Record Details
Encounter norms in more developed river settings
ScholarsArchive at Oregon State University
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Title | Encounter norms in more developed river settings |
| Names |
Martinson, Kristen S.
(creator) Shelby, Bo (advisor) |
| Date Issued | 1989-03-06 (iso8601) |
| Note | Graduation date: 1989 |
| Abstract | Much of the research on social carrying capacity in recreation settings has focused on backcountry or primitive areas where recreationists' perceptions of social contact are a critical element of a quality experience. A challenge now facing resource managers and planners is to apply what has been learned about social carrying capacity in the backcountry to more accessible and developed natural areas; it is important to understand how social contacts impact users of these intermediate areas. Two papers are presented examining evaluative standards for social impacts in semideveloped river settings. The first paper compares the evaluative standards of boaters on the Klamath River in Northern California, a semideveloped river setting, with those of boaters on three backcountry rivers. Encounter norms are compared to see if they are similar for specific experiences types. Results suggest that encounter norms for Klamath boaters for semi-wilderness and undeveloped recreation experiences are defined by the same range of acceptable encounter levels as defined on the backcountry rivers, and that experience definitions are stable regardless of the setting. It also appears the measurement techniques developed in backcountry areas can be readily applied to more developed areas. The second paper investigates perceptions of salmon anglers on the Klamath and three river settings in New Zealand. Encounter norms, norms defining activity space requirements, and perceived crowding are compared across settings. A wide range of acceptable contacts is defined by salmon anglers, suggesting a lack of crystallization regarding encounter norms. In spite of this lack of consensus, respondents still reported a strong preference for not encountering many other users. Data also suggest that norms specifying appropriate spacing for fishing along river banks are not well defined for a semideveloped experience opportunity. |
| Genre | Thesis/Dissertation |
| Topic | Wilderness areas -- Recreational use |
| Identifier | http://hdl.handle.net/1957/12947 |
