based on those purposes, and (4) determine which noise sources
are impacting the park and need to be addressed by management. In 1972, the
Noise Control Act required the federal government to establish and enforce
noise controls in work and other places, including national parks. Subsequent
legislation to limit air tours and enforce minimum flight altitudes (to limit
noise).
Although the NPS has measured natural, ambient, and human-caused sound
levels in parks for more than 20 years, there are few studies that evaluate
visitors’ perceptions of natural sounds in the backcountry and designated
wilderness areas managed by the NPS. To that end, the Natural Sounds and
Night Skies Division requested a survey of visitors recreating in wilderness
areas to evaluate the perception of sound quality observed during mediumlength hikes (e.g. hikes that last several hours versus multiple days and are less
than 8 miles in duration). The results of this study will provide information
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about visitor perception of desirable and appropriate sounds observed while
hiking in a national park setting.
9.

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

(a) Respondent Universe:
All adult (16 years and older) entering three identified wilderness trails within
Bryce Canyon National Park.
(b) Sampling Plan/Procedures:
The sampling period will occur for a total of 30 days between June 1 and
August 17, 2013. Within this 30-day window, we will survey concurrently or
separately at three locations within the designated wilderness boundary.
Sampling days will be stratified by day of the week and location. On each
sampling day, one to two trained surveyors will be stationed at one to two of
the three locations between 7:00am-2:00pm. The surveyors will recruit study
participants by contacting a random sample of visitors as they enter the study
areas. On days of high-visitor volume two surveyors will be at one location,
but if there are days with low visitor volume, we use one surveyor at each of
two locations.
(c) Instrument Administration:
During the sampling period, trained surveyors will ask every Nth visitor/group
entering the sampling location if they would be willing to participate in a visitor
survey. Visitors who are unwilling or unable to participate in the survey will be
asked two questions which will be used to determine non-response bias, and
thanked for their consideration. The visitors willing to participate will be
greeted by a surveyor as they approach the entrance to the trail. We will spend
about three minutes explaining the purpose of the survey and explaining that
we would like for them to them complete during their hike
At high-volume locations, a random start time will be selected at the beginning
of each sample period and visitor groups will be randomly intercepted
approximately every 10 minutes (this sampling interval may be adjusted if and
when traffic volume fluctuates). At low-volume locations, all visitor groups
will be contacted. When more than one person is encountered in a group we
will use the closest birthday method to select the respondent.
The surveyors will use the following script when working with potential
respondents:
“Hello, my name is ______. I am conducting a survey for the National Park
Service to better understand visitor’s attitudes towards the management of
sounds here at Bryce Canyon. Your participation is voluntary, all responses
will be anonymous and the survey will take about 15 minutes to complete
during your hike. We are asking that you stop 4-6 times along the way and
tell us about the sounds you heard during your hike. We are hoping this will
not take away from your visit. Have you or any members of your group
participated in this survey while at Bryce Canyon?”

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If “Yes” then, “Thank you for helping us. Have a safe trip.”
If “No” then, “Would you be willing to spend accept a survey to complete
during your hike?
•

If “Yes” then, “Thank you for your willingness to assist with this study.
I’ll read you the survey instructions so we can begin.”

If “No” then, “Do you mind if I ask,
• is this your first time hiking this trail?”
• where are you from? (state or country)
Thank you for your time and consideration, I hope you enjoy your visit.”
(d) Expected Response Rate/Confidence Levels:
A total of 1,200 visitor groups will be contacted during the sampling period.
Based on similar on-site surveys by the National Park Service, (Newman 2010)
we expect a final response rate of 56%. This response rate will yield
approximately 675 completed questionnaires. Based on this, the overall
sampling error will be approximately +/- 5% at the 95% confidence interval.
Location

Site 1
Site 2
Site 3

Number of
Initial Contacts

Expected
Response
Rate

Expected Number of
people accepting the
survey

Margin of
Error +/- %

400
400
400

56%
56%
56%

225
225
225

5%
5%
5%

(e) Strategies for dealing with potential non-response bias:
During the initial contact, the interviewer will ask each visitor two questions
taken from the survey. These questions will be used in a non-response bias
analysis.
1) Is this your first time hiking this trail?”
2) Where are you from? (state, province or country)
In addition, the data from the survey will be analyzed for non-response bias by
comparing participating groups’ characteristics (group size, activity type – i.e.,
day hiking, backpacking, trail running ) to non-participating groups’
characteristics gathered on a survey refusal log maintained by the surveyors.
Responses will be recorded in a log maintained by the surveyors. Results of the
non-response bias check will be described in a report and any implications for
park planning and management will be discussed.

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(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. Questionnaire items are identical to those used in previous
studies in several other national park sites. The questions are consistent with
Topic Area 4: Sound9 in the NPS Pool of Known Questions (OMB Control
Number 1024-0224).
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Burden Estimates:

We plan to approach at least 1,200 individuals during the sampling
period. With an anticipated response rate of 56%, we expect to receive
675 total responses for this collection.
We expect that the initial contact time will be at least one minute per
person (1,200 x 1 minute = 20 hours) to determine if they will be willing to
take the survey. We expect that 525 (44%) visitors will refuse to take the
survey, for those individuals we will record their reason for refusal and
ask them if they would be willing to ask to answer the two questions that
will be used for the non-response check. This is estimated to take no
more than 2 minutes (525 x 2 = 18 hours) to complete each session.
For those who agree to participate (n= 675) we expect that 50% (n=337)
will complete and return the survey. For those completing and returning
the survey, an additional 15 minutes/respondent will be added to the
overall burden for the collection (337 response x 15 minutes = 84 hours).
The burden for this collection is estimated to be 122 hours.

Estimated Number of Visitor
Contact

Estimation of Time (minutes)

Initial Contacts

1,200

Complete Initial Contact

1

Initial Contact

20

On-site Refusal/
nonresponse
returned surveys

525

On-site Refusal/
nonresponse
Complete and return surveys

2

On-site Refusal/
nonresponse
Estimated Burden

18

337

Estimation of Respondent
Burden (hours)

15

Total Burden

11.

84
122

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.
Finally, we will submit a copy of the technical completion report, as required, the
to NPS Program Manager, Policy Planning and Compliance, Night Skies Division,
and the NPS Social Science Program for inclusion in the Social Science Studies
Collection.

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