Gerard T. Kyle

Testing the Dimensionality of Place Attachment in Recreational Settings

The purpose of this investigation was to examine the psychometric properties of a place-attachment scale using data collected from visitors to the Appalachian Trail in the United States. These data supported a correlated three-factor model consisting of place identity, place dependence, and social bonding. Multigroup confirmatory factor analysis was used to cross-validate the model using two sub-samples of the data. Latent factor means were also compared. Although these analyses provided mixed evidence indicating the scale to be a valid and reliable measure of place attachment, there remains some concern about the performance of several indicators (i.e., low factor loadings, low reliability). Latent mean differences were also observed between the two groups on the place identity dimension. The analyses presented in this investigation provide an example of the utility of covariance structure analysis for testing the psychometric properties of scales and for comparing latent mean differences among groups within populations.

The Social Nature of Leisure Involvement

The involvement construct has been used to explain a variety of leisure-related phenomena. While these efforts have made valuable contributions toward furthering the fields understanding of leisure behavior and involvement in particular, many of these investigations have been limited by the measures used to operationalize the construct. Most research that has incorporated the construct in their investigations has been quantitative and has employed one of several standardized scales. Unfortunately, the performance of these scales has been inconsistent and has possibly raised more questions relating to construct validity than they have addressed. Thus, the purpose of this investigation was to develop an understanding of leisure involvement from a naturalistic perspective using several ethnographic research methods. Data were collected from campers attending an agricultural fair in central Pennsylvania and was used to address the primary research question, “Why do campers annually return to participate in the Fair?” and two sub-questions, “What is the focus of their involvement?” and “How is their involvement maintained?” Results indicated that the relationships informants shared with significant family and friends was the primary source of personal relevance and was identified as the most important element of their Fair experience. Additionally, the relationships and interactions with members of their immediate social worlds shaped what they perceived to be personally relevant. These results have implications for the way in which the construct is conceptualized and measured. Specifically, greater consideration of the social component of the leisure experience is warranted.

A Modified Involvement Scale

Abstract This investigation examines the psychometric properties of a modified involvement scale (MIS) using recreationists sampled at a national forest in upstate South Carolina and consumers enquiring about angling opportunities in the Low Country of South Carolina. Following the testing of several model configurations, support for a conceptualization of enduring involvement was observed consisting of five correlated facets: attraction, centrality, social bonding, identity expression and identity affirmation. This conceptualization was an extension of McIntyre’s measure. Notable departures from McIntyre’s conceptualization include the extraction of a social component previously embedded in the centrality facet and greater distinction in the leisure identification processes. This led to the construction of two identification facets. Testing using multiple criteria of validity and reliability illustrated that the MIS was a sound indicator of enduring leisure involvement.

The Mediating Effect of Place Attachment on the Relationship between Festival Satisfaction and Loyalty to the Festival Hosting Destination

The purpose of this study was to explore the factors that drive festival visitor loyalty to host destinations. Our analysis focused on the role of place attachment as a mediator of the relationship between visitors’ positive evaluation of their festival experience and their loyalty to the host destination. Using structural equation modeling, we found that satisfied visitors at a festival develop a moderate level of emotional attachment to the festival host destination and ultimately become loyal to that destination. Not all dimensions of place attachment and festival satisfaction, however, were statistically significant, nor were they of equal valence in their prediction of the destination loyalty dimensions. Based on these findings, both theoretical and practical implications of this investigation are discussed.

An examination of the leisure involvement - agency commitment relationship.

Building from the existing literature, we tested a model suggesting that leisure involvement is an antecedent of commitment to a public leisure service provider (N = 860). Leisure involvement was conceptualized as a multidimensional construct consisting of attraction, centrality, and self-expression. Agency commitment was also conceptualized as multidimensional construct consisting of five components; place identity, place dependence, affective attachment, value congruence, and social bonding. The analyses offered partial support for our hypothesized model. Place dependence and affective attachment were positively influenced by attraction, whereas place identity and value congruence were positively influenced by self-expression. Finally, social bonding was positively influenced by self-expression and centrality, but negatively influenced by attraction. This work adds to a growing body of empirical work suggesting that individuals progress though a developmental process where involvement with a leisure activity leads to the development of specific service preferences.

