Social Science & Natural Resources

1. ESRM 304Environmental and Resource Assessment Social Science & Natural Resources Monday Social Science Methods Overview Review Lab Assignment Wednesday Surveys, Interviews, and Observation Friday Lab Debrief Other Examples of Social Science Research

2. ESRM 304Environmental and Resource Assessment Social Science & Natural Resources Research Design, Methods & Measures

3. Social and Cultural Values Across the Landscape Gradient Urban Wildland

4. The Study of Human Dimensions

5. Social Science Disciplines • psychology • sociology • economics • political science • anthropology • geography • policy • planning

6. Carrying Out an Investigation decide on a focus develop research questions report what you’ve found choose a research approach • Research Cycle carry out analysis select methods collect the data Robson & Galvan

7. What is the unit of analysis ? individual group community relationship among variables Sources of questions: professor told me to personal interests observation theory management issue program effectiveness decide on a focus develop research questions report what you’ve found choose a research approach

8. Question drives the approach historical descriptive developmental case correlational causal true experiment quasi experimental decide on a focus develop research questions choose a research approach

9. Historical – to reconstruct the past objectively and accurately A study reconstructing the recreation/human use practices on the national forests over the past century. Descriptive – To describe systematically a situation or area of interest factually and accurately. Population census studies, public opinion surveys, observations studies, status studies, survey of the literature. Developmental – To investigate patterns and sequences of growth and or change as a function of time. A longitudinal study following the patterns of recreation participation from adolescence through retirement. Case – To study intensively the background, current status, and environmental interactions of a given social unit: an individual, group, institution, or community. The case history of the youngest person to summit Mt. Everest; an intensive study of a group of Sherpa's who smoke; an intensive study of the socio-economic characteristics of second home communities.

10. Correlational– To investigate the extent to which variations in one factor correspond with the variations in one or more other factors based on correlation coefficients. The investigate relationships between participation in certain types of recreation activities and demographic variables such as age, income, gender and race. Causal – To investigate possible cause and effect relationships by observing some existing consequence and search back through the data for plausible casual factors. To investigate differences and similarities between such recreations groups as those who are self propelled vs. those who chose motorized vehicles. True experiment – To investigate possible cause and effect relationships by exposing one or more experimental groups to one or more treatment conditions and comparing the results of one or more control groups not receiving the treatment. To investigate the effectiveness of three methods of teaching navigation to cross country hikers. Quasi experimental – To approximate the conditions of the true experiment in a setting which does not allow the control and or manipulations of all relevant variable.

11. interviews surveys observations data sets choose a research approach archival materials ethnography journaling documents discourse select methods

12. carry out analysis select methods collect the data Practicality Sampling frame random sample stratified random sample “snowball” sample purposeful access to data time cost human subjects protection

13. carry out analysis select methods arrange practicalities collect the data What do the data tell you? patterns difference relationships causality inference Analytical Techniques statistics content analysis

14. Who wants to know? research sponsors scientific community professionals/managers collaborators public How to communicate? scientific journals technical reports manuals books public presentations posters report what you’ve found carry out analysis

15. scientific journals technical reports professional journals fact sheet

16. Carrying Out an Investigation decide on a focus develop research questions report what you’ve found choose a research approach • Research Cycle carry out analysis select methods collect the data Robson & Galvan

17. Social Science Field Research St Edwards State Park • Regional Context • City parks • County parks • Regional Parks • State Parks • National Parks • International Parks

19. St Edwards State Park

20. 316 acres 3,000 ft shore

21. Parks Planning - Program Current Status Facilities and Infrastructure Active Recreation Passive Recreation Unintended Consequences

22. Active Recreation Play Park Gymnasium, Swimming Pool Reserved Picnics Sports Fields baseball, soccer Bike Riding Horseback Riding

23. Public Events

24. Passive Recreation Hiking/Walking Dog Walking Picnics Birding Shoreline Activity

26. Unintended Activities/Management Challenges Motor vehicles Vandalism Graffiti Water activities (swings) Personal security on trails Site deterioration

28. Invasive species Hazard Trees

29. Off-site Social Issues - St. Edward Adjacent property owners – using park as they see fit….cutting trails, building forts, after hours usage, dogs off leash, motorcycles on trials, bicycle BMX courses, opposition to appropriate park practices..i.e.. hazard tree removal?

