Recent
and Upcoming
Publications by Responsive Management
Staff
Mark Damian Duda, Martin F. Jones, and Andrea
Criscione. "Public Awareness and Credibility of Fish and
Wildlife Agencies in the Northeastern United States."
Human Dimensions of Wildlife 14(2), pp. 142-144,
2009.
Mark Damian Duda and Joanne L. Nobile. "The Fallacy of
Online Surveys: No Data Are Better Than Bad
Data." Human Dimensions of Wildlife 15(1), in
press.
Douglas B. Inkley, Amanda C. Staudt, and Mark Damian
Duda. "Imagining the Future: Humans, Wildlife, and Global
Climate Change." In Wildlife and Society: The Science of
Human Dimensions, edited by Michael J. Manfredo, Jerry J.
Vaske, Perry J. Brown, Daniel J. Decker, and Esther A. Duke,
pp. 57-72. Island Press, 2009.
Christopher W. Ryan, John W. Edwards, and Mark
Damian Duda. "West Virginia Residents' Attitudes and Opinions
Toward American Black Bear Hunting." Ursus
20(2), in press.
Mark Damian Duda, Martin Jones,
Andrea Criscione, and Amanda Ritchie. "The Importance of
Hunting and the Shooting Sports to State, National and Global
Economies." In Proceedings of the World Symposium on the
Ecologic and Economic Benefit of Hunting. World Forum on
the Future of Sport Shooting Activities, in
press.
Mark Damian Duda and Martin F.
Jones. "Public Opinion on and Attitudes Toward
Hunting." In Transactions of the 73rd North American
Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference, edited by
Jennifer Rahm, pp. 180-198. Wildlife Management
Institute, 2009.
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2009 HAS BEEN
A PRODUCTIVE YEAR at Responsive Management.
We've had the opportunity to work on a variety of
exciting projects for more than 40 governmental,
non-profit, and private organizations. These projects
include qualitative research on conservation issues;
regional and national program evaluations; departmental
marketing plans; quantitative studies on hunting and
fishing license sales; and opinions of hunters, anglers,
and the general population on wildlife management
issues.
In order to highlight the various
types of research we conduct, this month we feature a
summary of recent, current, and ongoing projects.
Because these studies are so recent or still under way,
full reports for them are not yet available. Once
these projects are complete, each client will decide
whether to make its report publicly available. Those who
decide to share their results will have their
reports posted to our website.
If you have
questions about any of these studies, or if you have an
idea for a study that you'd like to discuss, please feel
free to email
me.
Mark Damian
Duda
Executive
Director |
 Focus
Groups With Anglers Regarding a Monofilament Fishing
Line Recycling Program
Responsive Management conducted this
study for the BoatUS Foundation to determine the
opinions and behaviors of anglers regarding litter,
recycling, and a monofilament fishing line recycling
program called "Reel In and Recycle," which facilitates
removal of discarded monofilament fishing line from the
environment and assists in and encourages recycling of
used line. Three focus groups with recreational anglers
were conducted -- one in Braintree, Massachusetts, one
in Manahawkin, New Jersey, and one in Surfside Beach,
South Carolina.
African Community
Members' Opinions on the Commercial Trade and
Consumption of Bushmeat
Responsive Management
conducted these focus groups for the Bushmeat Crisis
Task Force (BCTF) to assess the awareness of, knowledge
of, and opinions on the illegal commercial trade and
consumption of bushmeat among members of African
communities in the United States. The research was a
preliminary step to assist the BCTF in understanding the
motivations for consuming bushmeat, awareness of laws
prohibiting its trade and consumption, and attitudes
toward alternatives to bushmeat. The results will be
used by the BCTF to assist in developing an overall
campaign strategy to raise awareness of and reduce
participation in illegal bushmeat trade and
consumption.
 A Programmatic Evaluation of the
Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program
Networks
Responsive Management conducted this
study for the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS)
to assist in the evaluation of the Marine Mammal Health
and Stranding Response Program in the four major Marine
Mammal Stranding Network (MMSN) regions: the
Northeast, Southeast, Southwest, and Northwest Regions.
Topics covered include reasons for participating in the
MMSN; the organization's frequency of contact with the
NMFS; participant training levels and experience;
funding/support among MMSN participant organizations;
opinions on MMSN management and administration;
satisfaction with protocols and response activities
among participant organizations; opinions on outreach,
publicity, and Fisheries Service support; and
recommendations for MMSN
improvement.  An
Assessment and Evaluation of the National Archery in the
Schools Program
Responsive Management conducted this
three-phase study for the National Archery in the
Schools Program (NASP) Foundation to evaluate the NASP
and its effects on student attendance and academic
achievement, as well as its effects on student and
family interest in archery. Phase I entailed a survey of
NASP instructors regarding their observations and
perceptions of the effects of the NASP; Phase II
entailed a survey of students who participated in the
NASP and students who did not participate in the NASP;
and Phase III entailed an analysis of student grades to
assess student performance as it related to NASP
participation.
