This article was downloaded by: [York University Libraries] On: 01 February 2015, At: 23:12 Publisher: Routledge Informa Ltd Registered in England and Wales Registered Number: 1072954 Registered office: Mortimer House, 37-41 Mortimer Street, London W1T 3JH, UK
The Journal of Social Psychology Publication details, including instructions for authors and subscription information: http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/vsoc20
Air Pollution and Recreational Behavior a
Michael K. Chapko & Henry Solomon
a
a
Bowdoin College and Lehman College of the City University of New York , USA Published online: 01 Jul 2010.
To cite this article: Michael K. Chapko & Henry Solomon (1976) Air Pollution and Recreational Behavior, The Journal of Social Psychology, 100:1, 149-150, DOI: 10.1080/00224545.1976.9711919 To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00224545.1976.9711919
PLEASE SCROLL DOWN FOR ARTICLE Taylor & Francis makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of all the information (the “Content”) contained in the publications on our platform. However, Taylor & Francis, our agents, and our licensors make no representations or warranties whatsoever as to the accuracy, completeness, or suitability for any purpose of the Content. Any opinions and views expressed in this publication are the opinions and views of the authors, and are not the views of or endorsed by Taylor & Francis. The accuracy of the Content should not be relied upon and should be independently verified with primary sources of information. Taylor and Francis shall not be liable for any losses, actions, claims, proceedings, demands, costs, expenses, damages, and other liabilities whatsoever or howsoever caused arising directly or indirectly in connection with, in relation to or arising out of the use of the Content.
Downloaded by [York University Libraries] at 23:12 01 February 2015
This article may be used for research, teaching, and private study purposes. Any substantial or systematic reproduction, redistribution, reselling, loan, sub-licensing, systematic supply, or distribution in any form to anyone is expressly forbidden. Terms & Conditions of access and use can be found at http://www.tandfonline.com/page/terms-and-conditions
CURRENT PROBLEMS AND RESOLUTIONS
Downloaded by [York University Libraries] at 23:12 01 February 2015
Under this heading appear summaries of data which, in 500 words or less, would increase our comprehension of socially compelling problems, hopefully move us somewhat closer to a solution, and clearly show promise of transcending their own origin in the Zeitgeist; additional details concerning the results can be obtained by communicating directly with the investigator or, when indicated, by requesting supplementary materialfvom Microfiche Publications.
The Journal of Social Psychology, 1976, 100, 149-150.
AIR POLLUTION AND RECREATIONAL BEHAVIOR* Bowdoin College and Lehman College of the City University of New York
MICHAEL K. CHAPKO AND HENRYSOLOMON
Despite the recent concern of psychologists, little is known about how exposure to air pollution affects the day-to-day behavior or life styles of the vast majority of individuals.’ Multiple regression was used to determine the relationship between air pollution and daily attendance at three recreational sites within New York City: the American Museum of Natural History (July-December, 1972; 1973), the New York Aquarium on Coney Island (1973), and the Central Park Children’s Zoo (1972, 1973). Since each site-year combination was treated separately, a total of five analyses were conducted. Daily levels of sulfur dioxide, smokeshade, carbon monoxide, and oxidants for the years 1972 and 1973 were obtained from the city’s Department of Air Resources. Temperature, precipitation, month, holidays, and day of the week were also included as predictors of attendance and as control variables. It was expected that pollutants which reach or exceed the city’s designation for unsatisfactory or unhealthy on a number of days would be most likely to affect recreational behavior. Smokeshade in 1972 (30 days) and
* Received in the Editorial Office, Provincetown, Massachusetts, on May 16, 1975. Copyright, 1976, by The Journal Press. * Wohlwill, J. F., & Carson, D. H. (Eds.), Environment and the Social Sciences: Perspective and Applications. Washington, D.C.: Anrer. Psychol. ASSOC.,1972. 149
Downloaded by [York University Libraries] at 23:12 01 February 2015
1.50
JOURNAL OF SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY
