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phreekenstein
Viener Schnitzel
Joined: 18 May 2012
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Posts: 3
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   Topic: Whitewater Kayaking Study of Motivation
Posted: 24 May 2012 at 11:06am |
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Greetings Fellow Paddlers,
My name is Jon Evans and I am a Graduate Student at Clemson University studying the motivations of whitewater kayakers. I am inviting you to participate in this research to identify the motivations of paddlers and its affect on participation. The survey should take about 10 minutes to complete.
The purpose of this study is to measure basic needs, identify the motivations of whitewater kayakers and determine if those motivations impact paddler’s participation in the sport of whitewater kayaking. Motivations of whitewater kayakers are mostly assumed since no studies have been conducted assessing needs and their correlation to motivation.
The importance of the study may include, but is not limited to, providing insight for the “why” aspect of paddling, assist in discussions where policy makers are concerned regarding stereotypes of paddlers, and in the development of programs or trainings for instructors.
If you would like to participate in this research please follow the link provided below.
LINK TO SURVEY:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/DGBJTTG
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Mark47n
Splat Wheeler
Joined: 22 Mar 2012
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Posts: 115
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Posted: 25 May 2012 at 7:30am |
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I'm in agreement with Slickhorn. It seems that you really focused on the social aspect, but I don't paddle for social reasons, the involvement of others comes mostly from safety. That's not to say that I don't like some of the people I've met on the river, but that's not the reason I do it.
I also thought the question about being proud about telling people that I'm a WW paddler was really weird and off putting. I would hardly say that I'm proud of it, I just am. I'm proud of my accomplishments. What I do, I do because I'm compelled to. I'm also compelled to go up, preferably by the steepest and most technically demanding method possible, like I'm compelled to sleep, eat and breathe. I can fight it but I just have to do it.
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You mean I'm supposed to wear something UNDER my spray skirt? Where's the fun in that?
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osmelendez
McNasty
Joined: 07 Apr 2012
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Posts: 367
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Posted: 25 May 2012 at 10:24pm |
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I think that this is an interesting topic and I've been considering a project somewhat along these lines. I don't think I will be taking this survey after what you guys posted but I have another idea you may want to consider. I wanted to produce a short film/documentary of class IV boaters stepping up to do class V rapids. The story would show the emotion, training, reasoning, communication, portages, swims, fear, worry, anxiety, joy, celebrations, etc. and the rivers behind the journey of stepping up to be class V boaters. I'd need both class IV and V boaters for the project.
Sorry to post this on your thread phreekenstein, so I'll stop right there. But if someone is interested in this then PM me. Thanks.
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phreekenstein
Viener Schnitzel
Joined: 18 May 2012
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Posts: 3
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Posted: 26 May 2012 at 8:08pm |
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I understand their positions about the survey and can appreciate the feedback, however, the instrument is designed and tested with reliabilities over three decades in more studies than I can count. I would ask that you reconsider taking the survey and trust the methodologies.
As for the project you mentioned, there was a qualitative study done in the late nineties very similar to the topic you mentioned. If you are looking for a theoretical framework for the project (if it is school related) take a look at Terror Management Theory. Really interesting stuff.
This study is the first in a three part series involving kayakers, then canoeists, and eventually rafters where a comparison will be made. I have been a paddler for 27 years to date and felt compelled to study the sport from a perspective that we, as paddlers, have always assumed what we know about the "why" aspect of paddling.
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osmelendez
McNasty
Joined: 07 Apr 2012
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Posts: 367
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Posted: 26 May 2012 at 10:42pm |
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I'll go ahead and take a look at the survey and stop being stuck up about it. My apologies.
The project that I'm working on is geared more towards the art of story telling and will natural consist of all the elements mentioned. Story telling through a lens, however, is always a ton of work and it would take quite a bit to get it off the ground. I'm a class IV boater and I'll probably be a class V boater long before I could even get the ball rollin' on this. Is not a school project its just a hobby just like kayaking.
