Student Theses & Professional Papers

All reports on this site are downloadable for no charge. Costs associated with each report pertain to hard copies ordered directly from ITRR and do not apply to downloaded information.

Theses

TH2009-1
Geotourism in the Crown of the Continent: Developing and Testing the Geotourism Survey Instrument (GSI)
(instructions to download and print the file)
Author: Bynum Boley
April, 2009 144 pp.
Geotourism is a niche market segment of sustainable tourism defined as "tourism that sustains or enhances the geographical character of place - its environment, culture, aesthetics, heritage, and the well-being of its residents." The purpose of this study was to take this definition and createa reliable and valid survey instrument capable of measuring one's geotouristic tendencies.

TH2008-1
Interpretive Technology in Parks: A Study of Visitor Experiences with Portable Media Devices
(instructions to download and print the file)
Author: Lee Rademaker
May, 2008, 108 pp.
The purpose of this study was to undertake an exploratory level investigation of GPS Ranger experiences. The results of this study will aid practitioners and future researchers in better managing and understanding the expanding use of technology.

TH2005-1
Recreation on the Upper Yellowstone River: A Study of Use and Place
(instructions to download and print the file)
Author: Megan McBride
May, 2005 150 pp.
The purpose of this thesis was to gain an understanding of recreation users of the upper Yellowstone River and their attachment to the river. Results show that recreationists participate in a variety of activities and are satisfied with their experience. Findings indicate, however, that individuals’ emotional connection to the watershed is being changed and challenged through increasing development along the banks of the upper Yellowstone River.

TH2004-1
Interpreting the Meaning of Recreation Impacts
(instructions to download and print the file)
Author: Robert G. Dvorak
May, 2004, 176 pp.
The purpose of this study was to explore how visitors and managers perceived recreation impacts in a wilderness setting, how their constructs of impacts compare, and to what extent these impacts were important to each group. Forty visitors and 11 managers were interviewed in Zion National Park during the summer of 2003. The results of this study suggest that differences in impact conceptualization appear related to an individual’s expectations, their awareness, and the given natural context. It also suggests that future impact research needs to consider how visitors define impacts in order to develop meaningful measures of impacts that can be utilized by resource managers.

TH2002-1
Exploring Visitor Experiences on Going-To-The-Sun Road in Glacier National Park
(instructions to download and print the file)
Author: Robert N. Giordano
August, 2002, 117 pp.
Going-to-the-Sun Road (GTSR) is one of the premier road facilities in the world. As
the only cross-mountain route through Glacier National Park, the road brings nearly two
million visitors a year into the heart of Montana wilderness. How to meet this demand
for travel while protecting the nature of the visitor experience and the pristine setting for
which the experience exists is a challenge of on-going complexity. This research was designed to assist park managers in determining future changes to GTSR by describing and analyzing the experiences on the road today. Through 40 onsite interviews at Logan Pass it is hoped that a greater understanding of the ‘mobility dynamics’ can be gained.

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Professional Papers

PP2005-1
Off-road Vehicle Policy on USDA National Forests: Evaluating User Conflicts and Travel Management
(instructions to download and print the file)
Author: Brenda Yankoviak
December, 2005, 78pp.
This paper examines the recent changes in the travel management policy of the National Forest System, specifically off-road vehicle (ORV) management, while also investigating common themes of conflict between motorized and non-motorized users. In addition, it provides a historical context and an up-to-date analysis of what the policy requires.

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