This page has only limited features, please log in for full access.

Dr. Jeffrey Skibins
Department of Recreation Sciences, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858-4353, USA

Basic Info

Basic Info is private.

Research Keywords & Expertise

0 Ecotourism
0 Interpretation
0 Wildlife tourism
0 Conservation psychology
0 Human dimensions of wildlife

Honors and Awards

The user has no records in this section


Career Timeline

The user has no records in this section.


Short Biography

The user biography is not available.
Following
Followers
Co Authors
The list of users this user is following is empty.
Following: 0 users

Feed

Journal article
Published: 29 June 2021 in Social Sciences & Humanities Open
Reads 0
Downloads 0

Worldwide mobile devices have become ubiquitous including for visitors to parks and protected areas. Wireless communication technologies, such as Wi-Fi access and cellular network service, are also common but not all parks and protected areas provide these services. Wireless communication technologies could alter the visitor experience, however little is known about visitor preferences for Wi-Fi access and cellular network service nor about experiential outcomes of mobile device usage in natural settings. Therefore, the purpose of this research was twofold: to understand visitor preferences for Wi-Fi access and cellular network service, and experiential outcomes of mobile device usage. The study site for this research was Shenandoah National Park (n = 1442). Using k-means clustering analysis, data were clustered into visitor groups and statistically compared to gain insight into patterns of responses. Visitors mostly reported neutral preferences for Wi-Fi access and cellular network service except for cell service park-wide in all national parks was reported as important. One group of visitors (n = 239) reported that these technologies were unimportant and mobile device usage diminishes their experience. Analysis was also conducted to investigate preferences across age, which showed older demographics reported both cell service park-wide and cell service park-wide in all national parks as important. This information is relevant for management decisions regarding wireless communication technologies access and availability within parks and protected areas.

ACS Style

Brian A. Peterson; Jessica P. Fefer; Ryan L. Sharp; Michael M. Brunson; Jeffrey C. Skibins. To connect or not to connect: Visitor preferences for Wi-Fi and cellular network service at a national park. Social Sciences & Humanities Open 2021, 4, 100179 .

AMA Style

Brian A. Peterson, Jessica P. Fefer, Ryan L. Sharp, Michael M. Brunson, Jeffrey C. Skibins. To connect or not to connect: Visitor preferences for Wi-Fi and cellular network service at a national park. Social Sciences & Humanities Open. 2021; 4 (1):100179.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Brian A. Peterson; Jessica P. Fefer; Ryan L. Sharp; Michael M. Brunson; Jeffrey C. Skibins. 2021. "To connect or not to connect: Visitor preferences for Wi-Fi and cellular network service at a national park." Social Sciences & Humanities Open 4, no. 1: 100179.

Journal article
Published: 23 February 2021 in Sustainability
Reads 0
Downloads 0

The environmental identity (EID) scale, first published in 2003, was developed to measure individual differences in a stable sense of interdependence and connectedness with nature. Since then, it has been reliably correlated with measures of environmental behavior and concern. However, the original scale was developed based on U.S. college students, raising questions about its validity for other types of populations. This study revised the EID scale and tested it in five countries (four continents) with a total sample size of 1717 participants. Results support strong internal consistency across all locations. Importantly, EID was significantly correlated with behavior and with environmental concern. This research gives us greater confidence that the EID construct is meaningful across different cultural contexts. Because the revised EID was designed to be relevant to a wider range of people and experiences, it is recommended as a replacement for the 2003 version.

ACS Style

Susan Clayton; Sandor Czellar; Sonya Nartova-Bochaver; Jeffrey Skibins; Gabby Salazar; Yu-Chi Tseng; Boris Irkhin; Fredy Monge-Rodriguez. Cross-Cultural Validation of A Revised Environmental Identity Scale. Sustainability 2021, 13, 2387 .

