Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

The Economic Review Of The Travel Industry In Montana: 2014 Biennial Edition, Kara Grau, Jake Jorgenson, Norma P. Nickerson

Institute for Tourism and Recreation Research Publications

This review provides current and historical data of nonresident travel and tourism in Montana, and offers the industry's economic contributions to the state.

Preliminary 2014 Montana Nonresident Traveler Expenditures And Economic Contribution, Kara Grau

Institute for Tourism and Recreation Research Publications

This report shows the 2014 preliminary economic contributions, expenditures, and average daily spending of nonresident visitors to Montana.

Usage Of E-Resources: Virtual Value Of Demographics, Sue Samson

Mansfield Library Faculty Publications

The focus of this study was to identify: 1) usage of library e-resources by faculty and staff affiliation and status to identify research and teaching needs; 2) usage of library e-resources by student major, status, gender, registered disability and registered veteran to establish best outreach practices and areas that need service improvement and collection development in support of student learning; and 3) the correlation between use of library e-resources and student attainment as defined by grade point average (GPA). Demographic data was collected for these users based on their university NetID logins. The findings in this study conclusively document that …

Montana Dragon Boat Festival: 2014, Brian Battaglia, Megan Schultz

Institute for Tourism and Recreation Research Publications

The purpose of this study was to provide the organizers of the Montana Dragon Boat Festival with an understanding of their attendees and the total money spent by those surveyed in the event area. The population of interest was participants and attendees of the 2014 Montana Dragon Boat Festival.

Impacts Of Metadata On Accessibility Of Digital Collections, Teressa M. Keenan

Mansfield Library Faculty Publications

Conversations about universal design and accessibility have been commonplace among web developers since the 90s but they are just now beginning to emerge in the world of library digital collections. The very nature of materials often presented in digital collections create barriers to accessibility. One possible solution can be found in metadata. In the next 5 minutes I hope to briefly show how the quality and configuration of metadata can have a positive effect on accessibility of image collections.

An Ri Ra Montana Irish Festival: 2014, Brian Battaglia, Megan Schultz

Institute for Tourism and Recreation Research Publications

The purpose of this study was to provide the organizers of the An Ri Ra Montana Irish Festival with an understanding of their attendees and the total money spent by those surveyed in the event area. The population of interest was participants and attendees of the 2014 An Ri Ra Montana Irish Festival.

Mountain Madness Airshow: 2014, Brian Battaglia, Megan Schultz

Institute for Tourism and Recreation Research Publications

The purpose of this study was to provide the organizers of the Mountain Madness Airshow with an understanding of their attendees and the total money spent by those surveyed in the event area. The population of interest was participants and attendees of the 2014 Mountain Madness Airshow.

Comparison Of Mt Visitor's And Mt Resident's Use Of Downtowns, Norma P. Nickerson

Institute for Tourism and Recreation Research Publications

An on line survey found that only 5 o f 47 downtown questions were significantly different between MT residents and visitors.

Rapid Literature Review Of Self-Employment Research, Nancy Arnold, University Of Montana Rural Institute

Employment

Business ownership is an important employment option for people with disabilities, particularly for those who live in rural areas of the U.S. with fewer employment opportunities (Arnold, Ravesloot, & Seekins, 1995; Arnold & Seekins, 1994). Researchers at RTC:Rural began conducting research on the use of self-employment by VR agencies in 1990. Since then RTC:Rural researchers developed model self-employment policies and procedures for Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) agencies, which several state agencies have adopted in whole or in part (Arnold & Ipsen, 2005); developed self-employment training for VR counselors (Arnold, Seekins, et. al., 1998, 1999, 2001, 2004) in both in-person and web-based …

A Rapid Review Of Self-Employment Literature: Implications For The Vocational Rehabilitation Program, Nancy Arnold, Catherine Ipsen, University Of Montana Rural Institute

Employment

Business ownership is an important employment option for people with disabilities, particularly those living in rural areas with few employment opportunities (Arnold, Ravesloot, & Seekins, 1995; Arnold & Seekins, 1994). Researchers at RTC:Rural began conducting research on the use of self-employment by VR agencies in 1990. Since then RTC:Rural researchers have: developed model self-employment policies and procedures for Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) agencies (Arnold & Ipsen, 2005); developed self-employment training for VR counselors in both in-person and web-based formats (Arnold, Seekins, et. al., 1998, 1999, 2001, 2004); and explored cross-agency collaborations to support self-employment ventures (Ipsen, Arnold & Colling, 2003, 2005). …

Evel Knievel Days: 2014, Brian Battaglia, Megan Schultz

Institute for Tourism and Recreation Research Publications

The purpose of this study was to provide the organizers of the Evel Knievel Days with an understanding of their attendees and the total money spent in Butte during the event. The population of interest was participants and attendees of the 2014 Evel Knievel Days.

