A Comparison of User vs Researcher Determined Level of Past Experience on Recreation Preference

Hammitt, William; Knauf, Lisa; Noe, Francis

ABSTRACT: The amount of past use-experience in recreational pursuits can be determined in many ways, with varying amounts of influence on recreation choice and preferences. The paper reports two measures of past experience that were compared: (1) an index value composed of four measures of frequency and years of participation; and (2) a user-declared classification of four experience-skill levels, (i.e., beginner to expert). Horse rider preference for equestrian-related facilities, programmes and services was the dependent variable for comparing the two experience measures. As a secondary aspect of the analysis, the subjective user-declared classifications were also empirically examined or defined according to the frequency and years of participation variables to see if the user-declared classifications were distinctly different. The study areas was the Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area near Knoxville, Tennessee, USA. Results indicate that horse riders vary greatly in past use experience, and that the user-declared classifications are clearly distinct when defined on the basis of participation variables. However, the subjective, user-declared experience classifications are not as significantly related to recreation preference as the objectively formed experience index. It is concluded that index measures of past use-experience are more valid measures of participatory influence on recreation preference than experience-skill categories.