Recreation Specialization and Recreation Specialization and Gender: A Comparison of Gender: A Comparison of Massachusetts Freshwater AnglersMassachusetts Freshwater Anglers

Laura E. Anderson David K. Loomis

Human Dimensions Research UnitDepartment of Natural Resources

ConservationUniversity of MassachusettsAmherst, Massachusetts 01003

18th Northeastern Recreation Research Symposium

April 10, 2006

IssueIssue Traditional fisheries management: male and resource Traditional fisheries management: male and resource

orientedoriented Focus on biological and economic goalsFocus on biological and economic goals Expert-client approach (i.e., “clients”= men)Expert-client approach (i.e., “clients”= men)

Recent emphasis on using Human Dimensions Recent emphasis on using Human Dimensions researchresearch Identify and understand stakeholdersIdentify and understand stakeholders Segment resource users into meaningful groups Segment resource users into meaningful groups

Recreation SpecializationRecreation Specialization Segment users by skills, equipment, participation frequencySegment users by skills, equipment, participation frequency

Women in recreational fishingWomen in recreational fishing A minority in the activity, less studied than menA minority in the activity, less studied than men May experience the activity differentlyMay experience the activity differently

Recreation Recreation SpecializationSpecialization

Defined using social worlds literature Defined using social worlds literature (Ditton et (Ditton et al., 1992)al., 1992) : :

““a process by which recreation social worlds and a process by which recreation social worlds and subworlds segment and intersect into new subworlds segment and intersect into new recreation subworlds, and the subsequent ordered recreation subworlds, and the subsequent ordered arrangement of these subworlds and their members arrangement of these subworlds and their members along a continuum” along a continuum”

Specialization Index Development Specialization Index Development (Salz et al., (Salz et al., 2001)2001) Social Subworlds Literature (Unruh, 1979)Social Subworlds Literature (Unruh, 1979)

• orientation, experiences, relationships, and orientation, experiences, relationships, and commitmentcommitment

Recreation SpecializationRecreation Specialization Four propositions from Ditton et al. (1992) Four propositions from Ditton et al. (1992)

considered here:considered here:

As specialization increases,As specialization increases,

1)1) participation frequency will likely increaseparticipation frequency will likely increase

2)2) acceptance and support for rules, norms and acceptance and support for rules, norms and procedures will likely increase procedures will likely increase

3)3) the value of side-bets will likely increasethe value of side-bets will likely increase

4)4) importance of activity-specific elements will importance of activity-specific elements will decrease relative to non activity-specific decrease relative to non activity-specific elementselements

GenderGender

Males predominate in recreational fishingMales predominate in recreational fishing In U.S.: 74% male In U.S.: 74% male (DOI, 2001, p. 15)(DOI, 2001, p. 15)

Leisure quantity and qualityLeisure quantity and quality (Mattingly and (Mattingly and Bianchi, 2003)Bianchi, 2003) Contaminated leisureContaminated leisure Interrupted leisureInterrupted leisure Impact of childrenImpact of children

Gender constraintsGender constraints Ethic of care Ethic of care (Jackson and Scott, 1999)(Jackson and Scott, 1999) 76 cent income gap76 cent income gap (U.S. Census, 2005) (U.S. Census, 2005) Social isolation and skill (Jackson and Henderson, Social isolation and skill (Jackson and Henderson,

1995)1995) Social norms and expectationsSocial norms and expectations

Women may be less specialized in recreational Women may be less specialized in recreational fishingfishing

HypothesesHypotheses

Specialization distribution:Specialization distribution:

Ha1: Male anglers will be more highly specialized than Ha1: Male anglers will be more highly specialized than female anglersfemale anglers

Fishing frequency:Fishing frequency:

Ha2: High-specialization and male anglers will have a Ha2: High-specialization and male anglers will have a greater frequency of participation than will low-greater frequency of participation than will low-specialization and female anglersspecialization and female anglers

Management items:Management items:

Ha3: High-specialization and male anglers will have greater Ha3: High-specialization and male anglers will have greater support for various management tools and regulations than support for various management tools and regulations than will low-specialization and female anglerswill low-specialization and female anglers

