Process and Outputs

Process

All data are provided by the state park agencies for their respective states. Where exact data are not collected by certain states, those states are requested to estimate as accurately as possible rather than omit responses altogether. Reasonable efforts were made to ensure the accuracy and completeness of all reported data. For example, data entries were compared with the previous year’s data to identify unusual changes, and total values were checked for possible calculation errors. Apparent input errors were marked on the draft reports to facilitate review and correction by the states. For these and other possible errors, individual states were contacted to verify the data items in question.

The AIX Report contains only tabulated raw data. Analysis and interpretation are the responsibility of the individual user. While all fifty state park systems share common attributes, they vary considerably from state to state. For this reason, total comparability among the reported data cannot be achieved. However, an effort has been made to devise common denominators that allow a useful degree of comparison.

Products and their use

The AIX reports and associated database are designed and intended primarily for use by the State Park directors and their staff for various purposes, such as identifying program, facility and personnel needs, formulating budget requests for state legislatures, and comparing their programs with those of the other states. Over the years, the AIX database has been increasingly requested by academic/research entities, other governmental agencies, and business and the industry.

Scholarly analysis using the AIX Database

The AIX database has supported other national statistical reports, as well as trends and comparative analyses conducted by the research team or other colleagues.

Informing policy

Longitudinal trends also support information that is shared with policymakers.