Many leisure researchers have examined the recreation specialization construct with the belief that recreationists progress along a specialization continuum, from low to high, the longer they participate in an activity. Building on other researchers' conclusions that recreationists do not necessarily progress over time, this study sought to better understand whether people truly desire to progress. Competition, sociability, and skill development variables were proposed as measures that would more accurately describe an intermediate career trajectory of specialization. This intermediate career trajectory of specialization was called flatlining, because recreationists progress to their desired level of specialization and then maintain a flat, or non-progressing, style of involvement on the specialization continuum. Behavior, skill and knowledge, and commitment variables were also used to measure recreation specialization. A three-level self-classification measure was used to predict group membership, and this classification was used to evaluate both groups of variables. The behavior, skill and knowledge, and commitment variables did a very good job of predicting level of specialization. The competition, sociability, and skill development variables did a good job of predicting the high and low levels of specialization, but did a very poor job of predicting the flatlining level of specialization. Motivations to participate were also studied. This study's failure to accurately predict the flatlining career trajectory highlights the need for further research on the phenomenon.

With ever-increasing demands on scarce natural resources, understanding public attitudes toward natural resources is crucial to accomplishing various management goals for resource conservation and the provision of resource services. Despite numerous studies of public attitudes toward resource conservation since Dunlap and Heffernan 1975), there is a limited understanding of the driving forces underlying recreationists?? activities that contribute to their conservation attitudes and behaviors. Thus, this dissertation investigated the connected causal effects of how recreational anglers develop their conservation attitudes and preferences toward natural resources in light of within- and between-group diversity. Three independent studies, focusing on both recreation specialization and recreationists?? conservation attitudes, were conducted with different research themes. Two different methods, namely, a stated preference discrete choice method and structural equation modeling, were used. The first study examined anglers?? holistic preferences for trade-offs of various management rules and regulations using specialization segmentation. Study results supported that high specialization anglers reported a greater appreciation of and support for resource management practices such as harvest regulations that seek to reduce adverse user impacts than their less specialized counterparts. The second study explored the fostering process of conservation attitudes and behaviors with recreation specialization and other motivational and attitudinal variables. Given that empirical analyses supported the theoretical propositions in the constructed model, recreation specialization and other accrued motivational and attitudinal concepts provided insight to understanding the formation pattern of conservation attitudes and behaviors. The third study examined how the fostering process of attitudes toward resource conservation differed by race and ethnicity. Results indicated that anglers, regardless of their racial and ethnic origins, showed similar patterns of fostering attitudes toward and preferences for resource conservation. As they participated in fishing activity on a regular basis, heterogeneous development in conservation attitudes and preferences were likely to be minimal and be better explained by the framework of recreation specialization. Finally, a summary and synthesis of the findings, agenda for future research, and the management implications were discussed.

Many leisure researchers have examined the recreation specialization construct with the belief that recreationists progress along a specialization continuum, from low to high, the longer they participate in an activity. Building on other researchers' conclusions that recreationists do not necessarily progress over time, this study sought to better understand whether people truly desire to progress. Competition, sociability, and skill development variables were proposed as measures that would more accurately describe an intermediate career trajectory of specialization. This intermediate career trajectory of specialization was called flatlining, because recreationists progress to their desired level of specialization and then maintain a flat, or non-progressing, style of involvement on the specialization continuum. Behavior, skill and knowledge, and commitment variables were also used to measure recreation specialization. A three-level self-classification measure was used to predict group membership, and this classification was used to evaluate both groups of variables. The behavior, skill and knowledge, and commitment variables did a very good job of predicting level of specialization. The competition, sociability, and skill development variables did a good job of predicting the high and low levels of specialization, but did a very poor job of predicting the flatlining level of specialization. Motivations to participate were also studied. This study's failure to accurately predict the flatlining career trajectory highlights the need for further research on the phenomenon.