HypothesesHypotheses Side bet items:Side bet items:

Ha4: High-specialization and male anglers will have Ha4: High-specialization and male anglers will have generated a greater value of side-bets than will low-generated a greater value of side-bets than will low-specialization and female anglersspecialization and female anglers

Activity-specific elements:Activity-specific elements:

Ha5: High-specialization and male anglers will attach less Ha5: High-specialization and male anglers will attach less importance to activity-specific elements of the fishing importance to activity-specific elements of the fishing experience than will low-specialization and female anglersexperience than will low-specialization and female anglers

  Non activity-specific elements:Non activity-specific elements:

Ha6: High-specialization and male anglers will attach Ha6: High-specialization and male anglers will attach more importance to non activity-specific elements of the more importance to non activity-specific elements of the fishing experience than will low-specialization and female fishing experience than will low-specialization and female anglersanglers

MethodsMethods Data CollectionData Collection

1998 survey of 2,930 Massachusetts freshwater anglers1998 survey of 2,930 Massachusetts freshwater anglers mail questionnaire using Salant and Dillman Total Design mail questionnaire using Salant and Dillman Total Design

MethodMethod

Specialization Index Specialization Index (Salz et al., 2001)(Salz et al., 2001) four specialization levels four specialization levels

Initial sample………………………………..Initial sample……………………………….. 2,9302,930 ---- Mortality………..…………………………….Mortality………..……………………………. 344344 ---- Effective sample………..…………………..Effective sample………..…………………..2,586 2,586 100.0100.0 Nonresponse………..………………………Nonresponse………..……………………… 1,1751,175 45.445.4 Useable returned surveys………...………….Useable returned surveys………...………….1,4111,411 54.654.6

Response RateResponse Rate N N % %

MethodsMethods SampleSample

Useable returned surveys………...………………..Useable returned surveys………...………………..1,4111,411 54.654.6Total females……….………………………………Total females……….……………………………… 151 151 10.710.7Total males……………………………………….Total males……………………………………….1,2381,238 87.7 87.7

Selected females and males Selected females and males andand specialization level indicatedspecialization level indicated (level 2, 3, or 4)……………………………………(level 2, 3, or 4)……………………………………281 281 19.919.9

Females………………................136Females………………................136Males………………....................145Males………………....................145

N N % %

Data AnalysisData Analysis Chi square test for differences in specialization Chi square test for differences in specialization

level distribution between male and female anglerslevel distribution between male and female anglers Two way ANOVA using “gender” and Two way ANOVA using “gender” and

“specialization level” as factors“specialization level” as factors 0.10 level of significance 0.10 level of significance (Gregoire and Driver, 1987)(Gregoire and Driver, 1987)

Hypotheses Testing: Ha1Hypotheses Testing: Ha1

0

10

20

30

40

50

Per

cen

t of

R

esp

ond

ents

Low Medium High

Specialization Level

Comparison of Male and Female Anglers by Specialization Level

MenWomen

X2 = 0.020

Hypotheses Testing: Ha 2 Hypotheses Testing: Ha 2 Frequency of ParticipationFrequency of Participation

Years fishing…….………………...Years fishing…….………………...21.9221.92 27.2027.20 26.8726.87 2.333 2.3330.0990.099

Days fishing..……………………...Days fishing..……………………...15.0715.07 33.6233.62 50.7550.75 23.47623.4760.0000.000

ItemsItems LowLow MediumMedium HighHigh FF pp

Level of Level of specializationspecialization

GenderGender

Years fishing…….………………...Years fishing…….………………... 29.24529.245 20.39520.39515.64415.6440.0000.000Days fishing..……………………...Days fishing..……………………... 36.45036.450 21.10121.101 7.5017.5010.0070.007

