Planning is concerned with understanding and relating both the physical and social aspects of an environment and arriving at alternatives which best satisfy the public for whom the resource is being managed. To plan so that maximum benefits are derived it is important to weigh benefits and costs to determine the feasability of an alternative. However, public recreation is an area which operates outside the market mechanism and therefore methods using other than monetary measures must be developed to determine how maximum public benefits can be achieved. The literature provides little help in overcoming this problem. The few studies undertaken on characteristics, preferences and attitudes of recreationists have not been carried out in the context of decision-making and therefore many of the findings of these studies are inapplicable in planning. This study suggests a methodology which could be used by the Fish and Wildlife Branch to enable more effective development of alternatives for planning of the steelhead sport fishery resource. A questionnaire was developed to enable assessment of the user public's characteristics, preferences, opinions and attitudes. By this method the public's desires can be taken into account in the generation of alternatives thereby approaching the goal of maximizing public benefits. For the purpose of the study steelhead fishermen of the Lower Mainland of British Columbia were sampled. As the Fish and Wildlife Branch now assesses fishermen's views by ad hoc meetings with fishermen from organized clubs the sample of fishermen taken for this study were from two discernable groups; the organized and the unorganized fishermen. The questionnaire was distributed to 117 organized and 378 unorganized fishermen. By this method it was possible to test if organized fishermen (about 5% of all steelhead fishermen) were representative of all steel headers. From the organized sample 61 questionnaires were returned while 164 were included in the data analysis from the unorganized fishermen. The questionnaire was distributed to 7 managers of the Lower Mainland steelhead fishery. The results obtained from this group, it was hoped, could be compared with those of the two fishermen groups. However, results from this sector have not been deeply analysed because of the small number in the sample and the difference in influence that the various members of this group could bring to bear on decisions. Using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (S.P.S.S.) and crosstab format the fishermen were compared on their responses to the questionnaire. From analysis of these data a number of conclusions were forthcoming: - Organized and unorganized fishermen were found to be different. - There is a wide range of fishing experience desired. - A systematic collection of information on resource users is feasible and desirable. These conclusions have implications for the planning of this resource. By establishing that organized and unorganized fishermen are different it is clear that the collection of information on the desires of both groups of fishermen is needed. The Branch already collects information on catch and release statistics by questionnaire and this vehicle could be extended to gather fishermen's opinions, attitudes and desires. The wide range of experiences desired by the fishermen suggests that a range of alternatives must be provided in order to increase user benefits. The Fish and Wildlife Branch then must not look for single solutions in planning for the resource but adopt a flexible approach. The geographical diversity of the resource offers the Branch many opportunities for experimenting with programs which would deliver to different groups of fishermen the various types of experiences they desire. These general conclusions are applicable to other agencies charged with providing outdoor recreation services in a non-market context. These agencies currently devote most of their energies to managing the physical resource independent of any systematic feedback from the public. The practice of questionnaire analysis as a method of determining user preferences for planning alternatives has become commonplace in the urban areas of planning. In recreation and resource planning, there is a large potential for involving the public in a systematic manner to establish a better basis for developing alternatives which will increase users satisfaction. / Applied Science, Faculty of / Community and Regional Planning (SCARP), School of / Graduate

The Technical Fisheries Short Course has been administered by the Department of Extension at The University of British Columbia for fifteen years with funds provided by the federal government. The content of this three-week adult education program for commercial fishermen is designed with emphasis on the scientific rather than vocational aspects of fisheries. It was the purpose of this study to evaluate the effectiveness of the Short Course in terms of new knowledge acquired and attitudes which were modified during the time it was offered. The study population consisted of 117 fishermen composed of 22 students of the 1969 Class (Group I); 40 non-students (Group II); and 55 former students (Group III). Data for Group I was collected by the use of six objective instruments and one subjective discussion session. Two of these, a knowledge-attitude test and a socio-economic instrument, were used to collect data for the other two Groups. Knowledge acquisition and attitude change for Group I was measured by administering the knowledge-attitude test in the pre and post situations. It was shown that learning did occur as average knowledge scores improved from 18.0 in the pre-test to 31.0 in the post-test out of a possible total of fifty. Although there were sixty-seven individual attitude changes to eight statements concerning governmental bodies, the overall Class attitude score remained virtually unchanged at 22.2 in the post-test from 22.4 in the pre-test out of a total of forty. By means of multiple stepwise regression it was shown that 30% of post-knowledge was dependent on pre-knowledge. By logic it is assumed that some of the remaining 70% was due, directly or indirectly, to exposure to the educational experience. Analysis of variance tests with socio-economic data provided some statistically significant results, but because of only one or two replies in the categories causing the significance these are not reported and further studies with larger populations are indicated. Group I fishermen showed a preference for vocationally-oriented subjects (unlike previous classes), but at the same time indicated an interest in and understanding of academic and research oriented content. In terms of interest and value ratings of the subjects offered the program content met the needs of the participants and they believed that what they had learned would help them to increase their financial returns from fishing. The results indicate the need for establishing instructional objectives and providing guidance to some instructors on teaching techniques. Other results based on the study are that consideration should be given to scheduling the program earlier in the year and that more advance publicity about the Short Course is required. The knowledge-attitude test and the socio-economic Instrument were also administered to Groups II and III (non-students and former students). As most of the Group I fishermen came from metropolitan areas in the lower mainland and on Vancouver Island an attempt was made to determine if the knowledge and attitude they possessed were representative of these factors for fishermen from metropolitan areas in general (Group II). Within the limitations of the study it was found that Group I knowledge was similar to that of Group II as determined by average group scores. On the same basis Group I attitude differed significantly at p.05 from that of Group II. Analysis of the data from the knowledge-attitude test and socioeconomic Instrument showed that Group I fishermen were more representative of Group III fishermen (former students) than they were of Group II fishermen (non-students). It was also determined that no significant difference existed between the knowledge scores of former students and post-test knowledge scores of Group I. This suggests a retention factor and reveals an area for further research. It was concluded on the basis of the factors studied that the 1969 Short Course was a success. The results indicate that certain modifications in content, instruction and format would have enhanced its effectiveness. The study also confirmed the difficulties faced by an adult education program administrator in concurrently conducting evaluative research. While the collection of evaluative data can be accomplished with comparative ease its interpretation and presentation becomes a problem in terms of the time and expense involved, a problem which can only be corrected by the provision of research funds. Other implications for research are a study of the application by students of knowledge gained at the Short Course and a study of the attitudes held by fishermen toward government regulatory agencies. Repeated evaluative studies of the Short Course using the same instruments established for this study are recommended. Communications research to determine if the program is influencing a much wider population than the fishermen who attend is also suggested. This empirical study provides a benchmark on which the research suggested can be built. / Education, Faculty of / Educational Studies (EDST), Department of / Graduate