Visitor Support For Yellowstone National Park, Jacob Jorgenson, Norma P. Nickerson

Institute for Tourism and Recreation Research Publications

The purpose of this study is to assess the level of park support visitors have towards Yellowstone National Park. Because of budgetary cuts for public lands in the U.S., new methods and techniques are being explored to support management goals. Methods consisted of an online survey sent to four visitor groups: Yellowstone Association members, Yellowstone Park Foundation contributors and Facebook friends, Xanterra Parks and Resorts email listings, and the ITRR Panel. Results indicate a moderate level of support among all users, with joint members of the Yellowstone Association and Yellowstone Park Foundation showing the strongest support. Cognitive and behavioral influences …

Montana Folk Festival: 2014, Brian Battaglia, Megan Schultz

Institute for Tourism and Recreation Research Publications

The purpose of this study was to provide the organizers of the Montana Folk Festival with an understanding of their attendees and the total money spent by those surveyed in Butte during the event. The population of interest was attendees of the 2014 Montana Folk Festival and the sample was random from that population. Surveys were given to festival goers by random selection so as to attempt to represent the whole population.

Meanings And Robustness: Propositions For Enhancing Benefit Sharing In Social-Ecological Systems, Ernita Van Wyk, Charles Breen, Wayne A. Freimund

Society and Conservation Faculty Publications

Given increased pressure on natural resources to deliver benefits, complex trade-offs and the regulation of behaviours in relation to benefits is of key concern. Behaviours that signify resistance to the rules according to which benefits are allocated prompt us to consider causal links and feedbacks between benefits, perceptions of benefits, meanings attached to the benefits, and the regulatory instruments that mediate the distribution of benefits. An understanding of how meanings influence the perception of benefits exposes the complexity inherent in how people perceive and allocate value to natural resource benefits. Meanings are personal, sometimes overlapping, context dependent and variable across …

The Geography Of Disability In America: On Rural-Urban Differences In Impairment Rates, Christiane Von Reichert, Lillie Greiman, Andrew Myers, University Of Montana Rural Institute

Independent Living and Community Participation

How do disability rates vary across the United States and between rural and urban areas? For over a decade, this question could not be answered with current public data. In December 2013, however, the US Census Bureau released the 2008-2012 American Community Survey (ACS) summary data. These data represent the first opportunity since the 2000 Census to answer questions about disability prevalence for the entire nation, and rural and urban geographies. These data can help inform critical disability policy decisions as well as guide future research. The ACS does not directly measure disability. Rather, it evaluates disability in terms of …

Sanders County Yard Sale: 2014, Brian Battaglia, Megan Schultz

Institute for Tourism and Recreation Research Publications

The purpose of this study was to provide the organizers of the Sanders County Yard Sale with an understanding of their attendees and the total money spent by those surveyed in the area. The population of interest was participants and attendees of the 2014 Sanders County Yard Sale.

Economic Contribution Of Nonresident Travel Spending In Montana Travel Regions And Counties: 2012-2013, Kara Grau

Institute for Tourism and Recreation Research Publications

Money spent by those traveling to and through Montana has an effect not only on the businesses where spending occurs, but it ripples throughout the state’s economy, as well. Statewide, spending by nonresidents (averaged over two years) totaled $3.47 billion. This report details the methods and results of the economic impact analyses for each of Montana’s travel regions, as well as analyses for counties in which nonresident travelers spent approximately $50 million or more.

Montana State High School Rodeo Finals: 2014, Brian Battaglia, Megan Schultz

Institute for Tourism and Recreation Research Publications

The purpose of this study was to provide the organizers of the High School Rodeo Finals with an understanding of their attendees and the total money spent by those surveyed in the area. The population of interest was participants and attendees of the 2014 Montana State High School Rodeo Finals.

Developments In Transnational Research Linkages: Evidence From U.S. Higher-Education Activity, Peter Koehn

Political Science Faculty Publications

In our knowledge-driven era, multiple and mutual benefits accrue from transnational research linkages. The article identifies important directions in transnational research collaborations involving U.S. universities revealed by key dimensions of 369 projects profiled on a U.S. higher-education association’s database. Project initiators, principal research fields, regional and country distributions, and the sources and amounts of funding for different types of transnational research activity are selected for analysis. The balanced total portfolio of reported current research projects by region suggests that U.S. university principal investigators increasingly recognize the value of collaborative knowledge generation in the Global South as well as in other …

Buses For Byways: Concept Plan, Norma P. Nickerson

Institute for Tourism and Recreation Research Publications

Buses for Byways (B4B) is a conceptual idea designed to help people of all ages and abilities gain access to recreation sites along the Top 10 Scenic Drives in Idaho, Wyoming, and Montana as well as segments of eastern Oregon and Washington. Survey data on the demand for transportation showed that 82% of the regional residents and 66% of nonresidents have experienced a need for some sort of public transportation to/from a recreation access point in their lifetime. On the supply side, 1/3 of business owners in the region indicated a willingness to take other people (not their customers) to …

2013 Nonresident Visitation, Expenditures & Economic Impact Estimates: Estimates By Full Year, Quarters, Trip Purposes & International Visitors, Kara Grau

Institute for Tourism and Recreation Research Publications

A collection of 2013 full year and quarterly estimates of nonresident visitation, expenditures by nonresident travelers, and economic impact estimates, including expenditures by purpose of trip and international visitors.

