The Visitor Services Project studies are based on systematic surveys of park visitors. A random sample of visitor groups are chosen to represent the general visitor population during a one week study period.
Sample size is based upon estimates of the previous year s visitation.
The results are usually accurate within 4 percentage points for simple questions, and are somewhat less accurate for more complex ones. The results are statistically significant at the .05 level, meaning that if different samples had been drawn, the results would have been similar 95 out of 100 times. VSP personnel hold an on-site workshop with park staff to develop the survey questionnaire and plan the study. In addition, visitors are asked to write comments regarding their visit. Brief interviews are conducted as visitors enter the area.