Toward an Understanding of Norm Prevalence: A Comparative Analysis of 20 Years of Research.

摘要: MAUREEN P. DONNELLYJERRY J. VASKEDOUG WHITTAKERColorado State UniversityFort Collins, Colorado 80523, USABO SHELBYOregon UniversityCorvallis, Oregon 97331, USAABSTRACT / Norms are defined as evaluative standardsregarding individual behavior or conditions in a given con-text. They define what should be, rather than actualbehavior. Norm prevalence refers to the proportion of indi-viduals population who can articulate norm givenevaluation context. This paper empirically examines theprevalence encounter norms 56 evaluation contexts.Data for this comparative analysis were obtained from 30studies that used single-item question asking recreation-ists indicate highest number encounters they wouldtolerate before experience changed. Four predictor vari-ables examined: (1) type resource, (2) activ-ity, (3) encounter, and (4) response format.As anticipated, varied by resource(backcountry frontcountry), (no conflictversus conflict), format (two-cat-egory implicit, two-category explicit, three-category).These three independent variables explained 64% thevariance prevalence. Also hypothesized, therewas no relationship between activity (consumptive ornonconsumptive) Implications fu-ture research management discussed; it is arguedthat an important characteristic socialnorms.