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| New! Focus Group Training Package Now
Available [learn more...] |
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A focus group is a structured, small group discussion on a
specific topic or area of interest. Focus groups reveal participants’
attitudes toward and perceptions of a particular topic. |
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Interviewing at Mount Rushmore
--photo by G. Vander Stoep |
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Welcome to the Park Studies Unit Website!
The Park Studies Unit (PSU), based at the University of Idaho, is
a branch of the National
Park Service Social Science Program that has operated since 1979.
This project currently conducts two types of surveys in units of the
National Park System:
- in-depth Visitor Services Project (VSP)
visitor studies in requesting parks in one or more seasons
- a customer satisfaction card (Visitor
Survey Card Project or VSC) is conducted in all parks that have visitors
every year to meet Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA)
requirements.
- Focus Groups : A training package is
available to train you how to conduct a focus group. Also, the VSP can
now hold focus groups for parks (which can be a follow-up to a visitor
study).
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Everglades NP visitors |
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Through the VSP in-depth studies, park managers obtain accurate
information about visitors--who they are, what they do, their needs, and
opinions. The VSC provides more general visitor feedback on services and
opinions about satisfaction. Managers have found this information
valuable in helping to manage the parks more efficiently and better
serve visitors.
Using the data from both types of surveys, the PSU produces an annual
report, Serving the Visitor, that describes how well the NPS
is serving park visitors.
The PSU also offers technical assistance to parks, develops new
evaluation tools, and provides training throughout the NPS and for other
agencies.
In addition to the Visitor Survey Card and VSP in-depth visitor
studies, the PSU has capabilities of conducting other types of surveys,
including focus groups, mail and telephone surveys. If your park has
information needs that can be met through a survey, please contact us:
Steve Hollenhorst at
stevenh@uidaho.edu, Margaret Littlejohn at littlej@uidaho.edu or Jennifer
Russell at jhoger@uidaho.edu.
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The PSU is a National Park Service research unit, part of the Department
of Conservation Social Sciences in the University of Idaho College of
Natural Resources.
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