Penn State\u27s Center for Travel and Tourism

Based on the findings of a feasibility study, a tourism research center was created at Penn State University in the spring of 1987. The primary purpose of the center was to foster interdisciplinary tourism research at the university. Studies have been undertaken to determine the economic and social impact of tourism within the state and to establish benchmark data which will be used to evaluate the state\u27s tourism promotion efforts. Initial problems include personnel and financial constraints

A Model Program to Avoid the Institutionalization of Children

The concept of deinstitutionalization has led to a great deal of concern being focused on moving children out of large institutions into community based programs. This paper proposes a model program that would seek to avoid the initial placement of the child and focus attention on working with the family as a total unit. The program would recognize the acting out child as symptomatic of a family system in crisis

Verifying Assumptions: A Case Study of an Annual Event in Pennsylvania

The purposes of this study were to determine the economic impact of a state farm show on the surrounding region and to provide the show management with information that would be useful in planning the next year\u27s event. Approximately 1400 individuals took part in the study. The results indicated that the overall economic impact on a seven-county region was in excess of $3.8 million. Based on the economic, and profile information, management justified a large capital expenditure, made changes in the configuration of the show, and revised the concessionaire contract

Program Modification Through Program Evaluation

Program evaluations can serve a number of functions. From a marketing standpoint, one important function is the generation of information upon which a program or product can be modified. A case study approach is used to show two methods for gathering information for the purposes of program modification. Both are relatively easy to use and involve minimum costs

The Focus Group Interview: An Untapped Resource

Focus groups have become a popular method of research for firms in the private sector who want to learn more about the attitudes and feelings their potential and actual customers have about the firm\u27s products and services. The technique has also been useful in determining a company\u27s image and possible new products and services that various companies might develop. Focus groups can provide the same kinds of information to practitioners in the field of recreation and parks, regardless of whether it is a public or private sector operation. This paper describes why the focus group technique has become so popular, the various steps that are involved in conducting a focus group, and some traps that might be avoided if it is to be used successfully

Family Life Cycle Analysis: An Applied Example in a Tourism Setting

Researchers have utilized the concept of family life cycle to better understand leisure behavior. In fact, it has been proposed as a potentially useful variable for both recreation product companies and recreation administrators to use in segmenting markets and predicting demand . (9) The purpose of this study was to determine if there were significant differences between couples who traveled either with or without children. In all, 2,700 surveys were mailed to persons who had requested the North Carolina Travel Information Packet. A total of 1,887 (69.9%) were received. A factor analysis was performed on 26 reasons (benefits sought) for taking a trip. Four factors or benefit scales resulted. Significant differences were found between couples who had traveled either with or without children as to the types of benefits sought and a number of trip-related behaviors

Reflectance in the Red and Near Infra-Red Ranges of the Spectrum as Tool for Remote Chlorophyll Estimation in Inland Waters: Lake Kinneret Case Study

Signature analysis of reflectance spectra was used for the selection of the most suitable spectral bands for remote sensing of chlorophyll in inland waters. The parameters of the reflectance peak near 700 nm were employed for construction of algorithms for chlorophyll determination. The best model, validated by independent data sets, enabled estimation of chlorophyll concentration with an error \u3c 0.6 mg/m3 for period of low Chl concentration and \u3c 6.5 mg/m3 for period of the phytoplankton bloom. For the purpose of chlorophyll mapping in Lake Kinneret, the use of three relatively narrow spectral bands was sufficient. Radiometric data were also used to simulate radiances in the channels of TM Landsat and to find algorithm for chlorophyll assessment. The ratio (TM2-TM3)/TMl was used to retrieve chlorophyll in the range 3-10 mg/m3 with an error of \u3c 1 mg.m-3; the ratio TM4/TM3 was used to map chlorophyll in the range 10-200 mg/m3 with 10 gradations