LANDSCAPE, NICHE PERCEPTIONS, AND RECREATIONAL BEHAVIORAL INTENTION PATTERNS IN BALD EAGLE STATE PARK
Open Access
- Author:
- Wang, Po-Ching
- Graduate Program:
- Recreation, Park and Tourism Management
- Degree:
- Doctor of Philosophy
- Document Type:
- Dissertation
- Date of Defense:
- October 31, 2006
- Committee Members:
- James Newton Wines, Dissertation Advisor/Co-Advisor
Alan R Graefe, Committee Chair/Co-Chair
Deborah Lee Kerstetter, Committee Member
Harry C Zinn, Committee Member
James Craig Finley, Committee Member
Michael L Rios, Committee Member - Keywords:
- evolutionary recreation behavior
landscape element
landscape structure
landscape preference
place tenacity
recreation ecology - Abstract:
- From a biological perspective, this research validates a theoretical model to explicate how the landscape compositions of natural recreational areas affect recreationists’ behavioral intentions. One hundred and fifty landscape units, represented by 155 photo stimuli taken from the survey site, were the statistical units used in the model. A reference-group design was conducted to bridge 31 groups comprising 843 respondents in order to adjust and compare subjectively perceived ratings of the varied landscapes. Aerial photos and extensive field surveys using GPS, as well as compasses and laser rangefinders, were applied to measure the viewsheds of each photo stimulant. This research used GIS and related spatial statistic modules to analyze spatial patterns and to derive objective spatial information of the viewsheds, which were then combined with the adjusted subjective-rating scores to establish the data set for structural equation modeling (SEM) analysis. The results showed that the data fit the model well and all regression paths were statistically significant. Recreational behavioral intention was subject to situational environment settings, including landscape structure and landscape elements, through two mediator variables: perceptual constructs of landscape preference and place tenacity. When landscape structure was taken into account, shrub land and weedy fields contributed significantly to negative effects on place tenacity and landscape preference.