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Abstract not available.

This study sought to connect two bodies of knowledge—recreation specialization theory and social norms. Recreation specialization is a way of segmenting recreationists into meaningful subgroups that are ordered along a continuum from low to high. Norms are evaluations of "what should be" that are held and sanctioned by social groups. The centrality of the social group to both recreation specialization and social norms inspired an inquiry into the linkages between the two theories. Scuba divers were intercepted in the Florida Keys between June 2006 and March 2007 and later sent a mail questionnaire that asked them about their norms for resource conditions, behaviors, and crowding. Scuba diver specialization level was determined using an index based on the social worlds literature. Based on two propositions from recreation specialization, it was hypothesized that highly specialized divers would have higher norm intensity and crystallization for resource conditions, behaviors, and sanctions than would less specialized divers. It was also proposed that crowding be added as a new recreation specialization proposition. From this, it was hypothesized that more highly specialized divers would have higher norm intensity and crystallization for crowding conditions than would less specialized divers. Two of the study's eight null hypotheses were rejected: (1) there is no difference in resource condition norm intensity by specialization level and (2) there is no difference in resource condition norm crystallization by specialization level. A number of significant items in the other hypothesis tests suggest that high specialization divers felt most strongly about their obligation not to engage in behaviors that can negatively impact reef health. More specialized divers were also more accepting of not encountering other people and boats at a dive site. The choice of Scuba divers as a study population may have had some impact on the results, due to the training requirements and relatively high specialization of this recreation group. Recommendations for future research include focusing on the role of norm strength in differentiation by specialization, understanding the significance of the zero encounter condition, and finding new approaches that tie resource condition norms more strongly to biological data.

The intent of this study is both to underline the link between natural environment and the physical surround to man's activities, and to clarify the concept "planning" relative to their relationship. On the other hand, the broad scale nature of this thesis is intended to point out attitudes and procedures which it is felt should be adopted when specific detailed investigation is undertaken. Man, on the whole, has not yet tended to organise the earth, for benefit to his emotive environment on the larger scale. He has used it to obtain raw materials, crops for himself and fodder for his animals; but besides that, he has been satisfied with the incidental benefits which may or may not have accrued to his environment, and he has been content with the development of towns and the relatively small-scale oases of private gardens, parks or nature reserves. The need for contact with nature on both an intimate and a broader scale reverts to the elemental aspect of man as a part of, and a product of, nature. Due to the need for security , economic and social factors, man has tended to live in groups. Human settlements have traditionally displayed an apparent pattern of a system of nodes with functional linkages. More and more, man has been humanising the world outside these nodes, and through technological advances is now in a position to familiarise himself with this broader scale and to establish an almost daily contact for his emotional needs.

No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

No description available.