RESEARCH PROJECTS

 

Pacific Southwest Research Station, U.S. Forest Service: Cultural Diversity in Vacation and Outdoor Recreation Trip Participation; Differences in Use Patterns, Motivations and Constraints. Project director for study analyzing effects of ethnic identity on use of natural areas for vacation and excursions, as well as motivations and barriers to use. Developed model of outdoor participation incorporating the constructs of ethnic identity, marginality and perceived discrimination. Designed and implemented a telephone survey of Los Angeles County.

California Division of Tourism: Effectiveness of the California Division of Tourism National TV Advertising Campaign. Designed and implemented telephone survey, analyzed data and prepared report describing the effectiveness and impacts of national and regional TV and magazine advertising. Determined changes in interest and intention to visit, awareness of advertising messages and likelihood of visiting related to the campaign.

Galapagos National Park: Report on Tour Boat Concession Operations and Related National Park Policies. Preparation of a report on tour boat concessionaire operations, profitability and compliance with park concessionaire policies in Galapagos National Park, Equador. Made recommendations for changes in concessionaire policies and fee structures.

California Fish and Game Department: An Evaluation of Urban Fishing and Aquatic Education Programs. Designed research to evaluate urban fishing programs, with emphasis on inclusion of central city ethnic residents. Facilitated focus groups in Sacramento, San Francisco and Los Angles and prepared report that determined satisfaction, opportunities and barriers for ethnic urban fishers. Revised existing Fish and Game field evaluation methods to monitor urban fishing programs.

Paramount’ Great America: Service Evaluation:. Proposed concept, designed questionnaire and intercept methods, managed administration and utilized SFSU students to gather data for a service evaluation of a large theme park. Made recommendations for improving service.

San Francisco Convention and Visitors Bureau: Evaluation of Trade Show Effectiveness. Developed pre/post research design, collected data and wrote report on effectiveness of CVB participation in trade shows, using four different measures at international and domestic trade shows.

Belize Tourism Board: A Comparison of Tourist Travel Arrangements and Trip Satisfaction. Administered intercept surveys in four locations within Belize to assess differences in tourist attitudes, intentions and satisfactions. Also gathered data on tourist community land use and ownership patterns.

California Department of Water Resources: Marketing and Effectiveness Analysis of The Vista Del Lago Information Center. Through on-site interviews gathered data and compiled report on information center users, water resources information acquired and effectiveness. Recommended changes in facility promotion and displays.

San Francisco State University Foundation: Cultural Diversity In Vacation Travel Values, Attitudes and Behavior. Identified and compared differences in leisure values, motivations, attitudes and barriers among different ethnic groups in San Francisco.

California Division of Tourism: Effectiveness of the California Division of Tourism 1994 Fulfillment Program. Designed and implemented telephone survey, analyzed data and prepared report describing the conversion rates of persons inquiring for information from the state, and their economic impact. Also determined the characteristics of non-visitors and reasons why they did not visit.

Pier 39 Management Ltd.: Evaluation of Service Performance. Designed questionnaire and managed administration of a service evaluation program for 127 enterprises in the largest festival shopping complex in San Francisco. Made recommendations for improving service.

California Division of Tourism: Motivations for Requesting and Effectiveness of State Tourist Information Sent By FAX. Constructed a survey sent by and received back via FAX to persons requesting tourist information by electronic means. Analyzed the cost effectiveness of this method for communicating promotional material.

Colorado Tourism Board: Measuring Influences and Effectiveness of State Vacation Planning Guide. Developed a model and method for assessing influence of state vacation planning guide. Measured changes in intention and attitude toward visiting the state and planned length of stay; determined cognitive and affective responses to guide.

Colorado River Outfitters Association: Colorado Whitewater Boating Use and Economic Impact. Project manager and author of study which determined whitewater river recreation use and it's economic impact on the Colorado economy. A survey of boaters was made.

Dinosaur River Outfitters and National Park Service: Factors Influencing Eco-tourism Satisfaction and Willingness To Protect Resources In the Future. A cooperative study with 3 river outfitters and Dinosaur National Monument to assess eco-tourist expectations, trip satisfactions and linked these to willingness to protect park resources in the future. Explored effectiveness of different types of interpretive activity on commercial river trips. Developed a model of eco-tourism satisfaction.

California Division of Tourism: Newspaper Content Analysis and Comparison of Competitive Magazine Advertising; and Their Potential Influence on 1992 Advertising Test Market Survey Results. A content analysis of newspapers from three out-of-state cities, and analysis of advertisements by eight competitive destinations in three national magazines. Suggested factors that influenced test market results.

Colorado Ski Country USA: Ski Area Operation and Its Influences On Wildlife. Principle investigator for a study that surveyed over 30 ski resort to determine industry wildlife impacts and management responses.

Colorado Tourism Board: Colorado Welcome Center Study. Determined user characteristics and promotional effectiveness of three state visitor centers. Conducted over 2,400 interviews at six locations, developed and distributed an expenditure diary, analyzed data and made recommendations.

U.S. Bureau of Reclamation: Ruedi Reservoir Recreation Assessment. Task manager for the outdoor recreation section of an environmental assess on new water sales from a reservoir near Aspen, CO.

Colorado Tourism Board: Development of a Tourism Tracking Index. Built a data base containing ten years of monthly park attendance, highway traffic counts, and ski area lift sales. Developed a computer program to calculate a monthly tourism activity index for six tourism regions.