Items MenItems Men Women FWomen F p p

Hypotheses Testing: Ha3 Hypotheses Testing: Ha3 Management ItemsManagement Items

Level of specializationLevel of specialization

Minimum size limit………………...Minimum size limit………………... 4.0284.028 4.0264.026 4.5894.589 5.3295.329 0.0050.005______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Maximum size……………………...Maximum size……………………... 3.4673.467 3.6503.650 3.8393.839 2.0052.005 0.1370.137Creel limit…………………………..Creel limit………………………….. 4.1434.143 4.1984.198 4.5004.500 1.8601.860 0.1580.158Slot limit……………………………Slot limit…………………………… 3.2353.235 3.2413.241 3.5273.527 1.3141.314 0.2710.271Stock native fish……………………Stock native fish…………………… 4.2434.243 4.3024.302 4.4554.455 1.4811.481 0.2290.229Mandatory catch and release……… Mandatory catch and release……… 3.1243.124 3.2843.284 3.4293.429 0.8130.813 0.4450.445Prohibit use of certain gear ………..Prohibit use of certain gear ……….. 3.6213.621 3.5733.573 3.7863.786 0.5890.589 0.556 0.556 No stocking allowed………………..No stocking allowed……………….. 3.7243.724 3.6293.629 3.8213.821 0.4700.470 0.6250.625Stock non-native fish………………Stock non-native fish……………… 2.9332.933 3.0173.017 3.1093.109 0.5370.537 0.5850.585Voluntary catch and release ……….Voluntary catch and release ………. 4.0284.028 4.0774.077 4.1254.125 0.2470.247 0.7810.781Restricted fishing area……………..Restricted fishing area…………….. 3.3943.394 3.4223.422 3.3043.304 0.1510.151 0.8600.860

ItemsItems LowLow MediumMedium HighHigh FF p p

Hypotheses Testing: Ha3 Hypotheses Testing: Ha3 Management ItemsManagement Items

GenderGender

Restricted fishing area……………………Restricted fishing area……………………3.1353.135 3.6283.628 9.3089.3080.0030.003______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Mandatory catch and release …………...Mandatory catch and release …………...3.3583.358 3.1423.142 1.4081.4080.2360.236Creel limit……………………………….Creel limit………………………………. 4.2774.277 4.1614.161 1.2861.2860.2580.258Prohibit use of certain gear……………..Prohibit use of certain gear…………….. 3.5503.550 3.6853.685 1.0301.0300.3110.311Stock non-native fish……………………Stock non-native fish…………………… 3.0483.048 2.9382.938 0.0100.0100.9200.920 Stock native fish………………………...Stock native fish………………………... 4.3204.320 4.2674.267 0.0310.0310.8610.861Minimum size limit……………………..Minimum size limit…………………….. 4.1764.176 4.1004.100 0.1160.1160.7340.734Voluntary catch and release ……………Voluntary catch and release …………… 4.0474.047 4.0874.087 0.1610.1610.6890.689No stocking allowed…………………….No stocking allowed……………………. 3.7053.705 3.6733.673 0.0030.0030.9580.958Maximum size…………………………..Maximum size………………………….. 3.6043.604 3.6243.624 0.0530.0530.8180.818Slot limit………………………………...Slot limit………………………………... 3.2953.295 3.2933.293 0.1670.1670.6830.683

ItemsItems MenMen WomenWomen FF pp

Hypotheses Testing: Ha 4Hypotheses Testing: Ha 4Side Bet ItemsSide Bet Items

Level of specializationLevel of specialization

Replace reels……………….……...Replace reels……………….……...103.98103.98 252.92252.92 380.37 380.3710.95810.958 0.0000.000Replace rods ……………………...Replace rods ……………………...103.29103.29 312.24312.24 488.61 488.61 10.56010.5600.0000.000Replace tackle……………………..Replace tackle……………………..117.28117.28 333.55333.55 510.28 510.289.6129.6120.0000.000________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Replace electronic equipment…….. Replace electronic equipment…….. 233.12233.12 592.22 592.22 710.50 710.501.3101.310 0.2760.276

GenderGender

Replace reels……………….……… Replace reels……………….……… 251.03251.03 181.28181.28 2.4232.423 0.1210.121Replace tackle………………………Replace tackle………………………307.93307.93 255.66255.66 0.3790.379 0.5380.538Replace rods ……………………….Replace rods ……………………….272.79272.79 257.42257.42 0.0890.089 0.7660.766Replace electronic equipment………Replace electronic equipment………567.95567.95490.95490.95 0.0000.000 0.9920.992

