Conceptual Development and Empirical Testing of an Outdoor Recreation Experience Model: The Recreation Experience Matrix (REM)

This dissertation examines four issues, including: (a) whether outdoor recreation experiences not included in the Recreation Experience Preference (REP) scales exist; (b) whether these experiences can be categorized using a framework called the Recreation Experience Matrix (REM); (c) how well the Recreation Opportunity Spectrum (ROS) variables of activity, setting, and expertise explain the types of experiences outdoor recreationists receive; and (d) how well two new variables--primary mode and mode dependence--explain the types of experiences outdoor recreationists receive. In order to address these issues, an on-site questionnaire was distributed at Mount Rogers National Recreation Area in Virginia during October and November, 1995 A total of 410 people completed this questionnaire. Of these, 336 provided useable addresses for a follow-up mail-out questionnaire, with 169 (50.3%) actually returning it. After performing a variety of statistical analyses, it was found that: (a) some outdoor recreationists did report having non-REP experiences involving identity, cognition, absorption, and self-concept; (b) indirect support does exist for classifying outdoor recreation experiences using the REM framework; and (c) the ROS variables of activity, setting, and expertise, do explain some outdoor recreation experiences, as do the new variables of primary mode and mode dependence.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph. D.

Level thesis:degree_level

doctoral

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Forestry

Department dc:contributor.department

Forestry

Grantor dc:publisher

Virginia Tech

Year dc:date.issued

1997

Author dc:creator

• Walker, Gordon James

Chairs dc:contributor.committeechair

• Roggenbuck, Joseph W.
• Hull, Robert Bruce IV

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Williams, Daniel R.
• Kiecolt, K. Jill
• Hertel, Bradley R.

• recreation experience matrix
• recreation experience preference scales
• outdoor recreation
• recreation opportunity spectrum

Statement dc:rights

• In Copyright

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Dc Identifier Other

etd-3345131939761081

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/30474