Structural differentiation

Abstract

Abstract A valid and reliable eight-step Guttman scale measure of park structural differentiation was constructed for the California State Park System. It was comprised of items reflecting two subscale dimensions, park camping infrastructure and park water-related activity opportunities and developments. Multiple regression analysis showed structural differentiation to be a relatively strong predictor of state park popularity, as measured by annual visitation at each of the parks studied. There was also a negative interaction effect of the camping infrastructure and water-related subscales upon park popularity. High levels of both of these aspects of differentiation at the same time may result in somewhat less annual visitation to a state park than would otherwise be the case. The scale measures of structural differentiation developed in this study also have descriptive application for classifying units of a park system.