1973 (78 days), carbon monoxide in 1972 (72 days), and oxidants in 1973 (16 days), meet this criterion. Three of the 20 standardized beta weights relating pollution to attendance were significantly different from zero. The two significant negative betas indicated that as oxidants increased in 1973, attendance a t the Aquarium decreased (B = -.104, t = -3.13, @ = 330, p < .Ol), and as carbon monoxide increased in 1972 attendance a t the Zoo decreased (B = -.206, t = -2.77, d ! = 340, p < .01). Both of these pollutants reached the “unhealthy” level a number of times in those years. Why smokeshade, which reached “unsatisfactory” levels in 1972 and 1973, did not significantly affect attendance is unclear. One possibility is that the level of smokeshade designated “unacceptable” is too low to affect recreational behavior. The other question that arises is why the other recreational sites were not affected by oxidants in 1973 or carbon monoxide in 1972) The Museum may not be affected because it is indoors and as such is less susceptible to environmental forces. Neither temperature nor precipitation was significantly related to attendance a t the Museum in 1972 or 1973. However, why the indoor sites were not affected is unclear at this time. The significantly positive beta, indicating that as carbon monoxide increased in 1973, attendance at the Museum also increased, was unexpected (B = .141, t = 2.16, df = 336, p < .(IS). One might explain this by assuming that the Museum is used as an escape from undesirable levels of carbon monoxide. However, an escape explanation is weakened by the facts that in 1973 the levels of carbon monoxide were generally “acceptable,” and that people did not seem to use the Museum to avoid other environmental forces. In sum, air pollution does have a limited effect on recreational behavior in New York City. The magnitude of this relationship may be moderated by the levels of pollution experienced, the specific type of recreational site, and the ability of individuals to adapt.3
Department of Psychology Bowdoin College Brunswick, Maine 04011 A complete set of tables may be obtained from the lirst author at the address shown ax me end of this article. Glass, D. C., & Singer, J. E. Urban Stress: Experiments in Noise and Social Stressors. New York: Academic Press, 1972.
The Journal of Social Psychology Publication details, including instructions for authors and subscription information: http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/vsoc20
Air Pollution and Recreational Behavior a
Michael K. Chapko & Henry Solomon
a
a
Bowdoin College and Lehman College of the City University of New York , USA Published online: 01 Jul 2010.
To cite this article: Michael K. Chapko & Henry Solomon (1976) Air Pollution and Recreational Behavior, The Journal of Social Psychology, 100:1, 149-150, DOI: 10.1080/00224545.1976.9711919 To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00224545.1976.9711919
PLEASE SCROLL DOWN FOR ARTICLE Taylor & Francis makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of all the information (the “Content”) contained in the publications on our platform. However, Taylor & Francis, our agents, and our licensors make no representations or warranties whatsoever as to the accuracy, completeness, or suitability for any purpose of the Content. Any opinions and views expressed in this publication are the opinions and views of the authors, and are not the views of or endorsed by Taylor & Francis. The accuracy of the Content should not be relied upon and should be independently verified with primary sources of information. Taylor and Francis shall not be liable for any losses, actions, claims, proceedings, demands, costs, expenses, damages, and other liabilities whatsoever or howsoever caused arising directly or indirectly in connection with, in relation to or arising out of the use of the Content.
Downloaded by [York University Libraries] at 23:12 01 February 2015
This article may be used for research, teaching, and private study purposes. Any substantial or systematic reproduction, redistribution, reselling, loan, sub-licensing, systematic supply, or distribution in any form to anyone is expressly forbidden. Terms & Conditions of access and use can be found at http://www.tandfonline.com/page/terms-and-conditions
CURRENT PROBLEMS AND RESOLUTIONS
Downloaded by [York University Libraries] at 23:12 01 February 2015
Under this heading appear summaries of data which, in 500 words or less, would increase our comprehension of socially compelling problems, hopefully move us somewhat closer to a solution, and clearly show promise of transcending their own origin in the Zeitgeist; additional details concerning the results can be obtained by communicating directly with the investigator or, when indicated, by requesting supplementary materialfvom Microfiche Publications.
