Practical research methods

A range of research approaches may be utilised for recreation management and planning. These vary from participation surveys for regional recreation planning to market research for facility management. Research need not be a complex phenomenon - it may be as simple as counting numbers of people visiting a park or facility. To be useful, however, any type of research must be planned in response to identified goals or requirements. Our first purpose is to talk about the research planning process - how, when, and why to undertake research. With a focus on practical aspects of research, we will then concentrate on three scenarios which illustrate different applications of research within recreation and parks management and planning. Given the impetus in recent years for the preparation of recreation plans in local government, we 'then turn our attention to this area and address the relevant research issues - What research is required? How can it inform recreation planning? - with the aim of draftin