Commercial fishers are employed in one of the most dangerous jobs in Canada. Additionally, they tend both not to report work injuries and to deny and trivialize risks their job entails. This study focuses on fishers' subjective interpretation of their work environment. Its purposes were to examine fishers' attributed causes of accidents and to derive implications for prevention education. The researcher employed a qualitative methodology and interviewed 12 professional fishers who worked on the British Columbia coast. The interviews focused on fishers' descriptions of accidents and their attributed causes. Attribution theory was operationalized to provide a conceptual framework through which to analyze the 12 transcripts. The researcher transcribed the interviews, then highlighted and analyzed excerpts depicting the fishers' attributed causes of accidents. Three strategies were employed to examine the trustworthiness of the researcher's judgements regarding the transcripts and final interpretation of the data. The strategies were: use of a research partner (consistency), conducting a participant review (credibility), and comparison with another study (triangulation). The participants of this study attributed multiple causes to a given accident and their explanations were complex. The study found 22 categories of causes of accidents. The attributed causes from 9 of the 12 participants were distributed in all quadrants of attributions on the orienting framework (external/stable, external/unstable, internal/stable and internal/unstable). Five or more participants attributed the following as causes in their accidents: Economic Pressures, Luck or Fate, Weather Conditions Expected, Fatigue, and Stress. This study's results suggest that the techno-rational approach of existing traditional training programs, that concentrate on causes located mainly in the external/stable quadrant, does not concur with fishers' attributed causes of accidents. The study indicates that prevention education program content should be broadened to address the full spectrum of fishers' attributed causes of accidents. Through the utilization of fishers' attributed causes of accidents, prevention education programs could assist fishers to focus on their perceptions of occupational hazards and risks, and address questions of past risk taking and future risk assessment. From these insights fishers can review what can be done to control or eliminate a particular risk.

Commercial fishers are employed in one of the most dangerous jobs in Canada. Additionally, they tend both not to report work injuries and to deny and trivialize risks their job entails. This study focuses on fishers' subjective interpretation of their work environment. Its purposes were to examine fishers' attributed causes of accidents and to derive implications for prevention education. The researcher employed a qualitative methodology and interviewed 12 professional fishers who worked on the British Columbia coast. The interviews focused on fishers' descriptions of accidents and their attributed causes. Attribution theory was operationalized to provide a conceptual framework through which to analyze the 12 transcripts. The researcher transcribed the interviews, then highlighted and analyzed excerpts depicting the fishers' attributed causes of accidents. Three strategies were employed to examine the trustworthiness of the researcher's judgements regarding the transcripts and final interpretation of the data. The strategies were: use of a research partner (consistency), conducting a participant review (credibility), and comparison with another study (triangulation). The participants of this study attributed multiple causes to a given accident and their explanations were complex. The study found 22 categories of causes of accidents. The attributed causes from 9 of the 12 participants were distributed in all quadrants of attributions on the orienting framework (external/stable, external/unstable, internal/stable and internal/unstable). Five or more participants attributed the following as causes in their accidents: Economic Pressures, Luck or Fate, Weather Conditions Expected, Fatigue, and Stress. This study's results suggest that the techno-rational approach of existing traditional training programs, that concentrate on causes located mainly in the external/stable quadrant, does not concur with fishers' attributed causes of accidents. The study indicates that prevention education program content should be broadened to address the full spectrum of fishers' attributed causes of accidents. Through the utilization of fishers' attributed causes of accidents, prevention education programs could assist fishers to focus on their perceptions of occupational hazards and risks, and address questions of past risk taking and future risk assessment. From these insights fishers can review what can be done to control or eliminate a particular risk. / Education, Faculty of / Educational Studies (EDST), Department of / Graduate