Applying Social Science to
Outdoor Recreation Management
Diane Kuehn
SUNY ESF
Today’s presentation…
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What is social science?
How does social science apply to outdoor
recreation management?
Case study: Eastern Lake Ontario Dune
and Wetland Area
What is social science?
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Science that studies society and the
relationships of individuals within society
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Generally includes:
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Sociology
Psychology
Anthropology
Political Science
Why is social science different
from other types of science?
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Quasi experimental designs common
Non-laboratory settings common
Qualitative methods frequently used
Social science research
methodologies
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Qualitative data collection
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Interviews
Observations
Quantitative data collection
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Surveys
Counts (e.g., of users, recreational license
holders, etc…)
How is social science related to
outdoor recreation research?
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Study sociology and psychology in
recreational settings.
Research topics can include:
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Interactions between recreating
individuals
Factors that motivate individuals to
recreate
Environmental impacts of individuals on
areas used for recreation
How is social science research in
recreation implemented?
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Identify issue (i.e., research question)
Identify user groups
Assess setting for research (land use mgt.)
Identify most suitable data collection
methods
Conduct research
Identify how to apply results to setting
Case study: Eastern Lake Ontario
Dune and Wetland Area (ELODWA)
7 Public Areas:
 3 state wildlife
management
areas
 2 state parks
 1 state natural
area
 1 TNC preserve
History of collaboration
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Early 1980s:
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High visitor-caused impacts to dune ecosystem
Fragmented ownership
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State & county agencies
NGOs
Private property owners
Funding needed for dune education and protection
Ontario Dune Coalition
The Coalition’s primary concern…
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How can environmental
impacts from visitor use
be minimized?
Early efforts
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Identified areas with erosion
Identified and implemented visitor
management strategies
Visitor management
Visitor management
Visitor management
Interpretive Program
Signage
Interpretive Program
Guidebook and
brochures
Interpretation Program
Dune Steward
Program
The Coalition’s next concern…
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Are our management
strategies working?
Monitoring environmental impacts
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Annual photos of specific locations
1997
2001
2003
Evaluating interpretive efforts
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1997 Visitor survey; repeated in 2003
Questions asked about:
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Visitor demographics
Frequency of visitation
Facilities utilized
Interpretation utilized
Evaluating interpretive efforts
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Question:
Have you seen the signs along the beach?
Yes (98%)
No (2%)
If yes, have they made you want to stay
out of the dunes?
Yes (94%)
No (6%)
Evaluating interpretive efforts
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Question:
How do you feel about having signs
posted on the beach?
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Good or signs are needed (98%)
Neutral (1%)
Negative (1%)
Evaluating interpretive efforts
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Question:
What types of educational materials did
you use while in the area?
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Educational signs on walkovers (44%)
Parking area directory signs (23%)
Brochure for area currently visiting (20%)
“Sand, Wind, & Water” guidebook (11%)
None (30%)
Evaluating interpretive efforts
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Question:
Why is it important that beach grass and
other plants grow on the sand dunes?
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Answered correctly (94%)
Answered incorrectly (6%)
Evaluating interpretive efforts
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Question:
Can you list two activities that people do
that cause erosion of the sand dunes?
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Listed two activities correctly (82%)
Listed one correct/left one blank (16%)
Listed one correct/one incorrect (2%)
Other concerns of the Coalition…
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How many users are there?
What activities are they
involved in?
Where is use concentrated?
What trends are occurring in
visitor use?
Are we allocating resources
& staff appropriately for
visitor management?
Visitor monitoring program
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First began in 1985.
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In 2000, consistent data collection implemented.
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No consistent method used for data collection
Sampling design not based on social science methods
Not possible to estimate total use from data
In 2002, funding obtained from DOS for
identifying new monitoring protocol.
Developing a visitor
monitoring protocol
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Review existing data
from 1985 to 2002
Developing a
monitoring protocol
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Review existing data
from 1985 to 2002
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Assess each property
open to the public
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Access points?
Use concentrated?
Users?
“Zones”
Developing a monitoring protocol
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Indirect count method chosen (i.e.,
total visitor use is calculated from
specific indicators)
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Would provide total use
Past data could be utilized (trends)
Could be implemented by dune
stewards
Developing a monitoring protocol
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Collected the following data in 2003:
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Spot count (every day)
Full count (randomly-selected days)
Weather
Surf conditions
Day of the week
Recreational activity
Violations
Developing a monitoring protocol
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Factors found to be significant in
determining total visitor use:
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Day of the week (weekend, weekday)
Daily spot count
Visitor Use = a + b1(Day) + b2(Spot Count)
Results
Estimated number of visitors
Eastern Lake Ontario Dune Area
180000
160000
140000
120000
100000
Total
80000
60000
40000
20000
0
2000
2001
2002
2003
Results
Estimated number of visitors
Public areas within ELODWA
100000
90000
80000
70000
60000
50000
40000
30000
20000
10000
0
Sandy Pond
Black Pond
Lakeview
Southwick
Deer Creek
Sandy Island
2000
2001
2002
2003
Results
Estimated number of visitors
Sandy Pond Natural Area
40000
35000
30000
25000
Zone 1
Zone 2
Zone 3
Total
20000
15000
10000
5000
0
2000
2001
2002
2003
Outcomes of study
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Data collection protocol established
Data collection forms simplified
Management strategies
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Staffing increase needed in Lakeview
Staffing to be maintained at Sandy Pond Beach
Additional efforts needed at Deer Creek (visitor
education and dune walkover)
Refocus of staffing throughout ELODWA on zones
with high visitor use
In conclusion…
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Social science is useful for land use
management because:
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It’s focused on both the users & the
environment.
It can be used to identify management
strategies that take into account users.
It can provide balance between the needs
of users and of the environment.
Any questions?