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 "Wear It California!" and "Wear It
Tennessee!" Life Jacket Campaign Assessments
Responsive Management conducted these
studies for the National Safe Boating Council, the
BoatUS Foundation, the U.S. Coast Guard, and California
Department of Boating and Waterways and the Tennessee
Wildlife Resources Agency, respectively, to determine
the effect of an intensive marketing effort to increase
life jacket use in California and Tennessee. The studies
entailed telephone surveys of boaters in California and
Tennessee who had participated in the "Wear It"
campaigns by receiving a free life jacket and filling
out a pledge card where they agreed to wear the life
jacket, to encourage others to wear life jackets,
and to boat safely and responsibly at all times.
Respondents were asked about their knowledge regarding
life jacket use, who they thought should wear life
jackets, when they thought life jackets should be worn,
what motivated them to wear a life jacket, their
awareness of the "Wear It" campaign, their motivations
for participating in the program, and how the free life
jacket had influenced their life jacket
use.
Survey of Delaware
Residents Regarding the Strategic Direction of the
Division of Fish and Wildlife
Responsive Management conducted this study
for the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and
Environmental Control to determine Delaware residents'
opinions on and experiences with outdoor recreation and
wildlife management. The study consisted of a telephone
survey of state residents regarding their opinions on
fish, wildlife, and outdoor recreation issues that the
state currently faces; their knowledge, awareness, and
overall rating of the Department's Division of Fish and
Wildlife; their opinions on fish and wildlife
management; their values regarding natural resources and
outdoor recreation; their experiences with nuisance
wildlife; their participation in outdoor activities;
their participation in the Division's landowner
programs; and their opinions on funding for the
Division.  Increasing Freshwater Fishing
Participation and Fishing License Sales in Washington
State: A Marketing Plan for the Washington Department of
Fish and Wildlife
Responsive Management developed a
marketing plan to assist the Department's Fish Program
in meeting several of its overall strategic goals. The
marketing plan examines the opportunities and challenges
that the Fish Program faces as it aligns itself with the
needs and desires of Washington residents; explores the
demographic trends taking place in Washington and
important characteristics within various target markets
to assist the Department in better understanding its
constituencies; and offers communications
recommendations and outreach strategies to increase
fishing participation and fishing license sales in
Washington.
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The Impact of Changes
in Fishing License Structure and Fees on Fishing
Participation and License Sales in Maryland
Responsive Management partnered with EA
Engineering, Science, and Technology to assist the
Maryland Department of Natural Resources' Fisheries
Service to assess the impact of fishing license
structure and fee changes on angler participation,
license sales, and state revenue. In response to an
overall decline in fishing license sales in Maryland due
to license fee increases, the Department commissioned
the study, which included a comprehensive review of
fishing license structure, fees, and policy
changes. Responsive Management completed a cost analysis
of average license fees for various license types and a
multiple regression analysis to estimate license sales
and revenue for various price points. These analyses
were used to identify best practices and to inform
future decisions and policy changes in
licensing.  Survey of Hunters Regarding Hunting
and Wildlife Management in Kentucky
Responsive Management conducted a telephone survey
of resident hunting license holders for the Kentucky
Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources to inform the
Department's future decision making. Respondents were
asked about hunting participation and harvest; the
number of days they hunted; harvest of grouse, quail,
rabbit, and squirrel; satisfaction with hunting and with
wildlife management; conflicts with other
recreationists; participation in other outdoor
activities; opinions on allowable activities in wildlife
management areas and forest management for habitat
improvement; knowledge of and opinions on Department
funding; and opinions on funding and management efforts
for recovery of various
species. Survey Regarding
Recreation in the Peabody Wildlife Management Area in
Kentucky
This study was conducted for the Kentucky
Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources regarding
recreation in the Peabody Wildlife Management Area
(WMA). The study entailed a telephone survey of holders
of a Peabody WMA User Permit. Respondents were asked
about visitation; hunting participation and days hunted;
species hunted and harvested; opinions on hunting
regulations; fishing activities; shooting activities;
fish and wildlife law enforcement; conflicts with other
recreationists; and the Department's habitat management
activities. |
 Anchorage
Residents' Attitudes Toward Bears and Bear Management
IssuesResponsive Management recently conducted focus
groups and will soon administer a public opinion survey
for the Alaska Department of Fish and Game to assess
Anchorage residents' attitudes toward bears, bear
habitat, and various bear management options. Objectives
include describing public opinion on the desired future
of fish and wildlife in Anchorage in general;
quantifying reduction in use of public trail facilities
resulting from fear of wildlife encounters; determining
expected public acceptance of various management
options; assessing public knowledge and awareness of
ways to avoid and properly deal with bear encounters
around the home and while recreating; and determining
how past experience with bears affects public attitudes
toward risks and potential management solutions.