AMA Style

Susan Clayton, Sandor Czellar, Sonya Nartova-Bochaver, Jeffrey Skibins, Gabby Salazar, Yu-Chi Tseng, Boris Irkhin, Fredy Monge-Rodriguez. Cross-Cultural Validation of A Revised Environmental Identity Scale. Sustainability. 2021; 13 (4):2387.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Susan Clayton; Sandor Czellar; Sonya Nartova-Bochaver; Jeffrey Skibins; Gabby Salazar; Yu-Chi Tseng; Boris Irkhin; Fredy Monge-Rodriguez. 2021. "Cross-Cultural Validation of A Revised Environmental Identity Scale." Sustainability 13, no. 4: 2387.

Research note
Published: 17 December 2020 in Journal of Ecotourism
Reads 0
Downloads 0

A key outcome for ecotourism is providing conservation benefits. These benefits are of particular concern when experiences include wildlife. One mechanism for delivering conservation benefits is tourists’ participation in pro-conservation behaviors (PCB). Conservation psychology provides a framework to understand how ecotourism experiences facilitate PCB. Environmental epiphanies (EE) and conservation caring are two constructs that can model the relationship between experiences and PCB. The purpose of this study was to explore (1) if arctic tourism is capable of stimulating an EE; (2) conservation caring levels, and (3) the relationship between EE and conservation caring. Data were obtained from 72 tourists aboard an arctic cruise. Thirty-nine percent experienced an EE during the trip. Tourists who experienced an EE had significantly higher conservation caring scores than those who did not experience an EE (p < .01). Results support ecotourism experiences can connect people to nature, which in turn is a strong PCB predictor.

ACS Style

Jennie M. Warmouth; Jeffrey C. Skibins; Melinda Storie; Gwyneth Schuler. Melting the ice: arctic tourists’ epiphanies and connections to wildlife. Journal of Ecotourism 2020, 20, 89 -97.

AMA Style

Jennie M. Warmouth, Jeffrey C. Skibins, Melinda Storie, Gwyneth Schuler. Melting the ice: arctic tourists’ epiphanies and connections to wildlife. Journal of Ecotourism. 2020; 20 (1):89-97.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Jennie M. Warmouth; Jeffrey C. Skibins; Melinda Storie; Gwyneth Schuler. 2020. "Melting the ice: arctic tourists’ epiphanies and connections to wildlife." Journal of Ecotourism 20, no. 1: 89-97.

Journal article
Published: 26 October 2020 in Visitor Studies
Reads 0
Downloads 0
ACS Style

Ashley Kelly; Jeffrey C. Skibins. Inspiring Wildlife Conservation Behaviors through Innovations in Zoo Exhibit Design. Visitor Studies 2020, 24, 79 -99.

AMA Style

Ashley Kelly, Jeffrey C. Skibins. Inspiring Wildlife Conservation Behaviors through Innovations in Zoo Exhibit Design. Visitor Studies. 2020; 24 (1):79-99.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Ashley Kelly; Jeffrey C. Skibins. 2020. "Inspiring Wildlife Conservation Behaviors through Innovations in Zoo Exhibit Design." Visitor Studies 24, no. 1: 79-99.

Research articles
Published: 02 January 2019 in Visitor Studies
Reads 0
Downloads 0

This article explores enablers and inhibitors of emotional engagement between visitors and Tasmanian devils at Healesville Sanctuary, Australia. A qualitative research approach was utilized including 44 interviews (ten with staff and 34 with visitors) and eight hours of observations of 622 visitors. Findings are presented in relation to six themes: (a) visitors’ motivations for viewing Tasmanian devils, (b) visitors’ emotional responses to Tasmanian devils, (c) role of previsit expectations, (d) species’ attributes inhibiting emotional engagement, (e) species' attributes enabling emotional engagement, and (f) elements of exhibit design and interpretation influencing emotional engagement. Results show clear views of active animals, first-person interpretation, and an understanding of conservation threats were enablers of forming an emotional connection. Inability to view animals and general misconceptions of devils were inhibitors of forming an emotional connection. Implications for exhibit management, interpretation, and conservation are discussed.

ACS Style

Kevin Markwell; Betty Weiler; Jeffrey C. Skibins; Robert Saunders. Sympathy for the Devil? Uncovering Inhibitors and Enablers of Emotional Engagement Between Zoo Visitors and the Tasmanian Devil,Sarcophilus harrisi. Visitor Studies 2019, 22, 84 -103.

