An Examination of Whitewater Boaters' Expectations: Are Pre-Trip and Post-Trip Measures Consistent?

Expectations are studied to help explain experience quality but are often measured after the conclusion of an activity. Psychological researchers suggest that such recall may be inaccurate. To assess accuracy of recall, 120 Owyhee River boaters indicated their expectations concerning experience conditions (e.g., amount of people, litter) and internal states (e.g., happiness, boredom) on a pre-trip questionnaire. At the conclusion of the trip, they were asked to recall their original expectations. Results showed that individuals recalled most of their original expectations accurately (9 of 13 conditions; 12 of 12 internal states). Recall accuracy was equally high among commercial and private boaters, novices and repeat visitors, and boaters on different length trips. These findings suggest that measuring expectations after a trip is as valid as measurements taken prior to the trip.