January 2010 - Parks & Recreation - 34

research update continued from page 31

involved in cultural and heritage projects, and anglers groups can offer fishing opportunities.

The 2008 Public Opinions
and Attitudes on Outdoor
Recreation in California
Survey
The 2008 Public Opinions and Attitudes
on Outdoor Recreation in California
(POA) survey measured participation
in COBR activities through youth focus
groups and a youth mail survey.

Methods
Questions for the California youth focus groups were developed following a
format similar to one employed by the
Oregon State Parks 2008-'12 Statewide
Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation
Plan (SCORP). Researchers consulted
a panel of experts in order to verify the
relevance of the focus group script to

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32 Parks & Recreation

JANUARY 2010

its target population (California youth).
The resulting script, composed of 10
questions, was used in 2007 and 2008
with focus groups in cities within four
geographical regions of California that
represent 90 percent of the state's population: San Diego, Modesto, Livermore,
and the Los Angeles metropolitan area.
Seventy-two California youths who were
participants in programs at community
recreation centers served as interviewees. They were divided into groups
based on age (10-13 and 14-17). Eight
focus-group sessions were recorded,
seven of which were useable and transcribed by a research assistant. Field
notes were utilized for the eighth session.
A researcher and a research assistant
reviewed transcribed results and coded
responses into thematic categories, with
a 90 percent agreement rate between
them. To resolve the discrepancy, original transcriptions were re-reviewed to
examine the thematic categories. To develop larger themes (also known as axial codes), previous leisure research was
consulted. A third researcher reviewed
the three to seven themes that emerged
per question.
Results of the focus group data analysis assisted in the development of questions on the mail-back/online survey.
This survey was administered to youth
residents of California whose parents/
guardians were contacted between
April and June 2008 using a random
sample of telephone numbers within the
state. Data were collected during April
through June 2008. Adult respondents to
a telephone survey were asked if they
had youth residing with them between
the ages of 12 and 17, and for permission for those youth to participate in the
youth portion of the study. The youth and
adult versions of the questionnaire were
mailed together, with Spanish versions
being sent to Spanish-speaking households. Approximately three weeks after the initial mail packet was sent, all
participants were mailed a reminder
postcard about the importance of their
participation in the study. Three hundred
ninety-seven youths completed the mailback/online questionnaire. An incentive

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of $5 to participate was mailed to the
youth respondents. One item on the survey asked the youths about participation
in the 10 COBR activities. The subjects
also indicated reasons they did and did
not participate in the activities.

Results: Focus Group
Youth focus group participants (N=72)
were Hispanic (n=25), Caucasian (n=21)
a nd A f r ica n A mer ica n (n=16) a nd
males and females were equally represented. Other populations included
Asian, Native American, and multiracial. Key themes from the focus groups
emerged relating to nine of the 10 COBR
activities.

Splash in the water
The participants expressed an interest
in water parks and water activities, including surfing, swimming, jet skiing, inner-tubing, and kayaking. Many youths
enjoy the water and several mentioned
that they would like more availability of
swimming pools in their recreational
centers or communities.

" I don't know for some reason my
favorite thing is to be in the water when
it's raining it's like my favorite thing... "
" Even when I don't go surfing I take
my wetsuit and just go out in the water
in Santa Cruz there are places that are
tropical that I go surfing and stuff, I'm
just a freak for the beach and the water
and stuff. "

Play in a safe place
Participants expressed many concerns
relating to opportunities to play in safe
places. These included gangs, older
youth in parks, and the homeless population. They also commented about facility-related issues, such as drug use in
public restrooms, needles in the sand
(in play areas), and lack of lighting.
Some recounted that their parents do
not allow them to play outside because
of their concerns regarding the lack of
safety and supervision. Some youth recommended that agencies post security
guards and police stations in parks.

" This park, there is a group... that
hangs out... it's kinda scary when I'm

January 2010 - Parks & Recreation

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