1 research outputs found
[[alternative]]The relationship between Activity Involvement, Place Attachment and Resource Knowledge of Volunteer Interpreters: The Er-ge Mountain Environmental Observation Group of the Society of Wilderness
No full text[[abstract]]The Society of Wilderness (SOW) is a private environmental organization that relies on volunteers to conduct public education and conservation activities in Taiwan. Volunteers are assigned to specific locations known as Environmental Observation Groups (EOG’s). Nearly 1,000 volunteer interpreters work at 40 EOG’s. Ideally, volunteer interpreters are knowledgeable about and emotionally attached to their EOG, and enjoy participating in SOW functions. Since volunteers play an important role in resource management and environmental education, more information is needed to understand their motives for participation in SOW. This study examined the relationship between place attachment, resource knowledge, and activity involvement in a sample of volunteer interpreters assigned to the Er-Ge Mountain EOG. Surveys were used to gather data from a sample of volunteer interpreters during July 2003. Forty-eight questionnaires were mailed and 45 were received, yielding a response rate of 93.8%. The following conclusions can be drawn from this study:
Activity involvement is one indicator of interest and enthusiasm for recreational participation. The overall mean for activity involvement was 3.41. Three dimensions comprise activity involvement. In this study, attraction scored the highest (x=3.84), self-expression was next (x=3.45), and centrality was the lowest (x=2.64). Place attachment is an emotional bond with nature. It consists of two factors. The overall mean for place attachment was 3.40. Volunteer interpreters scored higher on place identity (x=3.77) than place dependence (x=3.03). A multiple-choice test measuring resource-based knowledge was administered to volunteers. The mean score was 14.91 (out of 20 questions).
Selected socio-demographic characteristics were tested against activity involvement, place attachment and resource knowledge using t-tests or one-way analysis of variance. Gender, attendance at indoor seminars, participation in outdoor observation, and length of interpretive service were significantly related to level of activity involvement. In relation to place attachment, frequency of visitation to Er-Ge Mountain showed a significant difference. Gender, residence, attendance at indoor seminars, participation in outdoor observation, frequency of visitation, and length of interpretive service were significantly related to resource knowledge.
The relationship between activity involvement, place attachment, and resource knowledge was examined using Pearson correlation coefficient. Results indicated that activity involvement was significantly related to place attachment (r= 0.622, p< .001) and resource knowledge (r= 0.318, p< .05). However, there is no significant relationship between place attachment and resource knowledge.
These results were shared with SOW. Also, recommendations for future studies were proposed.