30. Social Science Research Approach to understanding the site What do you want to know…..and who cares?

31. Approach to understanding the site • What do you want to know?....and who cares? • Who is using the park? • Where do they come from? • How is it being used? • What are the benefits to the users? • When does use occur? • Where does use occur? • Are there conflicts among users? • Are there unacceptable environmental impacts? • Approaches to seeking public input and consensus • on park management decisions?

32. Purpose of the site assessment is to provide a quality visitor experience while protecting the resource that is essential to providing the experience. • Many recreation assessment models available • Recreation Opportunity Spectrum • Visitor Impact Management • Visitor Experience and Resource Protection • Limits to Acceptable Change

33. Process for Visitor Impact Management (VIM) • Developed by researchers working for the U.S. National Parks andConservation Association for use by the U.S. National Park Service. • The process addresses three basic issues relating to impact: • problem conditions • potential causal factors • potential management strategies • Nilsen, Per, Grant Taylor, A Comparative Analysis of Protected Ares Planning and Management Frameworks. In Proceedings – Limits of Acceptable Change and Related Planning Processes. GTR INT-GTR-371. 1997 Biological impacts: • ground-cover density and loss of ground cover • diversity and composition of plant species • proportion of exotic plant species • plant species height, vigour and diseases • trees—mutilation, seeding regeneration, exposed roots • wildlife species—diversity, abundance, sightings • presence or absence of indicator species • reproduction success Social Impacts: • number of encounters • by activity type with other individuals/day • by size of group • with other groups/day • by mode of transport • by location of encounter • visitor perception of crowding • visitor perception of impact on the environment • visitor satisfaction • visitor complaints • visitor reports of undesirable behaviours Standards are established for each indicator based on the management objectives that specify acceptable limits or appropriate levels for the impact. Applications Best Suited for This is a flexible process parallel to LAC that can be applied in a wide variety of settings. It employs a similar methodology to assess and identify existing impacts and particularly the causes

34. Factors, Indicators and Standards The list of possible indicators of impact includes: Physical impacts: • soil density, pH, compaction, drainage, chemistry, productivity • amount and depth of litter and dust • area of barren core and of bare ground • area of complete campsites • number and size of fire rings • number of social trails • visible erosion

35. Biological impacts: • soil fauna and microfauna • ground-cover density and loss of ground cover • diversity and composition of plant species • proportion of exotic plant species • plant species height, vigour and diseases • trees—mutilation, seeding regeneration, exposed roots • wildlife species—diversity, abundance, sightings • presence or absence of indicator species • reproduction success

36. Social Impacts: • number of encounters • by activity type with other individuals/day • by size of group • with other groups/day • by mode of transport • by location of encounter • visitor perception of crowding • visitor perception of impact on the environment • visitor satisfaction • visitor complaints • visitor reports of undesirable behaviors

37. Standards are established for each indicator based on the managementobjectives that specify acceptable limits, or appropriate levels for environmental modification and use. Why are these actions important? Because it leads to providing a quality recreation experience

38. Review Lab Assignment The purpose of this lab exercise is to give you an opportunity to collect and analyze measurements related to visitor use of St. Edwards State Park.

39. Zone 1 Trails 12 and 11 Zone 2 Building influence area Zone 3 Hillside trails and waterfront Trails 4 and 5

40. North NTS ZONE 1 - Trails 12 and 11. Volunteer and Entrance

41. North NTS Zone 2 – Building Influence Area

42. North NTS Zone 3 – Trails 4 and 5. Seminary and Grotto