Missoula Urban Forest Interest Study 2014, Norma P. Nickerson

Institute for Tourism and Recreation Research Publications

This study was conducted for the Urban Forest Division of the Missoula Parks and Recreation Department for use and guidance in the Urban Forest Master Plan. Results show that Missoulians are profoundly supportive of public trees. Residents agree that their utilitarian purposes (e.g. shade, helping decrease pollution) are of value to the community. The aesthetic purposes tend to make their neighborhoods more enjoyable and Missoula a nicer place to live. Public trees provide a quality of life that Missoula residents appreciate. The majority of Missoula residents are willing to support the removal of hazardous trees, pruning, planting, and basic maintenance …

Accessibility: Opening Windows To Digital Collections, Wendy Walker, Teressa M. Keenan

Mansfield Library Faculty Publications

Accessibility is a growing concern for universities and academic libraries as they create and provide more digital resources for their communities. The development of best practices for accessible web pages and documents is well underway. To date, no in-depth study of digital content management systems has been done. This poster summarizes the authors' initial research into the accessibility provided to visually-impaired users by two of the most used digital collections platforms in libraries: CONTENTdm and Digital Commons.

An accessible transcript of the poster content is available below.

Montana Nonresident Traveler Expenditures And Economic Contribution: 2012, Kara Grau

Institute for Tourism and Recreation Research Publications

This report shows the economic contributions, expenditures, and average daily spending of nonresident visitors to Montana during 2012.

Tourism And Protected Areas: A Growing Nexus Of Challenge And Opportunity, Stephen F. Mccool, Anna Spenceley

Society and Conservation Faculty Publications

Three significant trends are converging with the result of increasing the importance of understanding and managing the nexus of tourism and protected areas. Firstly, international travel and tourism continues to grow significantly, resulting in more people wanting to visit, learn and appreciate their natural and cultural heritage. Secondly, international conservation efforts are increasingly dependent on protected areas serving as the cornerstone of slowing (ideally stopping) the loss of biological diversity. Thirdly, demands from society on protected areas are not only increasing, they are diversifying as well. Increased demand is, in part, the result of a growing human population that competes …

Spartan Race Visitor Study: 2014, Brian Battaglia, Megan Schultz

Institute for Tourism and Recreation Research Publications

The purpose of this study was to provide the organizers of the Spartan Race with an understanding of their attendees and the total money spent by those surveyed in the area. The population of interest was participants and attendees of the 2014 Spartan Race.

Montana Nonresident Traveler Expenditures And Economic Contribution: 2013, Kara Grau

Institute for Tourism and Recreation Research Publications

This report shows the economic contributions, expenditures, and average daily spending of nonresident visitors to Montana during 2013.

Political Religiosity And Gender Inequality Within The Arab World, Damara Simpson

Political Science Student Scholarship

Typically, stories of gender inequality in the Arab World points towards Islam as a major contributing factor. The research question of this project is: what is the cause of the gender inequality and lack of women’s rights in Arab countries? I hypothesized that the level of political religiosity of Arab countries is directly linked to gender inequality. The dependent variable for my research project is gender inequality, and the independent variable is political religiosity. My hypothesis was tested by rating and ranking countries in terms of political religiosity and gender inequality and comparing these two data sets graphically. According to …

Rural And Urban Differences In Vr Caseloads And Delivery Practices, Catherine Ipsen, Grant Swicegood, Kyle Colling, Bethany Rigles, Charles Asp, University Of Montana Rural Institute

Employment

Each year, Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) agencies provide case level data to the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA). This compiled data, named RSA 911, includes consumer characteristics, services provided, and employment outcomes of all case closures in the past year. Researchers and program evaluators use the RSA 911 data system to examine productivity across agencies, demographic and disability groups, and other service factors. The RSA 911 does not include information about where the consumer was served, such as county or zip code. This limits outcome evaluation for various geographies. For instance, while VR programs can be evaluated or compared across states, more …

Montana Nonresident Traveler Expenditure Profiles: Quarter 1, 2013, Kara Grau

Institute for Tourism and Recreation Research Publications

This report examines spending profiles of nonresident travelers to Montana. It displays the average daily expenditures by purpose of trip for different spending categories during the first quarter of 2013.