Item: WHERE DO WE GO? CONTEXTUAL FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO DAY TOUR CHOICES AMONG BACKCOUNTRY SKIERS AND RIDERS
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Title: WHERE DO WE GO? CONTEXTUAL FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO DAY TOUR CHOICES AMONG BACKCOUNTRY SKIERS AND RIDERS
Proceedings: International Snow Science Workshop Proceedings 2023, Bend, Oregon
Authors:
- Eeva Latosuo [ Alaska Pacific University, Anchorage, AK, USA ]
- Eeva Mäkelä [ HUMAK, Helsinki, Finland ]
Date: 2023-10-08
Abstract: Understanding how people make decisions in the avalanche environment is critical to support their personal risk management. Decision-making in the avalanche terrain has been approached from a wide variety of disciplines including risk communication, cognitive theory, behavioral economics, and social psychology (for example St. Clair et al., 2021; Maguire & Percival 2018; Mannberg et al., 2021). Research on avalanche decision-making frameworks (Landrø et al. 2020) suggests that providing structure for sense-making of the complex information improves the quality of decisions in the avalanche environment. However, the role of context in choice-making has been sparse in the avalanche literature. Our work investigates context from the perspective of committed backcountry skiers and riders. We focused on the broad-scope variables that impact individuals' decisions on where to do their preferred activity. Analyzing the different elements, such as information sharing, group membership, and logistical requirements, improved our understanding of the relevant context in which people decide where to go skiing and riding. This longitudinal research collected data using online questionnaires for two months in the winter 2021-22. The participants (n= 90) from Alaska, Washington, Oregon, California, Colorado and Idaho responded to six weekly questions about the factors that contributed to their choice of trip location. The dataset includes self-reported information on over 500 tour days. There is a whole lot more going on than checking the weather report and avalanche forecast before showing up at the trailhead. Recreational backcountry skiers and riders make their destination choices using a wide array of contextual attributes beyond avalanche information and terrain characteristics. Examples of key factors include partnership, information availability, and personal motivations.
Object ID: ISSW2023_O8.03.pdf
Language of Article: English
Presenter(s): Eeva Latosuo
Keywords: decision-making, contextual factors, user research
Page Number(s): 612 - 618
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