Faculty and Student Research
Our faculty are involved in a variety of research agenda that involved the local and international communities, government agencies and for-profit and nonprofit organizations.
Students are encouraged to reach out to the faculty listed below for possible research volunteer or paid research assistant opportunities. For community agencies, we welcome opportunities to discuss sponsored research and evaluations.
Research topics include:
- Travel and tourism
- Parks and recreation
- Youth development and nature
- Open space and wildlife
- Health and wellness
- Other related areas
Faculty Publications
We examine tourists’ attitudes, intention to act, and behaviors as a result of engaging in our local eco-tour in Half Moon Bay, California to a socially responsible tour to the Ecuadorian Amazon with Amazon Watch.
Faculty: Pavlína Látková, Jackson Wilson
Publications and Presentation:
- Jackowitz, L., Látková, P., Tierney, P., & Strebel, J. (2016). Understanding Coastal Tourists' Behavioral Intentions toward Nature-based Experiences. Journal of Tourism Insights, 7(1), 6.
- Duplaisir, H., Látková, P., Wilson, J., & Everette, M. (2018). Impacts of participation in socially responsible tourism on tourist's attitudes and future behavior. Journal of Tourism and Leisure Studies, 3(3/4), 1-19.
- Wilson, J. (2022). Comparison of the environmental impact of section hiking versus thru-hiking a long trail. Presentation at California Parks and Recreation Society.
We investigate the learning outcomes through outdoor adventure programming, experiential education, environmental education and outdoor recreation. We have examined a variety of outcomes, including healthy living for girls, psychological resilience through adventure experience, connection with nature through environmental education and more.
Faculty: Susie Barr-Wilson, Ben Kumli, Jackson Wilson and Aiko Yoshino
Publications:
- Barr-Wilson, S. K., & Roberts, N. S. (2016). Adolescent girls and body image: Influence of outdoor adventure on healthy living. Journal of Outdoor Recreation, Education and Leadership, 8(2), 148-165.
- Barr-Wilson, S. K. (2018). Empowering Girls and Women Through Experiential Education: A Peace Corps Volunteer’s Story. In The Palgrave International Handbook of Women and Outdoor Learning (pp. 673-690). Palgrave Macmillan, Cham.
- Wilson, J., & Kumli, B. (2019, August). College students’ definition of adventure: Three years of student generated videos. In Proceeding and Research Symposium (Vol. 1001, p. 62).
- Yoshino, A. (2019). Meanings of a 10-month outdoor recreation program for high-risk urban adolescents: A pilot youth program by East Bay Regional Park District. Poster presented at the Active Living Research Conference. February 17-20, 2019, Charleston, SC, February.
- Yoshino, A., & Dawson, E. (July, 2021). A mix-method study of promoting well-being and environmental literacy: East Bay Regional Park District’s Adventure Crew 10-month youth program.
- Yoshino, A., & *Corona, A. (May, 2018). The East Bay Regional Park District’s Adventure Crew/Richmond Rangers Youth Program: An inquiry into Program Outcomes and the Elements for Success (pp. 39). Oakland, CA: East Bay Regional Park District.
Student Featured Publications
The Restorative Potential of Coastal Walks
Advised by Jackson Wilson
How Park's Help Stress Reduction
Collaboration with Aiko Yoshino
Changes in Volunteerism Perception
Advised by Pavlína Látková
Ongoing Research
Our faculty are engaged in ongoing research across a range of topics and areas of study. Current projects reflect their work within the field and with local and global communities.
Association of Qualities of Natural Environments and Health Outcomes
A series of experimental studies examine the health benefits of different qualities of natural environments. The current study is using VR technology to understand the relative important of sound and depth of view in natural environments.
Faculty: Jackson Wilson and Aiko Yoshino
Nature and Health with Equity
The exposures to natural environment have tremendous impacts on our well-being, yet the disproportionate benefits on people from some racial and ethnic groups with low-income household is real. We continue to understand the barriers and strategies for the urban communities, specifically Black, Indigenous, People of Color, who are living in a low-income community.
Faculty: Aiko Yoshino
Long Trails
Some people may have heard about the Appalachian Trail, Pacific Crest Trail and/or Continental Divide Trail. However, there are many more long trails in the US and elsewhere. How do choices about these trails are developed lead to differences in environmental, experiential, and economic impacts as well as user and non-user benefits?
Faculty: Jackson Wilson
Online Education
During the period of emergency remote instruction, we shifted from having a small percentage of faculty teaching online to nearly all faculty teaching that way. Dr. Wilson is continuing his long history of research into the efficacy of learning modes through a current investigation into bichronous learning (both synchronous and asynchronous online learning).
Faculty: Jackson Wilson