Edwin H. Carpenter

Increasing Mail Questionnaire Response: A Four State Comparison

Low response rates, poor data quality and the perceived necessity of limiting oneself to only a few questions have contributed to avoidance of mail questionnaires in studies of the general public. The effectiveness of a particular method for eliciting response to lengthy questionnaires was tested on state-wide samples of the general public in Arizona, Indiana, North Carolina, and Washington. The method, which depends on systematically manipulating all aspects of the data collection process produced response rates of from 69. 7 percent to 75.2 percent. It was equally effective in rural and urban regions. The data quality, as measured by item non-response, was uniformly high throughout the 85-165 item questionnaires. Results demonstrate that high response from the general public is possible.(We conclude that poor mail questionnaire return rates can no more be excused than can inadequate theory and/or inappropriate statistics.

Solitude at Grand Canyon: an application of expectancy theory.

The desire for solitude and its fulfillment at Grand Canyon are examined through the framework of expectancy theory. In order to associate variations in solitude fulfillment with backcountry manage...

Targeting Audiences and Content for Forest Fire Information Programs

Abstract Data from three independently conducted surveys indicate a high level of support for management practices initiated and controlled by the manager. Additional analysis performed on one of the data sets further reveals the extent to which sociodemographic characteristics and beliefs about the effects of fire in forest environments predict public approval. Based on the analyses, recommendations are made concerning the appropriate audiences and content to target in the design of fire information programs.

Multimedia: asynchronous distributed education—a review and case study

Interest in and delivery of distributed education has increased rapidly in the past decade. Technology brings the promise of creating superior learning environments relative to the traditional classroom as well as delivering these learning experiences to greater numbers and more diverse audiences. However, successful creation and delivery of distributed courses requires new dimensions in thought and creativity because a direct translation from classroom to computer will not enhance the learning experience. To make distributed education work, instructors have to rethink their role as teacher, and students must take charge of their own learning experience. Many accommodations must be made in distributed course creation to ensure a student-centered environment that overcomes the feeling of isolation. The authors discuss these themes in relation to their experiences in delivering an asynchronous distributed introductory course at the University of Arizona.Interest in and delivery of distributed education has increased rapidly in the past decade. Technology brings the promise of creating superior learning environments relative to the traditional classroom as well as delivering these learning experiences to greater numbers and more diverse audiences. However, successful creation and delivery of distributed courses requires new dimensions in thought and creativity because a direct translation from classroom to computer will not enhance the learning experience. To make distributed education work, instructors have to rethink their role as teacher, and students must take charge of their own learning experience. Many accommodations must be made in distributed course creation to ensure a student-centered environment that overcomes the feeling of isolation. The authors discuss these themes in relation to their experiences in delivering an asynchronous distributed introductory course at the University of Arizona.

Software tools for data collection: microcomputer-assisted interviewing

Computer-assisted interviewing by telephone, in person, and through mailed diskette is increasing in use. The phenomenal success of computer-assisted interviewing is attributed to the speed of data collection and processing, increased accuracy of results, lower costs, reductions in respondent-interviewer burden, and the researchers enhanced ability to elicit appropriate information through detailed contingent questioning or branching systems. Here attributes and capabilities for computer-assisted data collection are evaluated in 16 microcomputer-based packages. Keywords: computer-assisted interviewing, computer-assisted telephone interviewing, telephone interviewing, mail survey, computer-assisted personal interviewing.

Recreation and fire management: Public concerns, attitudes, and perceptions

Abstract Data from three separate but related surveys address the linkages between recreation and public perception of and attitudes toward fire management. Recreation ranks high among alternative forest resource uses and is a serious concern vis‐a‐vis fire effects. Public acceptance of new fire‐management policies may be greater and more sophisticated than commonly thought. Public knowledge of fire effects and tolerance of light‐intensity fires can be increased through use of educational materials. However, there is some evidence that increases in knowledge and tolerance may not affect perceptual judgments of recreational acceptability or scenic beauty. Some recreational activities, particularly camping, show considerable sensitivity to fire effects. New fire‐management policies and educational programs will need to account for increasing sophistication in the publics understanding and tolerance of fire, as well as for different impacts that fire may have on various outdoor recreation activities.

Risk perception and behavioral context: U.S. forest service fire management professionals

Abstract Fire managers from the U.S. Forest Service were surveyed to determine which decision factors most strongly influenced their fire‐risk decisions. Safety, the resources at risk, public opinion, and the reliability of information were important influences on these decisions. This research allowed direct comparison between fire managers’ perceptions of factor importance and how their fire‐risk decisions changed in response to those factors. These risk decisions were highly responsive to changes in context (an escaped wildfire decision versus a prescribed burning decision) as well as to changing factors. The results demonstrate the utility of using scenarios in risk research and the vital importance of context in studying risk‐taking behavior. Research which attempts to remove risk decisions from their real‐world context may well distort the nature of risk‐taking behavior.

Statistical Packages for Microcomputers: New Vistas for Social Science Researchers in 1985

users such as might be found at an entire university or business site. Collective needs, it is presumed, will encompass the bulk of individual needs and, as a consequence, it is the collective need that will be the focus of attention in this report. Identification of statistical software that meets the collective need provides the opportunity that several users will want to purchase the same packages which increases the likelihood of: (1) receiving

The Evolving Statistics and Research Process Using Microcomputer Statistical Software

Researchers are generally familiar with the tasks that they must perform to accomplish a given endeavor. It is a rather rare individual, however, who is able to specify all the procedures and details required to implement the various tasks. While the researcher may be quite adept at the procedures and details of data analysis, he or she may lack the training necessary for specifying such items as the sampling frame or the experimental design. Past solutions to the problem of incomplete or inappropriate research process specification were to bring together several experts trained to specify the solution or simply to gloss over the portion of the process with a less-than-adequate solution. The latter is unacceptable for obvious reasons, while the former has attendant problems such as cost and getting the experts to cooperate. There is now a third approach to solving the problem of providing expertise-microcomputer software.

The Future for "User Friendly" Microcomputer Statistical Software: SPSS/PC and SPSS/PC+ as Examples

Statistical computing software for microcomputers has advanced to the point that virtually all social science analytical needs that would have required a mainframe or minicomputer two years ago can now be accomplished on microcomputers (Carpenter, 1985). Two years ago this could not have been said since the available software was limited in power and versatility, and, in fact, there was serious concern that it might never come to pass. Certainly, few people would have guessed back then that today some statistical routines, for example, multinomial logic (Greene, 1984; Edlefsen and Jones, 1985) would be more readily available in software packages for microcomputers than mainframe and minicomputers. Stated differently, the use of statistical analysis software on microcomputers is alive and well and appears to be growing rapidly, so much so that it is safe to presume the debate about whether or