Portal de Periódicos da CAPES

Survey Sampling Wilderness Visitors

1971; Taylor & Francis; Volume: 3; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1080/00222216.1971.11970013

2159-6417

Robert Lucas, Jerry L. Oltman,

Recreation, Leisure, Wilderness Management

Surveys of wilderness visitors can be valuable in meeting the difficult challenges of wilderness management, but improved sampling methods are needed. The methods used in past surveys have serious weaknesses. Mail surveys have overcome many of the shortcomings of personal interviewing, and rates of return for completed questionnaires have been high. However, there has been no adequate source of names and addresses of wilderness visitors from which to draw samples. The unmanned trail registers commonly used provide only names of party leaders, and many groups do not register at all. Furthermore, certain types of visitors are less likely to register than others; thus, the registration list is not only incomplete, but also biased.A pilot test was made of two new methods for obtaining sample lists of wilderness visitors and a modification of an old method. The most successful method—in which a sign was used to inform visitors that research was in progress and to explain why names and addresses were needed—raised registration rates substantially, especially for hikers, and also produced names of individuals over sixteen years of age in addition to the party leaders. Nonregistrants were personally contacted on the trails. Both registrants and nonregistrants were mailed questionnaires. Over 90 percent of all questionnaires were returned, and analysis revealed significant differences between registrants and nonregistrants. Responses of party leaders also differed from the responses of other party members. Thus, the potential sources of bias in sampling from trail registers do seem important. Improved practices are recommended for many common field situations.