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thad2000
Tricky Woo
Joined: 20 Jul 2011
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Posts: 225
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Posted: 27 May 2012 at 8:22pm |
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(ossy)You might want a different thread.. I have a couple comments I'd like to make about the survey.. but I don't want to mess up the result.`` (phreek) Interesting. I'd like to know the underlying hypothesis and what the results thus far are suggesting. ..
a survey of outliers? ( to no one particular) So far i've met few people, but I think all their reasons for boating are unique.
I think the lessor part is the social aspect.
I'm very new.. but I think there is an escape that happens when all your focus is demanded. As a teen I did a great deal of bridge and cliff jumping. I always loved that moment right before impact when my mind would go absolutely clear. I think most kayakers get a little of that. Many more like taming nature, functioning proficiently where most people would be panicked. Of-course, I'm just stating the obvious. .. I'm also am not operating proficiently anyplace.
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why not!
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jP
Rio Banditos
Diddle Fuerte Diablo !
Joined: 15 Oct 2005
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 4404
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Posted: 29 May 2012 at 6:44pm |
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I would ask Dr. Phreekenstien more about his motivations for the survey, which he briefly touched upon, but also about any third party. Who, if anyone, is backing this survey and why? What is their motivation for studying me and MY culture?
Plenty of server farms have plenty of info about me. I'm not interested nor do I have a need to furnish anyone with more. This technology is so full of holes, and so disrespectful of a citezens privacy that I increasingly don't want to be open. I am being open about this here and now because it needs to be said. It is the elephant in the room. Sorry, Dr. Phreekenstien- I am sure YOUR motivations are genuine, but I'm sure you'll understand if I tell you that I simply can't just automaticly trust you. Never seen your name on these forums, and never met you on the river (as far as I am aware- if I'm wrong I apologise).
My motivation for getting on the river lies in getting the hell away from people who want me to take surveys, among many, many other reasons. Those reasons shift all the time. They change and recombine from season to season, and just as much from trip to trip. My motives for kayaking or racing on a class V run are entirely different from my motives when I lead a beginner down their first river trip, or when I take a six pack down in a raft. Those motives will again differ depending on who those six people are and what THEIR motives are for booking the trip. I hit the water in so mamy different types of craft on such varying stretches of water, that it is really all over the map. My motivations for returning to the Little White Salmon, or the Tilton, are entirely different for my motivation for hiking into the Grand Canyon Elwha, or paddling the Spokane river.
Anyway, I went and checked it out and also found it very limiting. In order for me to survey the survey, if you will,,I pretty much was forced to fill it out, leaving me with a sense of feeling trapped. Then, having filled it out and reaching the end, I tried to exit the survey thinking it would not get processed, but I was wrong!
So it is a good thing I answered each question falsely.
Sorry- I'm a skeptic. And most of the questions seemed like bullsh*t.
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🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋🐋
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James
Admin
Sum Dum Guy
Joined: 31 Dec 2004
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Posts: 3598
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Posted: 30 May 2012 at 8:14am |
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Phreek,
General Comment: I move a bunch of posts into a new thread as to try and keep this semi on topic for the benefit of Phreek. If you take the time to make a survey and plan a project around it I figure we can do our best to keep it on topic so maybe you get responses.
My Feedback
I started to take the survey but after a few pages It started feeling redundant and then I closed the window because the little hampster turning the wheel in my head lost interest and went back to nibbling on his carrot... Sorry you gotta keep that guy focused on the mission or my wheel stops turning.
So I would make a suggestion, perhaps have a side link that people can just write a little comment on, maybe shorten the thing. I dunno. My response would be something like this.
I started boating because it was fun and I met people that I thought were fun and we had fun.
Then I started boating harder stuff because it was challenging and I thought that was fun and when you do something scary it can feel fun afterwards.
Then I started making babies which as a general process is really FUN, and they are super fun but not in the same way.
Now I kayak because I miss having fun like I used too, and I miss my friends that are still having fun on the river. So I still get the same amount of fun just in different ways, and really at the end of the day you can find your Fun in many aspects of life... Some people never find kayaking Fun.... I did, do, will, shall, (all of the above)
But then again, I think of everything in terms of Fun, well not diapers or ear infections but you get the idea.
Edited by James - 30 May 2012 at 8:16am
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