An Examination of the Motivation—Involvement Relationship

In this investigation, the relationship between motivation and enduring involvement was explored using a sample of campers drawn from three distinct campsites in a southeastern national forest, USA. The campsites varied along the ROS continuum from developed to wilderness. Using multidimensional conceptualizations of both constructs, a model was tested where the dimensions of motivation were modeled to positively influence the dimensions of enduring involvement. Although not all paths were statistically significant, the effect of motivation on enduring involvement was positive. No variation in the sign or strength of the path coefficients was observed across the three sites. These findings provide empirical support for the contention that motivation is an antecedent of enduring involvement.

Comparison of Place Bonding Models in Recreation Resource Management

Abstract Conceptual studies of place bonding have often stopped short of verifying the relationship of scales/models to other relevant recreation behavior variables. The current paper addresses this concern by comparing three models (full, parsimonious, and partial models) of place bonding and their scale measurement to a dependent variable, experience use history (EUH), for degree of predictive validity. Results reveal that the full and parsimonious place bonding models predicted more EUH variance than the partial model. Because the parsimonious models fit and psychometric properties were as good as the full model, the parsimonious model is recommended over the other models. The parsimonious scale provides researchers with a robust and nuanced measure of peoples attachment to place.

Capturing multiple values of ecosystem services shaped by environmental worldviews: a spatial analysis.

Two related approaches to valuing nature have been advanced in past research including the study of ecosystem services and psychological investigations of the factors that shape behavior. Stronger integration of the insights that emerge from these two lines of enquiry can more effectively sustain ecosystems, economies, and human well-being. Drawing on survey data collected from outdoor recreationists on Santa Cruz Island within Channel Islands National Park, U.S., our study blends these two research approaches to examine a range of tangible and intangible values of ecosystem services provided to stakeholders with differing biocentric and anthropocentric worldviews. We used Public Participation Geographic Information System methods to collect survey data and a Social Values for Ecosystem Services mapping application to spatially analyze a range of values assigned to terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems in the park. Our results showed that preferences for the provision of biological diversity, recreation, and scientific-based values of ecosystem services varied across a spatial gradient. We also observed differences that emerged from a comparison between survey subgroups defined by their worldviews. The implications emanating from this investigation aim to support environmental management decision-making in the context of protected areas.

Study Abroad Experiences and Global Citizenship: Fostering Proenvironmental Behavior.

Short-term study abroad programs currently account for more than 50% of students who study overseas. Using an adaptation of the Value–Belief–Norm theory of proenvironmental behavior (Stern, 2000), we hypothesized that study abroad nurtures global citizenship related to ecologically conscious behaviors by strengthening core relations among environmental values, beliefs, and norms. The sample consisted of students (n = 623) from 10 U.S. universities participating in a 4-week study abroad program to either Australia or New Zealand in 2008 and 2009. A pre-, posttest design was adopted in which students voluntarily completed a survey instrument on the first and last days of the program in the destination country. Results of the study suggested that the modified Value–Belief–Norm approach provides a robust theoretical framework, used in conjunction with theories of learning, for explaining how proenvironmental behavior is nurtured. These findings provided empirical support for the efficacy of short-term study abroad programs and developed further support for the importance of strong pedagogical techniques implemented by competent instructors.

Place Meanings Ascribed to Marine Settings: The Case of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park

Using data collected from in-depth interviews of recreational visitors to Australias Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, place-related meanings ascribed to a marine environment are described. The usefulness of using symbolic interactionism to understand the creation of these meanings is also assessed. Ten meaning-themes emerged (aesthetic beauty, lack of built infrastructure/pristine environment, abundance and diversity of coral and other wildlife, unique natural resource, facilitation of desired recreation activity, safety and accessibility, curiosity and exploration, sense of connection to the natural world, escape from the everyday, and experiences with family and friends), and evidence supporting the utility of symbolic interactionism was identified. Using these findings, researchers may be better able to identify place meanings and the processes that create them.