Changes in Visitors' Environmental Focus during an Appreciative Recreation Experience

AbstractRecreation that involves learning about nature, or viewing, observing, studying, identifying, or photographing nature may be termed appreciative recreation.The purpose of this study was to investigate the on-site phase of an appreciative recreation experience and, specifically, to identify how time spent in a nature-based environment influences the environmental focus of participants. The researchers collected data from visitors (adjusted N= 158) at Congaree National Park using a version of the Experiential Sampling Method. Data analysis consisted of a Confirmatory Factor Analysis and Multi-Level Modeling. The researchers concluded that time spent at the park does have a significant influence on an appreciative recreation experience and that there are three phases of the experience: preparation, immersion, and separation.