Date of Award:
5-2025
Document Type:
Thesis
Degree Name:
Master of Science (MS)
Department:
Environment and Society
Committee Chair(s)
Jordan W. Smith
Committee
Jordan W. Smith
Committee
Chase C. Lamborn
Committee
Sarah A. Cline
Abstract
Visitor experiences in parks and protected areas are shaped by a variety of environmental, managerial, and social factors. To ensure that visitors enjoy their time in these spaces, management agencies often adopt guidelines to establish acceptable levels for different aspects of these experiences. One of the most selected factors is perceived crowding, which reflects how crowded visitors feel in a given area. When perceived crowding exceeds desired levels, it can significantly diminish visitor satisfaction.
This thesis presents two studies aimed at identifying the shortcomings of the management of perceived crowding. The first study conducts a comprehensive literature review that identifies key issues in using perceived crowding as a management measure. It highlights nine critical concerns suggesting that current approaches may not effectively address the underlying factors influencing visitor perceptions of crowding.
The second study investigates how various external factors— sociodemographic, spatial, temporal, trip, and activity characteristics—impact feelings of crowding. The findings reveal significant variations in crowding perceptions based on these factors, indicating a need to revise existing measurement methods.
Together, these studies advocate for a more nuanced approach to understanding and managing perceived crowding in outdoor recreation settings. By improving the frameworks used to assess visitor experiences, managers can more effectively address the complexities of crowding perceptions and enhance overall visitor satisfaction in natural environments.
Checksum
6d8e3c51b89460472f71af1725cb9368
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 License
Recommended Citation
VanSandt, Glendon R., "Critically Assessing Normative Methods and Their Limitations in Managing Crowding Within Parks and Protected Areas" (2025). All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present. 458.
https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/etd2023/458
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