Attribute Preferences for Wildland Recreation Settings

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Abstract
This study explores variations in preferences for various environmental attributes as they influence the choice of a specific setting in which to recreate. The influence of amount of previous experience and activity commitment is explored. These variables are two of the major dimensions of the specialization concept. They are expected to relate to the ways in which individuals process and store information about their recreational activities. Thus, they would be expected to influence both the types of attributes preferred, as well as the way those attributes are structured. Structure was represented vertically by the level of specificity of attributes and horizontally by the number of attributes used in the recreation decision process. Further, an open-ended format for eliciting attribute preferences was used to avoid constraints imposed by fixed lists. Two separate surveys were carried out, one administered to persons in a wildland setting who had made an actual choice to participate, and the other to members of a wilderness organization, who were asked to make a hypothetical choice. Results indicated that experience and commitment were not related to the types of attributes preferred, but significantly influenced both the vertical and horizontal structure of attribute preferences.