Experience Preferences of Participants in Different Types of River Recreation Groups

This paper explores the relationships between river recreationist's experience preferences and characteristics of their social group of participation. Multiple item experience scales were cluster analyzed and the resulting clusters were used to test for differences in experience preferences based on the social group characteristics of size, composition and type of provision. Analysis of variance showed significant differences in mean group sizes among the preferred experience clusters. Group composition and type of provision were cross tabulated with the experience preference clusters, and Goodman's Multiple Comparison Tests for cross classified data were used to “ransack” the cross tabulated tables with significant Chi-square values. Significant differences in experience preferences were found for groups of different composition and between private and commercially provided trips. Those in groups where some or all others are unknown have preferences for adventuresome, socially oriented experiences, while those in primary groups prefer experiences that provide for quiet, escape and change. While significant differences were found, the relationships between type of provision and experience preferences were not clear. Study results add further support to the social group theory of leisure, and could open a new analytical dimension in experience based research.