The Journal of Social Psychology, 1976, 100, 149-150.
AIR POLLUTION AND RECREATIONAL BEHAVIOR* Bowdoin College and Lehman College of the City University of New York
MICHAEL K. CHAPKO AND HENRYSOLOMON
Despite the recent concern of psychologists, little is known about how exposure to air pollution affects the day-to-day behavior or life styles of the vast majority of individuals.’ Multiple regression was used to determine the relationship between air pollution and daily attendance at three recreational sites within New York City: the American Museum of Natural History (July-December, 1972; 1973), the New York Aquarium on Coney Island (1973), and the Central Park Children’s Zoo (1972, 1973). Since each site-year combination was treated separately, a total of five analyses were conducted. Daily levels of sulfur dioxide, smokeshade, carbon monoxide, and oxidants for the years 1972 and 1973 were obtained from the city’s Department of Air Resources. Temperature, precipitation, month, holidays, and day of the week were also included as predictors of attendance and as control variables. It was expected that pollutants which reach or exceed the city’s designation for unsatisfactory or unhealthy on a number of days would be most likely to affect recreational behavior. Smokeshade in 1972 (30 days) and
* Received in the Editorial Office, Provincetown, Massachusetts, on May 16, 1975. Copyright, 1976, by The Journal Press. * Wohlwill, J. F., & Carson, D. H. (Eds.), Environment and the Social Sciences: Perspective and Applications. Washington, D.C.: Anrer. Psychol. ASSOC.,1972. 149
Downloaded by [York University Libraries] at 23:12 01 February 2015
1.50
JOURNAL OF SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY
1973 (78 days), carbon monoxide in 1972 (72 days), and oxidants in 1973 (16 days), meet this criterion. Three of the 20 standardized beta weights relating pollution to attendance were significantly different from zero. The two significant negative betas indicated that as oxidants increased in 1973, attendance a t the Aquarium decreased (B = -.104, t = -3.13, @ = 330, p < .Ol), and as carbon monoxide increased in 1972 attendance a t the Zoo decreased (B = -.206, t = -2.77, d ! = 340, p < .01). Both of these pollutants reached the “unhealthy” level a number of times in those years. Why smokeshade, which reached “unsatisfactory” levels in 1972 and 1973, did not significantly affect attendance is unclear. One possibility is that the level of smokeshade designated “unacceptable” is too low to affect recreational behavior. The other question that arises is why the other recreational sites were not affected by oxidants in 1973 or carbon monoxide in 1972) The Museum may not be affected because it is indoors and as such is less susceptible to environmental forces. Neither temperature nor precipitation was significantly related to attendance a t the Museum in 1972 or 1973. However, why the indoor sites were not affected is unclear at this time. The significantly positive beta, indicating that as carbon monoxide increased in 1973, attendance at the Museum also increased, was unexpected (B = .141, t = 2.16, df = 336, p < .(IS). One might explain this by assuming that the Museum is used as an escape from undesirable levels of carbon monoxide. However, an escape explanation is weakened by the facts that in 1973 the levels of carbon monoxide were generally “acceptable,” and that people did not seem to use the Museum to avoid other environmental forces. In sum, air pollution does have a limited effect on recreational behavior in New York City. The magnitude of this relationship may be moderated by the levels of pollution experienced, the specific type of recreational site, and the ability of individuals to adapt.3
Department of Psychology Bowdoin College Brunswick, Maine 04011 A complete set of tables may be obtained from the lirst author at the address shown ax me end of this article. Glass, D. C., & Singer, J. E. Urban Stress: Experiments in Noise and Social Stressors. New York: Academic Press, 1972.
