At A Glance
Noteworthy Characteristics
- Survey is unique in its focus on active and passive recreational activities engaged in by individuals.
- Main survey of individuals ages 16 years and older indicates whether the household includes children younger than age 16, providing an indicator of outdoor activity modeling by adults in households with children.
- Lifestyle module includes questions relevant to diet and physical activity practices within the household.
- Provides information on barriers to outdoor activity, such as safety concerns, and participation in indoor active and passive recreational activities.
- Uses Census Bureau survey protocols.
- Trend data available.
Website
http://www.srs.fs.usda.gov/trends/Nsre/nsre2.html
Purpose
To collect data about participation in outdoor recreational activities, and related behaviors and attitudes for individuals in the United States (U.S.).
Target Population
Civilian, non-institutionalized individuals ages 16 years and older in the U.S.
Conducted
Began in 1960 as the National Recreation Survey (renamed in 1994-1995). Conducted periodically (1960, 1965, 1970, 1972, 1977, 1982-1983, 1994-1995, 1999-2001, and 2005-2011). Most recent year conducted was 2010.
Sponsor
National Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture
Special Note(s)
Contact:
Dr. Ken Cordell
USDA Forest Service
Southern Research Station, SRS-4901
Forestry Sciences Laboratory
320 Green Street
Athens, GA 306079
Sampling
Sample Design
Cross-sectional, random sampling. Learn more about the NSRE sampling design.
Sample Size
Approximately 30,000 individuals total over five years, from 2005 to 2010.
Key Variables
Demographic
| Name | Methods of Assessment |
|---|---|
| Sex | Interview/questionnaire |
| Age group | Interview/questionnaire |
| Race/ethnicity | Interview/questionnaire |
| Citizenship and country of origin | Interview/questionnaire |
| Children in the household younger than 16 years and younger than 6 years | Interview/questionnaire |
| Number of household members by age, sex, and family status | Interview/questionnaire |
| Education level | Interview/questionnaire |
| Occupation and employment status | Interview/questionnaire |
| Rural/urban residence | Interview/questionnaire |
| Age of child (bicycle helmet use module and National Kids Survey) | Interview/questionnaire |
| Gender of child (bicycle helmet use module and National Kids Survey) | Interview/questionnaire |
| Race/ethnicity of child (National Kids Survey) | Interview/questionnaire |
| Household income | Interview/questionnaire |
Diet-Related
| Name | Methods of Assessment |
|---|---|
| Eat out or order take out at least twice a week | Interview/questionnaire |
| Most of the meals cooked at home | Interview/questionnaire |
| Grow vegetables or fruit in garden | Interview/questionnaire |
Physical Activity-Related
| Name | Methods of Assessment |
|---|---|
| Number of days participated in specific outdoor recreational activity (e.g., walking, hiking, kayaking, backpacking, snowboarding) during the past year | Interview/questionnaire |
| Favorite outdoor activities | Interview/questionnaire |
| Constraints on outdoor activities (e.g., lack of money; lack of time due to work, family, or other obligations; health restrictions; lack of companion for activity; inadequate transportation; pollution) | Interview/questionnaire |
| Children’s bicycle use in past year | Interview/questionnaire |
| Frequency of child’s bicycle riding in past month | Interview/questionnaire |
| Children’s bicycle helmet ownership | Interview/questionnaire |
| Exercise at least 3 times a week | Interview/questionnaire |
| TV watching 3 or more hours per day | Interview/questionnaire |
| Take frequent walks in neighborhood | Interview/questionnaire |
| Ride a bicycle to work or for other transportation | Interview/questionnaire |
Other
| Name | Methods of Assessment |
|---|---|
| Devote most of lifestyle to raising children under the age of 12 | Interview/questionnaire |
Special Note(s)
Not all variables are included in all iterations of the survey. Outdoor recreation participation and demographics are the only core variables that are always included.
Data Access and Cost
Data Availability
Obtain data by completing (with signature) a "Certification Agreement for Access" and "User Analysis Plan". Submit forms to:
Dr. Ken Cordell
USDA Forest Service
Southern Research Station, SRS-4901
Forestry Sciences Laboratory
320 Green Street
Athens, GA 306079
Cost
Free of charge.
Geocode/Linkage
Geocode Variable(s)
Region, county, zip code.
Existing Linkages
None found.
Selected Publications
Physical Activity-Related
Cordell HK and Green GT. National Kids Survey Part IV: Favorite Activities for Spending Time Outdoors. Internet Information Series (IRIS) Research Report. Athens (GA): University of Georgia, September 2009.
Cordell HK, Betz CJ, Green GT, Dunleavy PG. Part V: Kids Outdoors Summary. Internet Information Series (IRIS) Research Report. Athens (GA): University of Georgia, July 2010.
Cordell HK, Betz CJ, Green GT. National Kids Survey Part III: What do kids do outdoors? Internet Information Series (IRIS) Research Report. Athens (GA): University of Georgia, June 2009.
Cordell HK, Betz CJ, Green GT. Nature-based outdoor recreation trends and wilderness. International Journal of Wilderness 2008;14(2):7-13.
Cordell HK, Green GT, Betz CJ. Long-term National Trends in Outdoor Recreation Activity Participation—1980 to Now Internet Information Series (IRIS) Research Report. Athens (GA): University of Georgia, May 2009.
Cordell HK. The latest on trends in nature-based outdoor recreation. Forest History Today 2008:4-10.
Methods
Cordell HK, Betz CJ, Green GT, Mou S, Leeworthy VR, Wiley PC, Barry JJ, Hellerstein D. Outdoor recreation for 21st century America: A report to the nation: the National Survey on Recreation and the Environment. State College, PA: Venture Publishing, 2004. 293 pages.
Schuett MA, Warnick RB, Lu J. A qualitative analysis of national outdoor recreation surveys. Journal of Park and Recreation Administration 2009;27(2):46-59.