Public Knowledge of and
Opinion on Sea Level Rise and Its Impact in Delaware
Responsive Management will assess Delaware
residents' awareness and understanding of key issues
regarding sea level rise for the Delaware Department of
Natural Resources and Environmental Control. Residents
will be asked about sea level rise, their perception of
sea level rise and its overall effect on the economy and
ecology of the state, and their opinions regarding
long-range planning for sea level rise and damage
prevention.  The Impact of Various Images and
Media Portrayals on Public Knowledge of and Attitudes
Toward Chimpanzees
Responsive Management will complete
a survey of U.S. residents for the Lincoln Park Zoo's
Lester E. Fisher Center for the Study and Conservation
of Apes in Chicago, Illinois. The study will assess
public perception of chimpanzees, explore public
reaction to various images and media portrayals, and
examine the impact of this media on public attitudes
toward chimpanzees and threats of endangerment to the
species. Public Perception
of and Value Regarding the Parks and Recreation
Profession
Responsive Management will design and
administer a two-phase study for the Missouri Park and
Recreation Association (MPRA), including a telephone
survey of Missouri citizens and a multi-modal survey of
elected officials and MPRA members, to identify
perceptions of and values regarding parks and recreation
opportunities, assess satisfaction with agency
facilities and services, and determine opinions on and
attitudes toward the parks and recreation profession's
strengths and weaknesses in meeting its goals and
mission.
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New Hampshire Outdoor
Recreation Survey
Responsive Management will conduct a public opinion
survey of New Hampshire residents for the New Hampshire
Fish and Game Department to assess public opinions on
and attitudes toward outdoor recreation opportunities in
the state and the Department's programs and services.
The study will focus on better understanding public
opinion on and attitudes toward the Department's
programs and services; determining public participation
in outdoor recreation activities and satisfaction with
outdoor recreation opportunities in the state; assessing
whether Department services and priorities align with
public perception, needs, and
expectations; identifying gaps in programs,
services, and/or communication and outreach efforts; and
examining differences in values and perceptions that
exist across various socioeconomic and demographic
categories. Attitude,
Preference, and Use Survey of New Jersey Freshwater
Anglers
Responsive Management will conduct a
survey for the New Jersey Department of Environmental
Protection, Division of Fish and Wildlife, Bureau of
Freshwater Fisheries that will assess New Jersey
licensed anglers' fishing participation and avidity,
determine their opinions on and attitudes toward fishing
and fishing-related issues in the state, and explore
their fishing preferences and satisfaction with fishing
opportunities in the
state.  Workshop
Facilitation Services for the Marine Mammal Health and
Stranding Program
Responsive Management will provide
workshop facilitation services at three meetings held by
the National Marine Fisheries Service in 2009-2010. The
first workshop will be held in October 2009 at the
Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals in
Quebec City, Canada, hosted by the Society for Marine
Mammalogy, and will focus on marine mammals that are
perceived as "out-of-habitat" or in peril, but are not
stranded, and that pose complex challenges to management
agencies and stranding network organizations. The
second workshop will be held in December 2009 on the
west coast with the Technical Panel of the John H.
Prescott Marine Mammal Rescue Grant Assistance Program
and will focus on the results of Responsive Management's
nationwide assessment and evaluation of the Marine
Mammal Stranding Network (MMSN). The third workshop will
be held in April 2010 at the National MMSN Conference at
the National Conservation Training Center in
Shepherdstown, West Virginia, and will focus on how
stranding network organizations prioritize their efforts
and how U.S. and international organizations can improve
interregional relations to enhance marine mammal health
investigations. |
Issues Related to Hunting Access in the
United States (in cooperation with the National
Shooting Sports Foundation under Multi-State
Conservation Grant CT M-8-R awarded by the U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service)
Issues Related
to Fishing Access in the United States (in
cooperation with the American Sportfishing Association
under Multi-State Conservation Grant VA M-20-R
awarded by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service)
Strategic Direction for the Arkansas Game
and Fish Commission (for the Arkansas Game
and Fish Commission; development of the Commission's
first-ever strategic plan)
Lapsed But Not Forgotten: Developing an
Integrated Marketing Campaign to Target Lapsed Hunters
in Virginia (for the Virginia Department of
Game and Inland Fisheries; supported by the Hunting
Heritage Partnership, a grant program of the National
Shooting Sports Foundation)
Utilizing Senior Hunters to Maintain and
Enhance the Hunting Heritage in Arizona (for
the Arizona Game and Fish Department; supported by
the Hunting Heritage Partnership, a grant program of the
National Shooting Sports Foundation)
Dungeness Crab Harvest Survey (for
the Washington Department of Fish and
Wildlife) |
| PHOTOS:
COMMANDER GRADY TUELL / NOAA CORPS; NASP FOUNDATION;
NATIONAL SAFE BOATING COUNCIL; MILTON FRIEND / USFWS;
JOHN AND KAREN HOLLINGSWORTH / USFWS; AARON LOGAN; RYAN
HAGERTY / USFWS. |
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A printable version of this report
is available here (1MB
PDF). |
.......................
Responsive
Management 130
Franklin Street | Harrisonburg, Virginia 22801 |
540-432-1888
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