An examination of the interrelationships between energy consumption and leisure activities : a case study of Victoria, British Columbia

dc.contributor.authorKuhn, Richard G. (Richard George)en_US
dc.date.accessioned2024-08-14T18:34:03Z
dc.date.available2024-08-14T18:34:03Z
dc.date.copyright1983en_US
dc.date.issued1983
dc.degree.departmentDepartment of Geography
dc.degree.levelMaster of Arts M.A.en
dc.description.abstractThis thesis examines the interrelationships between energy consumption/conservation and recreation and leisure activities. The behavioral approach developed by geographers in the field of resource management is utilized, and a questionnaire survey undertaken, to test hypotheses formed from a review of the relevant literature and past research conducted by the author. The first part reviews the development and application of the behavioral methodology with a focus on natural hazard research. The extension of this methodology into the area of energy conservation research is then discussed. It is noted that conceptual similarities between natural hazards and energy scarcity exist in that they may both be viewed as "negative resources." Thus, no new methodological frame­work is necessary to establish and test hypotheses. The remainder of the literature review focuses on studies under­taken on recreation and leisure activities and energy con­sumption. The second part of the thesis reports the results from a questionnaire survey conducted by the author in Greater Victoria. A diverse amount of information was collected, including: attitudes toward energy issues, energy conser­vation practices adopted, ownership of recreation equipment, participation in recreation and leisure activities and per­ceived energy intensiveness of recreation and leisure act­ivities. The conclusions show that individuals are generally reluctant to modify their leisure behavior in response to energy scarcity or price increases. Differences in atti­tudes, socio-economic characteristics and equipment owner­ship did not alter their reported behavior. However, it was found that respondents consistently underestimated the energy intensiveness of all recreation and leisure activi­ties they participated in, a factor which may, in part, be responsible for the general unwillingness to modify leisure behavior. Finally, this study has shown the applicability of the behavioral methodology as developed in hazard res­earch to be valid as an initial starting point in developing a more wideranging and rigorous methodological framework relevant to all studies concerned with environmental resources.
dc.format.extent151 pages
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/1828/18504
dc.rightsAvailable to the World Wide Weben_US
dc.titleAn examination of the interrelationships between energy consumption and leisure activities : a case study of Victoria, British Columbiaen_US
dc.typeThesisen_US

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