Transcript Does religion influence hiking trail ethics?

Does religion influence hiking
trail ethics?
Mary Katherine Osborn,Victoria A. McLain, Richard A.
Hudiburg, and Larry W. Bates, University of North
Alabama, Florence, AL
Why do people hike?
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Little research has been conducted on why people hike.
Goldenberg, Hill, and Feidt (2008) found several reasons why people
participate in hiking (i.e., self-reliance, self-fulfillment, trail
relationships, enjoyment).These reports are anecdotal. There is need
for empirical research to determine the reasons why people hike and
to what the hiking experience is associated.
Anecdotal data suggest that experiences with nature (while hiking)
are mystical.
Some long-distant hikers have an ethos that is near religious
adherence to trail ethics.
The “Leave No Trace” program emphasizes that people minimize
their impact on the environment while engaging in activities like
hiking.
Religion and experiences with nature
One of the experiences with nature has been
described in terms of “awe-inspiring”.
 Ladd and Ladd (2011) found that persons high in
religious fundamentalism tend to focus more on
close-up photographs while low religious
fundamentalists tend to enjoy wide-angle shots.
 Hikers tend to take many photographs during
hikes and Hull and Stewart (1995) have examined
what photographs are more pleasurable.
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Experiencing nature and ethics
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Stuessy, Hardy, and Anderson (2009) have
studied the ethics of nature in a sample of
mountain climbers. They developed a measure
of different dimensions of environmental
ethics: Practical, Metaphysical-Holistic, and
Religiously Inspired.
There have been several lists of ethical
behaviors developed by various organizations
as guides to participants in natural settings
(i.e., Leave No Trace, Arizona Trailblazers
Hiking Club). None of these lists have been
systematically developed as measures of
theoretical constructs of ethical behaviors in
nature.
Purpose of Current Research
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To study hikers aspects of religious beliefs,
environmental ethics, trail ethical behavior
and to what degree religious beliefs affect
these ethics and appreciation for various
aspects of nature photography.
Research Methodology
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Measurement Instruments:
◦ Post Critical Beliefs Scale – measures transcendence and
literalness in religion (Duriez, Soenens, & Hutsbaut,
2005)
◦ Quest Scale – measures existential questioning versus
that of an established and unchanging faith belief (Batson
& Schoenrade, 1991a, 1991b)
◦ Environmental Ethics Scale – measures three dimension
of environmental ethics (Stuessy, et al., 2009)
◦ Hiking Trail Ethics Questionnaire – measures ethical
behavior on hiking trails (to be developed)
◦ Photographs – 18 photographs to be rated on several
variables including inspiring and pleasantness
◦ Demographic Questionnaire – data for basic
demographic information from research participants
such as age, religious affiliation, hiking experience, etc.
Research Methodology
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Research participants
◦ Study sample of current hikers and
hikers who have hiked long distances
in the past
◦ Control sample of college students
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Data collection sites
◦ Southern terminus of Appalachian
Trail, Springer Mountain, GA
◦ Northern terminus of Appalachian
Trail, Mount Katahdin, ME
◦ Harper’s Ferry, WV - the midpoint of
Appalachian Trail
◦ Other points on the Appalachian Trail
in Tennessee and North Carolina
◦ Posted announcements on hiking
forums (i.e., White Blaze)
Data Collection
Potential hiker participants will be
invited to participate in the study
and will be given a carabineer to
visit a website. This website will
provide for anonymous responses
to rate the photographs, complete
the various measurement
instruments.
 Potential college students will be
solicited at the University of North
Alabama and given directions to
complete the ratings of
photographs and measurement
instruments.
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Expected Outcomes
H1: Hikers with more
fundamentalist religious
views will be more detailed
orientated and will be more
repsective of trail ethics.
 H2: Hikers more in search
of spiritual experiences
from nature experience will
have greater respect for
trail ethics.
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References
Batson, C. D., & Schoenrade, P. (1991a). Measuring religion as quest: 1.Validity concerns.
Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, 30, 416-429.
Batson, C. D., & Schoenrade, P. (1991b). Measuring religion as quest 2: Reliability
concerns. Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, 30, 430-447.
Duriez, B., Soenens, B., & Hutsebaut, D. (2005). Introducing the shortened Post-Critical
Belief Scale. Personality & Individual Differences, 38(4), 851-857.
Goldenberg, M., Hill, E., Freidt, B. (2008). Why individuals hike the Appalachian Trail; A
qualitative approach to benefits. Journal of Experiential Education, 30 (3), 277-281.
Hull, R., & Stewart, W. P. (1995). The landscape encountered and experienced while hiking.
Environment and Behavior, 27(3), 404-426.
Ladd, K. L., & Ladd, M. L. (2011, October). Prayer vision: How prayer styles and seeing the
physical world align. Paper presented at the 2011 annual meeting of the Society for
the Scientific Study of Religion, Milwaukee, WI.
Stuessy, T., Harding, J., & Anderson, J. (2009). Environmental ethics of rock climbers in the
Adirondacks. Journal of Outdoor Recreations, Education, and Leadership, 1(1), 76-96
Acknowledgements
This research is partially supported
by a research grant from the
College of Arts and Sciences of the
University of North Alabama.
 Mary Catherine Osborn, Victoria
McLain, and Benjamin Tate will
contact hiker participants at the
northern and southern termini and
mid-point of the Appalachian Trail
 Larry Bates and Richard Hudiburg
will contact hiker participants on
the Appalachian Trail in North
Carolina and Tennessee.
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