The purpose of this study was to apply mixed method research in order to clarify the relationships among leisure activity specialization, place attachment, environmental attitude and pro-environmental behavior of Korean mountain-climbing participants....
The purpose of this study was to apply mixed method research in order to clarify the relationships among leisure activity specialization, place attachment, environmental attitude and pro-environmental behavior of Korean mountain-climbing participants. To explore the fundamental meaning of Korean mountain-climbing participants, the researcher utilized both quantitative and qualitative method simultaneously.
In order to solve the research questions, the researcher established the path analysis by utilizing 'sequential quantitative-qualitative mixed method' to investigate the participants' leisure activity specialization, place attachment, environmental attitude and pro-environmental behavior. The survey was performed through purposive selection method and was administered at the entrance gates of 5 different places in Seoul Metropolitan area’s mountains. Specifically, there were Mt. Bukhan located in west of north area of the Han river, Mt. Dobong located in east of north area of the Han river, Mt. Gwanak located in west of south area of the Han river, Mt. Cheonggye located in east of south area of the Han river and Mt. Nam which is in central area in city of Seoul. The total number of questionnaire researcher collected and used for quantitative analysis was 473, a simple Frequency Analysis, Reliability Analysis, Exploratory Factor Analysis by SPSS program and Confirmatory Factor Analysis, Path Analysis by Amos program were performed.
In case of qualitative analysis, the researcher administered in-depth interviews with 5 different subjects and the method utilized for this step was a purposive authority citation method and snowball approach and it was considered as a proper methodology to meet the research purpose. Primary analyses were to classify the responses of the interviewee and subsequent encoding process. Selected meaning units processed through comparisons were classified as small, middle, and large categories through a series of data reduction processes. An additional interviews and data clarification processes were administered as needed.
Within paucity of the research data and limitations of the research, this study came to the following findings. First, it was found that loyalty (specialization) showed an insignificant influence on behavioral attitude and actual behavior. Second, place attachment indicated a significant influence on behavioral attitude but not on pro-environmental behavior. Third, environmental attitude showed a significant influence on a pro environmental behavior. The researcher came to a conclusion that these findings verified that place attachment influenced on environmental behavior attitude and more positive tendency as higher environmental attitude.
For the case of qualitative analysis of this study, the following findings were deduced. First, the results of leisure specialization and place attachment indicated the Korean recreational mountain climbers purported ‘lessened specialization’ in specialization and ‘enjoying and appreciation’ in the area of place attachment. Second, in the analysis of classification and meaning of a pro environmental behavior, the subjects showed a ‘learning’ meaning which indicates an understanding of a common property and dissemination of common thoughts. Third, ‘a pro environmental’ factor was deduced through the meanings of 'a pure nature experience', 'aesthetical encounters', 'zone for the social changes', and 'enjoying leisure and nature prevention'. Finally, a passive pro-environmental behavior was classified as 'selfish nonchalance' and 'deviant behavior of professional elite'.
On the basis of both quantitative and qualitative analyses, the researcher concluded that recreational Korean mountain climbers ‘ leisure specialization’, ‘place attachment’and ‘a pro environmental behavior’could be named as ‘simple generalization’, ‘flexible place selection’ and a linear circulation of mountain climbing and environment’accordingly.
For further study, the researcher would like to suggest the following research questions. First, the subsequent research on Korean recreational mountain climbers should focus on the development of urbanization and peculiar Korean life styles. Second, a more advanced professionals' climbing behavior should be dealt with the same procedures for the comparison and social understandings. Third, a more verifiable variables should be added through a more rigorous review of literature and related studies. Fourth, scale development for the place attachment and leisure specialization should be made. Fifth, a further study on avoidance leisure participation theme is strongly recommended. Sixth, an expansion of education for outdoor recreation and life-long education should be considered seriously.