Department of Recreation, Parks, and Leisure Services Administration, Central Michigan University, Finch Fieldhouse 108, Mount Pleasant, MI, 48859, USA,
Environ Manage. 2013 Dec;52(6):1518-32. doi: 10.1007/s00267-013-0185-7. Epub 2013 Oct 19.
Wilderness managers are charged with the challenging goal of balancing resource protection and experience quality across a broad, value-laden landscape. While research has provided insight into visitors' motivations and their meanings for wilderness, a struggle exists to implement experiential concepts within current management frameworks. This research posits the human experience of wilderness to be an evolving, enduring relationship, and that research needs can be addressed by conceptualizing and investigating an individuals' personal wilderness relationship. The purpose of this study was to explore wilderness relationships of visitors to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. A predictive model was proposed to investigate the internal dimensions of a visitor's wilderness relationship. A mail-back questionnaire was distributed during the summer of 2007, resulting in a sample of 564 respondents. Data were analyzed using confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling. Results from testing several relationship models provided support for a multidimensional structure consisting of five factors with a single overarching relationship factor. The preferred relationship model indicated the importance of identities and attachment in place relationships. Trust and commitment toward management were also important considerations. This research provided the preliminary evidence for a multidimensional wilderness relationship model and complements a perspective of wilderness experiences as wilderness. Findings may help to reframe decision-making and public-input processes that guide management actions to increased wilderness character protection and facilitate quality wilderness experiences.
荒野管理者面临着一项艰巨的任务，即在广泛而充满价值观的背景下平衡资源保护和体验质量。尽管研究已经深入了解了游客的动机及其对荒野的意义，但在将体验概念融入当前管理框架方面仍存在困难。本研究认为，荒野的人类体验是一种不断发展的、持久的关系，通过概念化和研究个人的个人荒野关系，可以满足研究需求。本研究旨在探索边界水域独木舟地区荒野游客的荒野关系。提出了一个预测模型，以调查游客荒野关系的内部维度。2007 年夏天，通过邮件回寄问卷，共获得了 564 名受访者的样本。使用验证性因子分析和结构方程模型对数据进行了分析。对几种关系模型的测试结果为一个由五个因素组成的多维结构提供了支持，其中一个单一的总体关系因素。首选的关系模型表明，身份认同和对地方关系的依恋很重要。对管理的信任和承诺也是重要的考虑因素。本研究为多维荒野关系模型提供了初步证据，并补充了荒野体验作为荒野的观点。研究结果可能有助于重新制定指导管理行动的决策和公众投入过程，以增加荒野特征保护，并促进高质量的荒野体验。