ItemsItems LowLow MediumMediumHighHigh FF p p

ItemsItems MenMen Women Women FF pp

Hypotheses Testing: Ha5Hypotheses Testing: Ha5 Activity-specific ItemsActivity-specific Items

Level of specialization

For the sport of fishing, notFor the sport of fishing, notto obtain food to eat ……………..to obtain food to eat …………….. 3.4433.443 3.7633.763 4.2504.250 6.5556.555

0.0020.002For the experience of the catch…….For the experience of the catch…….3.4913.491 3.8213.821 4.1964.196 6.1806.1800.0020.002A fishing trip can be successfulA fishing trip can be successful

even if no fish are caught………...even if no fish are caught………... 3.7853.785 3.8033.803 4.1964.196 3.7463.7460.025**0.025**

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________I’m just as happy if I releaseI’m just as happy if I release the fish I catch……………………the fish I catch…………………… 4.0854.085 4.1284.128 4.4464.446 2.0322.0320.1330.133I’m just as happy if I don’t keepI’m just as happy if I don’t keep the fish I catch……………………the fish I catch……………………4.0094.009 4.1624.162 4.3394.339 1.768 1.7680.1730.173When I go fishing, I’m just asWhen I go fishing, I’m just as

happy if I don’t catch a fish ……..happy if I don’t catch a fish …….. 3.1053.105 3.1973.197 3.3753.375 2.0402.0400.1320.132To obtain fish for eating,To obtain fish for eating,

and not for sport………………….and not for sport…………………. 1.6511.651 1.5001.500 1.6431.643 0.7380.7380.4790.479

ItemsItems LowLow MediumMediumHighHigh FF pp

Hypotheses Testing: Ha5 Hypotheses Testing: Ha5 Activity-specific ItemsActivity-specific Items

When I go fishing, I’m just as When I go fishing, I’m just as happy if I don’t catch a fish ………….happy if I don’t catch a fish …………. 2.9872.987 3.4303.43011.73311.7330.0010.001

A fishing trip can be successful A fishing trip can be successful even if no fish are caught …………….even if no fish are caught ……………. 3.6673.667 4.0534.053 6.5446.5440.011**0.011**

For the experience of the catch………….For the experience of the catch………….3.9333.933 3.5233.523 3.8443.8440.0510.051

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

To obtain fish for eating, To obtain fish for eating, and not for sport ……………………...and not for sport ……………………...1.5171.517 1.5961.596 1.4881.4880.2240.224

For the sport of fishing, not For the sport of fishing, not to obtain food to eat ………………….to obtain food to eat …………………. 3.8333.833 3.5563.556 0.9520.9520.3300.330

I’m just as happy if I don’tI’m just as happy if I don’tkeep the fish I catch …………………keep the fish I catch ………………… 4.1814.181 4.0804.080 0.8490.8490.3580.358

I’m just as happy if I release I’m just as happy if I release the fish I catch ……………………….the fish I catch ………………………. 4.1594.159 4.1824.182 0.0540.0540.8160.816

ItemsItems Men WomenMen WomenFF pp

GenderGender

Hypotheses Testing: Ha6Hypotheses Testing: Ha6 Non Activity-specific ItemsNon Activity-specific Items

Level of specializationLevel of specialization

To experience adventureTo experience adventureand excitement ………………….and excitement …………………. 3.5093.509 3.8903.890 4.0714.071 5.6175.617

0.0040.004To be close to the water …………...To be close to the water …………... 3.6063.606 3.7183.718 4.1074.107 3.8453.8450.0230.023To experience naturalTo experience natural

surroundings …………………….surroundings ……………………. 4.2714.271 4.2484.248 4.5894.589 3.2233.2230.0410.041To experience new andTo experience new and

different thingsdifferent things …………………. …………………. 3.0193.019 3.1193.119 3.4913.491 4.0814.0810.0180.018__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