AMA Style

Kevin Markwell, Betty Weiler, Jeffrey C. Skibins, Robert Saunders. Sympathy for the Devil? Uncovering Inhibitors and Enablers of Emotional Engagement Between Zoo Visitors and the Tasmanian Devil,Sarcophilus harrisi. Visitor Studies. 2019; 22 (1):84-103.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Kevin Markwell; Betty Weiler; Jeffrey C. Skibins; Robert Saunders. 2019. "Sympathy for the Devil? Uncovering Inhibitors and Enablers of Emotional Engagement Between Zoo Visitors and the Tasmanian Devil,Sarcophilus harrisi." Visitor Studies 22, no. 1: 84-103.

Articles
Published: 10 December 2018 in Journal of Ecotourism
Reads 0
Downloads 0

Advances in conservation psychology have demonstrated a growing public demand for connections to nature in general, and wildlife specifically. Charismatic megafauna have been used as flagship species, as they possess many characteristics to which the public can relate. Internet based webcams are emerging as an egalitarian mediator for bringing flagship exposure to the global public. This study examined if flagship exposure via a webcam was able to produce desired flagship responses, and if online responses were comparable to onsite experiences. A quantitative survey of Katmai National Park and Preserve brown bear viewers yielded 235 on-site and 5628 online responses. Real time, online viewing of brown bears was highly effective in generating flagship responses within viewers and the ability of online viewing to generate a positive emotional connection to bears was observed. Webcams can provide a global reach, minimize impacts, overcome socio-economic barriers, and provide multiple points of engagement across cultures.

ACS Style

Jeffery C. Skibins; Ryan L. Sharp. Binge watching bears: efficacy of real vs. virtual flagship exposure. Journal of Ecotourism 2018, 18, 152 -164.

AMA Style

Jeffery C. Skibins, Ryan L. Sharp. Binge watching bears: efficacy of real vs. virtual flagship exposure. Journal of Ecotourism. 2018; 18 (2):152-164.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Jeffery C. Skibins; Ryan L. Sharp. 2018. "Binge watching bears: efficacy of real vs. virtual flagship exposure." Journal of Ecotourism 18, no. 2: 152-164.

Original articles
Published: 14 December 2017 in Journal of Ecotourism
Reads 0
Downloads 0

Proximity, the physical distance between visitors and wildlife, has been suggested as a potential factor contributing to high-quality wildlife viewing experiences. Managing visitor proximity to wildlife through interpretation and regulation is a recognized strategy to improve the safety of visitors and the species they encounter during ecotourism experiences in parks and protected areas. To further understand the important elements that influence proximity preferences for wildlife viewing, this study used an interpretivist approach to explore the experiences of visitors (n = 43) at Denali National Park & Preserve (Alaska, U.S.A). Results indicate that five interrelated themes influence visitors’ desired proximity to wildlife. Study findings also highlight the importance of park unit-specific management, and the need to manage at a unit-specific level the expectations for wildlife viewing proximity. Practitioners can use these findings to inform wildlife viewing management, increase visitor safety, and positively influence visitor experiences.

ACS Style

R. I. Verbos; C. A. B. Zajchowski; M. T. J. Brownlee; J. C. Skibins. ‘I’d like to be just a bit closer’: wildlife viewing proximity preferences at Denali National Park & Preserve. Journal of Ecotourism 2017, 17, 409 -424.

AMA Style

R. I. Verbos, C. A. B. Zajchowski, M. T. J. Brownlee, J. C. Skibins. ‘I’d like to be just a bit closer’: wildlife viewing proximity preferences at Denali National Park & Preserve. Journal of Ecotourism. 2017; 17 (4):409-424.

Chicago/Turabian Style

R. I. Verbos; C. A. B. Zajchowski; M. T. J. Brownlee; J. C. Skibins. 2017. "‘I’d like to be just a bit closer’: wildlife viewing proximity preferences at Denali National Park & Preserve." Journal of Ecotourism 17, no. 4: 409-424.