The effect of recreation opportunity on recreation satisfaction

The traditional SCORP methodology of equating supply with an enumeration of facilities and demand derived from participation has been criticized as being ineffective by many researchers. This study investigates the relationship between recreation opportunity and recreation satisfaction at the macro planning level. Data from two research projects were used. Recreation opportunity was measured as the amount of recreation facility per capita by county. These data came from the 1986 Illinois Recreaction Facilities Inventory. Data on participant satisfaction came from the 1978 Illinois Today and Tomorrow needs assessment study. The analysis of linear structural relationships by maximum likelihood (LISREL) was the main statistical technique used. The structural equation model produced twelve path coefficients between the latent variables but only two were significant. The main conclusion from this study is that current supply and demand analysis which determine recreation developments may not be valid. It appears that the provision of facilities has not had a significant direct effect on the public's satisfaction of recreation opportunities. This implies that better selection of development priorities is needed. The facilities that have been built in the past were done so with very little, if any, behavioral information. Without knowing the type of experiences which will satisfy the public's need for recreation, it is difficult to know the correct type of opportunities to provide. Building facilities to meet a per capita standard will not maximize recreation satisfaction, and in an economic sense, may not be the best return for each dollar spent. This study has shown the need for new methodologies that incorporate behavioral information in macro level outdoor recreation planning.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Recreation, Sport and Tourism

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2011

Author dc:creator

• Yuan, Michael S.

Contributors dc:contributor

• Burdge, Rabel J.

• Recreation

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 1990 Yuan, Michael S.

Language dc:language

eng

Identifier

AAI9021779
(UMI)AAI9021779

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/22331