Differences in Overall Satisfaction by Consumptive and Nonconsumptive Recreationists: A Comparative Analysis of Three Decades of Research

Abstract

This article extends a previous comparative analysis (Vaske, Donnelly, Heberlein, & Shelby, 1982) by analyzing differences in overall satisfaction by consumptive and nonconsumptive recreationists over a 30-year period. Based on theory and previous research, two hypotheses were advanced: (a) consumptive recreationists will report significantly lower satisfaction than will nonconsumptive recreationists and (b) this pattern will remain consistent over time. Data were obtained from published and unpublished studies in 57 consumptive (e.g., hunters) and 45 nonconsumptive (e.g., kayakers) recreation contexts. Each study used the same overall satisfaction question (i.e., “overall, how would you rate your experience”). Following Vaske et al. (1982), responses were collapsed into three categories (i.e., “poor/fair,” “good/very good,” “excellent/perfect”). The independent variables were activity type and year. Consistent with the hypotheses, consumptive recreationists reported lower satisfaction than did nonconsumptive recreationists, and this pattern of findings generally remained consistent over time.

Keywords:

• satisfaction
• consumptive recreation
• nonconsumptive recreation
• comparative analysis
• longitudinal analysis

Acknowledgments

This study could not have been completed without the assistance of the many researchers who provided their data and study information: Maureen Donnelly (Colorado State University), David Fulton (University of Minnesota), Alan Graefe (The Pennsylvania State University), Thomas Heberlein (The University of Wisconsin–Madison), Walter Kuentzel (University of Vermont), Michael Manfredo (Colorado State University), Mark Needham (Oregon State University), Annette Puttkammer (USDA Forest Service), Bo Shelby (Oregon State University), and George Wallace (Colorado State University). The authors would also like to thank two anonymous reviewers for their comments on earlier drafts of this article.