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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Non-laboratory settings common
Quasi experimental designs common
Qualitative methods frequently used
Social science research
methodologies
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Qualitative data collection
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Interviews
Observations
Focus group sessions
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
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
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Informal committee structure
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?
Three approaches to evaluation
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Visitor use study
Visitor survey
Photomonitoring study
Purposes of Visitor Use Study
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To assess trends in visitor use.
To identify locations where use is
concentrated.
To identify factors that influence visitor use
(e.g., weather).
To create a strategy for monitoring use in
the future.
Methods
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Review existing data
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Assess each property open
to the public
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Based on access points and
observed use, designate
“Zones”
Indirect Count Method
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For each zone, collect:
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Full counts on randomly selected days
Daily spot counts
Weather data
An equation was calculated for each zone
in each public area. For example:
Visitor Use = a + b1(Day) + b2(Spot Count) + …
Developing a monitoring protocol
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Data found to be significant in determining
total visitor use:
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Day of the week (weekend, weekday)
Daily 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
2004
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
2004
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
2004
Purpose of visitor survey
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To identify visitor demographics.
To identify interpretive media used by
visitors.
To identify if the ELODWA’s interpretive
message was being successfully
communicated to visitors.
Visitor survey
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2-page on-site survey completed in 1997
and 2003/04
1997:
93 visitors surveyed
 2003/04: 359 visitors surveyed
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Demographic Results
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93% of respondents from NY
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Group composition:
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40% from Jefferson or Oswego Counties
Family (44%)
Friends (23%)
Family & Friends (23%)
Alone (10%)
Repeat visitors: 80%
Length of stay/visit: 5 hours
Results
Percentage of visitors
30%
25%
Sand, Wind & Water
20%
Site brochures
15%
Educational signs
Directory signs
10%
Other
5%
0%
Type of educational material used
Results
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Small interpretive signs
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91% (2003/04) had seen the signs.
93% (of the 91% above) indicated that
signs encouraged them to stay out of the
dunes.
Approval of signs:
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83% yes, 16% neutral, 1% no
Results
100%
Percentage of visitors
90%
80%
Boat launches
70%
Trails
60%
Observation towers
50%
Campsites
40%
Dune walkovers
30%
Other
20%
10%
0%
Type of facility
Results
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Is message getting across?
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Used open-ended questions
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78% (2003/04) and 94% (1997) stated that
beach grass anchors sand.
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93% (2003/04) and 98% (1997) were able to
identify one visitor behavior that causes
erosion
Purposes of Photomonitoring
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To identify changes in vegetative cover on
dunes.
To identify changes in dune profile.
Photomonitoring
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35 sites throughout ELODWA between 1997 and
2005
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5-point scale of changes in dune appearance:
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0 = no change
1 = less than 25% vegetation cover change on exposed
sand
2 = 25 to 50% vegetation cover change
3 = over 50% vegetation coverage change
4 = complete vegetation coverage + increased
dune profile
Results
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Ratings of 2 to 4 in 74% of sites
Rating = 4, Sandy Pond Natural Area
Results
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Ratings of 2 to 4 in 74% of sites
Rating = 2, Black Pond WMA
Results
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9% slight change (rating of 1)
17% had no change (rating of 0)
Rating = 1, Black Pond WMA
Outcomes of study
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Data collection protocol established
Interpretive message is getting across to most
visitors
Positive changes in dune vegetation and profile
Future management strategies
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Refocus of ELODWA staff on remote zones
Staffing increased in Lakeview
Additional efforts needed at Deer Creek
Similar study proposed for Salmon River
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?