Managers of parks, recreation areas, and other natural resource settings are tasked with making decisions that often require public acceptance. Data from surveys can inform these decisions by describing and predicting human thought and behavior. Survey Research and Analysis: Applications in Parks, Recreation, and Human Dimensions provides students and researchers with a blend of applied social science theory, survey research methodology, and statistical analyses necessary to conduct quality survey research. To facilitate the learning process, data sets will be downloadable from www.venturepublish.com.
Theoretical concepts used in parks, recreation, and human dimensions of natural resources are explained in this book, as well as how survey questions can be created to measure these concepts. Recommendations are offered to facilitate survey design and implementation. Sampling strategies and procedures for weighting data to approximate populations of interest are discussed.
Practical guidelines are provided for determining which statistical techniques are appropriate for analyzing research questions and hypotheses. The Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) is used to illustrate statistics typically employed by survey researchers (e.g., frequencies, crosstabs, chi-square, t-tests, analysis of variance, correlation, regression, logistic regression, discriminant analysis) as well as indicators of practical significance (e.g., effect sizes, odds ratios). Data manipulation strategies for transforming variables are described. Procedures for testing measurement reliability, handling missing data, and dealing with outliers are examined. SPSS procedures and output are illustrated using graphics that explain their meaning and interpretation in an easy to understand manner. Sample tables are used to illustrate conversion of output data to usable information.
Preface
Pedagogical Approach
Chapter Overview
Acknowledgements
1 — The Science of Survey Research
2 — Linking Theory and Concepts to Survey Research
3 — The Evolution of Theory
4 — Conceptualization and Measurement
5 — Levels of Measurement: Once Over Again
6 — Hypothesis Testing and Effect Size
7 — Writing and Constructing Surveys
8 — Survey Implementation,Sampling, and Weighting Data
9 — An Introduction to SPSS for Windows
10 — Constructing SPSS Data Files
11 — Frequencies and Descriptive Statistics
12 — Data Manipulation Techniques
13 — Crosstabulations
14 — Means and t-tests
15 — Analysis of Variance
16 — Bivariate Correlation and Regression
17 — Logistic Regression and Discriminant Function Analysis
18 — Psychological Scales and Reliability Analysis
19 — Missing Data, Response Patterns, and Outliers
20 — Mediator and Moderator Variables in Path Analysis
Review Questions
References
Index
