Jay Beaman

Chronic Wasting Disease in Wisconsin: Hunter Behavior, Perceived Risk, and Agency Trust

License sales for the 2002 Wisconsin gun deer hunting season declined approximately 11% following the discovery of chronic wasting disease (CWD) in the state. This article examines the extent to which CWD influenced 2001 Wisconsin deer hunters who did not participate in the 2002 season. The article also compares 2002 hunters against those who dropped out in 2002 relative to their perceptions of risks associated with CWD and their trust in the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR). Data were obtained from a survey of 2001 resident Wisconsin deer hunters (n=1,373, response rate=67%). A cluster analysis of 14 possible reasons for not hunting indicated that about half (estimate=52%±5%) of the 2001 Wisconsin hunters that did not participate in the 2002 season did not hunt because of CWD. The remaining non-hunters dropped out of gun deer hunting for a variety of reasons unrelated to CWD (e.g., not enough time, conflicting responsibilities). Individuals who dropped out for non-CWD reasons gave responses on perceived CWD risk and trust in WDNR that were statistically equivalent to those of 2002 gun hunters. Non-hunters who did not participate due to CWD were less likely to believe the information provided by the WDNR and were less trusting of this agency compared to those who hunted. These findings reinforce the role of social trust in fostering a positive relationship with an agency’s stakeholders.

An Extension and Further Validation of the Potential for Conflict Index

The Potential for Conflict Index (PCI) was developed to facilitate understanding and applicability of leisure, recreation, and human dimensions findings to managerial concerns. The PCI ranges from 0 (minimal potential for conflict) to 1 (maximum potential for conflict) and simultaneously describes a variables central tendency, dispersion, and shape using a graphic display. This article (a) describes applications of the original formulation of the PCI (PCI1) to illustrate the statistics practical utility, (b) introduces the second generation of the PCI (PCI2) and discusses enhancements incorporated in this version, (c) describes efforts to validate the PCI2, and (d) offers suggestions for continuing the empirical validation process. Programs for calculating, graphing, and comparing PCI2 values are freely available from http://welcome.warnercnr.colostate.edu/~jerryv.

Can Weighting Compensate for Sampling Issues in Internet Surveys

While Internet surveys have increased in popularity, results may not be representative of target populations. Weighting is commonly used to compensate for sampling issues. This article compared two surveys conducted in the Netherlands—a random mail survey (n = 353) and a convenience Internet survey (n = 181). Demographic characteristics of the samples were weighted by three variables (sex, current residence, age) using Census data. Prior to weighting, the mail sample approximated the population in half of the joint distributions formed by the weighting variables. The Internet sample differed from the population on all 12 cell-by-cell comparisons and no respondents were over age 65. After weighting, the two samples yielded different estimates for non-weighting variables. The Internet sample overrepresented those in the highest education category and appears to have overrepresented those who are ambivalent toward wildlife. Caution is advised when generalizing results from open access Internet surveys.

Lessons Learned in Detecting and Correcting Response Heaping: Conceptual, Methodological, and Empirical Observations

Wildlife agencies have used hunter/angler surveys for decades to assist in estimating game populations and harvest. When hunters and anglers are asked to recall a frequency (e.g., days of participation) or a quantity (e.g., game bagged), some respondents round their answers to numbers ending in 0 or 5 (0–5 prototypes) or multiply days of participation by an integer to approximate harvest. Both types of survey responses result in response heaps (spikes in response frequency functions) and can result in biased estimates (e.g., means and totals). This article summarizes recent advances in detecting and correcting for response heaps in survey data. We address 11 lessons learned from previous research. These collective findings and observations are organized in three broad areas: (1) conceptual, (2) methodological, and (3) analytical lessons. We also discuss knowledge gaps where additional work is necessary. The identification of bias and development of corrective methods will hopefully enable wildlife managers to have greater confidence in survey estimates.

Individual versus aggregate measures of digit preference

Abstract Digit preference (DP) has been recognized by a disproportionate number of responses ending in preferred digits (e.g., 0 or 5). Individuals have been defined as exhibiting DP on a particular variable if their responses end in these preferred digits. Since 20% of all numbers end in 0 or 5, however, this individual‐based definition of DP is biased. In this paper, an alternative aggregate measure of digit preference (ADP0or5) is defined and contrasted with the individual‐based measure (IDP0or5). Data for this presentation were derived from a recent article (Vaske, Beaman, Manfredo, Covey, & Knox, 1996) addressing the influence of response strategy (e.g., record keeping, guessing) and recall frame (short versus long) on digit preference. The aggregate measure of DP shows almost no digit preference (5%) for those who were recalling short time frames and who kept records of their angling participation. The individual‐based measure indicated that 15% of the sample exhibited DP. For the long recall frame ...

