Attitude-Strength and Support of Recreation Management Strategies

Obtaining quality information about public attitudes toward recreation management issues requires information about the strength of attitudes. This study examined (a) the moderating effects of attitude-certainty and personal relevance on the relationship between attitude-extremity and prediction of support for management strategies and (b) public perceptions of arguments for management strategies. High levels of certainty and personal relevance allowed for better prediction of support for specific recreation management strategies from attitudes than low levels. Predictive validity was also related to the nature of beliefs about arguments for specific strategies. Implications suggest expanding the type of attitudinal information obtained in public surveys in order to improve the quality of attitudinal information and the effectiveness of communication campaigns.