To be outdoors……………………..To be outdoors…………………….. 4.2804.280 4.2224.222 4.5364.536 1.8711.8710.1560.156For family recreation……………….For family recreation………………. 3.6543.654 3.3623.362 3.2863.286 1.2801.2800.2800.280To get away from theTo get away from the

demands of other people ………...demands of other people ………... 3.6763.676 3.5043.504 3.9463.946 1.7031.7030.1840.184To be with friends………………….To be with friends…………………. 3.3743.374 3.2413.241 3.5643.564 1.2101.2100.3000.300To get away from the To get away from the

regular routine …………………..regular routine ………………….. 3.9153.915 3.9413.941 4.1454.145 0.7150.7150.4900.490 For relaxation………………………For relaxation……………………… 4.3854.385 4.3144.314 4.4644.464 0.5040.5040.6050.605

ItemsItems LowLow MediumMedium HighHigh FF pp

Hypotheses Testing: Ha6Hypotheses Testing: Ha6Non Activity-specific ItemsNon Activity-specific Items

Gender

For family recreation……………………For family recreation…………………… 3.1973.197 3.7003.700 6.0706.0700.0140.014

To experience new andTo experience new anddifferent thingsdifferent things ………………………. ………………………. 3.0143.014 3.2273.227 4.3124.3120.0390.039

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________To be close to the water ………………...To be close to the water ………………... 3.6493.649 3.8003.800 1.8461.846

0.1750.175To be with friends……………………….To be with friends………………………. 3.2303.230 3.4003.400 1.7101.710

0.1920.192To experience natural surroundings ……To experience natural surroundings ……4.2194.219 4.3804.380 1.4451.445

0.2300.230To get away from theTo get away from the

demands of other people ……………..demands of other people …………….. 3.5343.534 3.7223.722 1.0181.0180.3140.314

To get away from the regular routine …..To get away from the regular routine ….. 3.8603.860 4.0334.0330.9680.968 0.3260.326

For relaxation…………………………...For relaxation…………………………... 4.2804.280 4.3694.369 0.6530.6530.4200.420

To be outdoors…………………………..To be outdoors………………………….. 4.2194.219 4.3564.356 0.3220.3220.5710.571

To experience adventureTo experience adventureand excitement ……………………….and excitement ………………………. 3.7803.780 3.7153.715 0.2770.2770.5990.599

ItemsItems MenMen WomenWomen FF pp

Discussion and Discussion and ConclusionsConclusions

Women comprise a small percentage of Women comprise a small percentage of Massachusetts freshwater anglersMassachusetts freshwater anglers 10% of survey sample10% of survey sample Social norms and expectations?Social norms and expectations? Other constraints (leisure quantity and quality, Other constraints (leisure quantity and quality,

ethic of care) ethic of care)

Recreation specialization somewhat supported Recreation specialization somewhat supported Propositions strongly supported in Salz et al. Propositions strongly supported in Salz et al.

(2001) (2001) Limitations of smaller sample size; reduced powerLimitations of smaller sample size; reduced power Means generally varied in expected directionMeans generally varied in expected direction

Men rated more highly on Specialization Men rated more highly on Specialization Index than womenIndex than women However, few differences found on items testedHowever, few differences found on items tested

Discussion and Discussion and ConclusionsConclusions

Differences found between female and male anglers:Differences found between female and male anglers:

As expected:As expected: Participation Frequency Participation Frequency

Men fished an average of 15 days more per year than Men fished an average of 15 days more per year than womenwomen

Men fished an average of 9 years longer than womenMen fished an average of 9 years longer than women Men considered experience of catch more Men considered experience of catch more

importantimportant

Not as expected:Not as expected: Women placed less importance on catching fish Women placed less importance on catching fish

than menthan men Family recreation and experiencing new and Family recreation and experiencing new and

different things more important to womendifferent things more important to women Women more supportive of restricted fishing areaWomen more supportive of restricted fishing area

ConclusionsConclusions

Men rated more highly on Specialization Index Men rated more highly on Specialization Index than women,than women,

……yet women varied little in motivations, yet women varied little in motivations, management support, and side-bets compared management support, and side-bets compared to mento men

Clear difference in Clear difference in participation frequency and participation frequency and years of participationyears of participation

Exploratory analysis suggests Exploratory analysis suggests more study of gender and more study of gender and specialization neededspecialization needed