The purposes of this study were to gain a better understanding of anglers and angler preferences and to examine differences between subgroups of anglers based on level of specialization. Understanding these similarities and differences between user groups will provide valuable input for more effective fisheries management. A randomized mail survey was sent to resident, adult fishing-license holders in Utah. A 68% response rate yielded 1216 usable returns for data analysis. An analysis of three recreation specialization dimensions (participation, equipment and investment, and lifestyle) and further analysis of participation and investment variables were used to develop a typology of Utah anglers. Three specialization subgroups and four typology subgroups were then compared to determine differences in motivations for fishing, preferences toward various fishing and management attributes and the desirability of available fish species. Anglers with different levels of specialization differed significantly in their motivations for fishing, preferences for fishery resource attributes and desirability ratings of available fish species. Typology subgroups were found to not differ significantly in motivations, preferences or species desirability ratings. However, level of participation (number of fishing trips taken in past year) and investment (money invested in fishing equipment) were each valuable in identifying differences in motivations and preferences, but not in species desirability ratings. By identifying sportsmen constituencies based on specialization characteristics, managers can better provide fishing opportunities consistent with angler needs. Fisheries managers will have a tool to match sportsmen with the type of setting and management strategy desired or to match the management to the sportsmen, thus maximizing satisfaction.

Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) use has grown enormously on Utah’s public lands and is one of the most contentious and difficult issues for federal, state, and local land management agencies to address and provide for. Despite OHV use’s meteoric rise in popularity and its ongoing public conflicts, little is known about OHV recreationists. This thesis develops a typology that identifies within-activity differences related to recreation specialization; it also determines differences in OHV owners’ environmental attitudes and motivations. Findings show Utah’s owners comprise a range of use along the recreation specialization continuum. Results also indicate that an OHV owners’ specialization level is not a significant determinant of either their environmental attitude or four out of the seven given motivations for participation in the activity. Specialization is, however, directly correlated to three specific motivation domains: achievement/stimulation, independence, and meeting new people. Overall, the recreation specialization framework, broadly interpreted, was successfully utilized to develop a typology of use which can inform resource management decisions.

Heritage tourism is a fast growing sector in the recreation arena. Research into multiple aspects of heritage tourism has increased during the last few decades as it has been recognized as a distinct form of tourism and promoted around the globe. This study was conducted in an effort to better understand multiple aspects of heritage tourism in the Bear River Heritage Area of northern Utah and southeastern Idaho. The following aims to provide Bear River Heritage Area leadership with baseline data on their visitors and build upon the base of literature in the areas of recreation specialization, and importance-performance analysis. Attempts to apply the recreation specialization continuum in the context of heritage tourism were relatively unsuccessful in this case. Potential problems with applying recreation specialization to heritage tourism are discussed and implications for future studies are explored. In addition, emerging trends in importance-performance research are applied to respondent ratings of attribute importance and satisfaction in order to provide the best possible suggestions for Bear River Heritage Area management improvements and build upon existing research. Specifically, traditional importance-performance analysis is compared to analyses that incorporate grand means, segmentation, and confidence intervals.

This current study utilized recreation specialization and leisure motivation theory to explore the meanings, perspectives, and behaviors among female surfers. Despite numerous studies previously published regarding recreation specialization and leisure motivation related to activity participation, little research has been conducted on the activity of surfing from a female perspective. Data for this study were collected using in-depth, semi- structured interviews of nine women surfers from the California Central Coast. Content analyses of the data involved coding and identifying key themes, patterns, and categories. The dominant themes significant within recreation specialization included past participation (e.g., preceding activities to eventual participation and wave/swell conditions), perceived skills (i.e., skills important to surfing, perceived skill level), commitment (e.g., central to life activity, central leisure activity, affective attachment, and adoption of social/cultural values), and enduring involvement (e.g., attraction and sensory enjoyment). The major themes that emerged from data specific to leisure motivation included initial attraction (e.g., observing others), initial motivation to participate/actively pursue (e.g., desirable setting and sensory enjoyment) and enduring motivation (e.g., achievement/stimulation, sensory enjoyment, anticipation, attraction and flow). Major themes emerged from the results of this study identify the varying styles of involvement in the participants. Additionally, results revealed the behaviors and feminine perspectives of participants that identified the meanings and experiences associated with these categories. Participants identified the pre-activity routines they engage in to prepare for surfing addressed how surfing provides them opportunities for relational leisure and self-determined leisure. Lastly, participants’ revealed factors that constrain participation and opportunities for relational and autonomous experiences.