A comparison of methods of characterizing recreationists and recreation behavior

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to compare the predictive capabilities of two methods of characterizing the outdoor recreationalist and two methods of characterizing outdoor recreation. Hypotheses were developed and tested comparing the number of statistically significant associations between (1) characterization of the recreationist as an individual recreation participant to recreation participation characterized by (a) the single recreation activity most frequently participated in, and (b) the set of three activities most frequently participated in; and (3) characterization of the recreationist as a social group (household) to recreation participation characterized by (a) the single recreation activity most frequently participated in, and (b) the set of three activities most frequently participated in. Data for this study were drawn from a 1967-1968 survey of Texas Households (n=7500) using interview techniques in a stratified random sample. Seven thousand one hundred and nine useful cases were drawn upon for socio-economic variables characterizing (1) the individual respondent and (2) the household members collectively. These variables were: age, income, sex, and ethnicity for the respondent; mean age, per capita income, mean sex (0.0 male-1.0 female), and ethnicity for the household. From a list of frequencies of participation in each of 63 outdoor recreation activities, recreation behavior was characterized by (1) the single activity most frequently participated in during the preceding year, and (2) the permutation (set of) three activities most frequently participated in during the preceding year..