Response Strategy, Recall Frame and Digit Preference in Self-Reports of Angling Participation

Abstract Digit preference (DP) has been defined as a special case of recall bias that can be recognized because disproportionate numbers of responses end in certain digits (e.g., 0 or 5). Operationally, individuals have been designated as exhibiting DP if their responses end in these preferred digits. This paper extends the existing DP research by examining the structure of stated value frequencies as they relate to response strategy and recall frame. Data for this study were obtained from a statewide survey of anglers in Colorado (n = 3,635). The initial dependent variable was the reported number of days spent fishing during the 1992 season. Results indicated that DP was influenced by the response strategy individuals used when completing a survey, and by the recall frame. Although the hypotheses were supported, the individual based 0–5 definition of DP is shown to be biased. The data suggested an aggregate based approach to determining the proportion of respondents exhibiting DP may provide the foundati...

Rethinking Internal Consistency in Cronbach's Alpha

ABSTRACT Cronbachs alpha estimates the internal consistency of responses in multi-item bipolar scales. This article examined three research questions (RQ): (1) To what extent do inconsistencies exist in data (e.g., responses of −2 −2 2 2)? (2) Does the number of scale items influence the amount of inconsistency? (3) Does Cronbachs alpha mask inconsistencies? Data were obtained from 29 research projects (n = 10,616). Each survey had place attachment questions comprising two concepts: place identity and place dependence. Respondents were classified as consistent or inconsistent based on their responses to the place attachment questions. Results demonstrated that: (a) inconsistent response patterns existed in the data (RQ1), (b) number of scale items influenced amount of inconsistency (RQ2), and (c) alpha masked these inconsistencies (RQ3). Discussion focused on implications of these findings.

Relationship between satisfaction and future behavior

Studies have been carried out on satisfaction and international pleasure travel. Some have related satisfaction and past visits to a particular destination with intentions to recommend it, to revisit it, and to visit other destinations in its area. This study arose from reconsideration of research on satisfaction and stated intentions of travelers from Britain and Germany to Mallorca and Turkey. Analysis confirmed that satisfaction is a significant predictor of stated intentions and that contingent factors moderate the influence of satisfaction on intentions. Explaining limited variance led to the logical examination of why the explanation was not better. It is concluded that variance explanation was low because segments had particular satisfaction-likelihood relations and because satisfaction and likelihood responses were ambiguous. Sources of variation that can be controlled are identified. They include some first-time visitors not being likely to return regardless of satisfaction; personal satisfaction responses not reflecting what the party will do; and likelihood responses not having a clear meaning. Practical and research implications are presented.

Hunting Activity Record-Cards and the Accuracy of Survey Estimates

Sending hunting activity record-cards prior to a hunting season has been recommended as a methodology for reducing digit preference (heaps on numbers ending in 0 and 5) and improving the accuracy of participation and harvest estimates derived from survey responses. This article examines the extent to which record-cards influence the number of 0–5 responses and contributes to changes in mean days of duck hunting and harvest. Data were obtained from the 1999–2000 Illinois Waterfowl Hunter Survey. Approximately half of the respondents (n = 1,717, response rate = 72%) were mailed the preseason record-card; the other half of the sample (n = 1,430, response rate = 61%) were not mailed the record-card. Record-card recipients reported less 0–5 heaping, but excessive 0–5 heaping explained only 20% or less of the change in means. Changes in mean estimates were primarily the result of more reporting of low days of participation and harvest by record-card recipients. Sending out record-cards prompted more individuals in a sample with low days of participation and low harvest to become respondents. Given that record-cards are relatively inexpensive, the authors encourage state fish and wildlife agencies to adopt this methodology.

Measuring and Correcting Response Heaping Arising From the Use of Prototypes

Imprecision in respondent recall can cause response heaping in frequency data for particular values (e.g., 5, 10, 15). In human dimensions research, heaping can occur for variables such as days of participation (e.g., hunting, fishing), animals/fish harvested, or money spent on licenses. Distributions with heaps can bias population estimates because the means and totals can be inflated or deflated. Because bias can result in poor management decisions, determining if the bias is large enough to matter is important. This note introduces the logic and flow of a deheaping program that estimates bias in means and totals when people use approximate responses (i.e., prototypes). The program can make estimates even when spikes occur due to bag limits. The program is available online, and smooths heaps at multiples of 5 (numbers ending in 5 and 0) and 7 (e.g., 7, 14, 21), and produces standard deviations in estimates.