Addressing Assumptions in Visitor use Management Research: The Researcher’s Perspective

Recognizing, addressing, and adjusting for underlying assumptions is important for visitor use research and management in parks and protected areas. To identify assumptions in visitor use management research and applications, a Delphi approach was used to understand if and how assumptions appear in the visitor use management domain. We engaged eight visitor use experts in the United States over three questionnaire-based iterations, resulting in a list of 28 assumptions in visitor use management and associated research. Top-ranked assumptions were further explored to begin a conversation around how these assumptions may impact the research and management of visitor use in parks and protected areas. Overall, this study contributes to a growing body of knowledge regarding best practices related to visitor use management across public lands and other natural areas within the United States.