My research agenda examines the economic impacts of outdoor recreation and natural resource use in rural communities across the nation. I'm proud that my work is functional and supports community engagement and thoughtful economic growth.
Below are links to all of my peer-reviewed studies. In the event a study is behind a paywall and not accessible, reach out to me on LinkedIn and I'll help you get access to that paper.
A. Maples, James N. and Michael J. Bradley. 2021. “Outdoor Recreation and Rural Transitions in Central Appalachia: Revisiting the Economic Impact of Rock Climbing in Kentucky’s Red River Gorge.” Journal of Economic Impact 3(3): 186-195. Link
The study formalizes a methodology for examining climbers' economic impacts, including festival impacts.
B. Maples, James N., Michael J. Bradley, Sadie Giles, Rhiannon Leebrick, and Brian Clark. 2019. “Climbing Out of Poverty: The Economic Impact of Climbing in West Virginia’s New River Gorge.” Journal of Appalachian Studies 25(2): 184-201. Link
This study examines the growth of outdoor recreation economies in rural areas amid the economic decline of natural resource extraction.
C. Maples, James N., Michael J. Bradley, Mary Boujaoude, Mora Rehm, and Tim Golden. 2021. “Economic Impact of Rock Climbing in Bishop, California.” California Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance 7(2): 24-30. Link
This study adjusts economic impact methodology amid the Covid pandemic to examine a decrease effect in visitation estimates.
D. Maples, James N., Michael J. Bradley, Brian Clark, Sadie Giles, and Rhiannon Leebrick. 2022. “Leave no person behind: Exploring how demographic categories shape LNT principles among climbers in West Virginia's New River Gorge.” Journal of Outdoor and Environmental Education 25, 219–245. Link
This study establishes a metric for quantifying climbers' knowledge of Leave No Trace principles with the aim of identifying community problems and engaging climbers in minimizing their own impacts
E. Woodstock, Matthew S., Amanda T. Bevans, Muhammad Sulyman, James Maples, Scot Knoche, and Thomas F. Ihde. 2024. “The Economic Impacts of Living Habitat Changes in the Virginia Middle Peninsula, Chesapeake Bay.” Ecological Modeling 498. Link
This study updated NOAA's IMPLAN methodology for small-fleet fishing and paired this with multiple biological models of restoration efforts in Virginia's Middle Peninsula.
Full list of Refereed Journal Articles
(**= graduate student; *=undergraduate student; list excludes undergraduate journal publications)
36. Woodstock, Matthew S., Amanda T. Bevans, Muhammad Sulyman, James Maples, Scot Knoche, and Thomas F. Ihde. 2024. “The Economic Impacts of Living Habitat Changes in the Virginia Middle Peninsula, Chesapeake Bay.” Ecological Modeling 498. Link
35. Bradley, Michael J. and James N. Maples. 2024. “The Economic Impact of Climbing in the Lander Area of Wyoming.” Journal of Outdoor Recreation, Education, & Leadership 16(3): 64-77. Link
34. Maples, James N., Michael J. Bradley, and Ryan L. Sharp. 2023. “Where did you learn that? Exploring How Sources of Knowledge Shape Leave No Trace Knowledge in Kentucky’s Red River Gorge Rock Climbing Community.” KY SHAPE 60(2): 51-69. Link
33. Bradley, Michael J., James N. Maples, Curtis Clemens, and A. Brown. 2023. “Hiker perceptions on economic development around the Custer Gallatin National Forest.” Illinois Journal 91, 22-34.
32. VanSandt, Glendon, Michael J. Bradley, Kevin Fink, and James N. Maples. 2023. “Identifying the Effects of Covid-19 on Visitor Place Attachment of State Parks in Arkansas.” World Leisure Journal 65 (3). Link
31. Hendrick, Michala L., Chris A.B. Zajchowski, Jessica P. Fefer, Ryan L. Sharp, Chandler Berry, James N. Maples, and Eddie L. Hill. 2023. “What’s the Crux?: Falcon Nesting Closures and Rock Climbing Constraints at Harpers Ferry National Historic Park.” Journal of Environmental Management 42. Link
30. Maples, James N., Michael J. Bradley, Brian Clark, Sadie Giles**, and Rhiannon Leebrick. 2022. “Leave no person behind: Exploring how demographic categories shape LNT principles among climbers in West Virginia's New River Gorge.” Journal of Outdoor and Environmental Education 25, 219–245. Link
29. Maples, James N., Michael J. Bradley, Mary Boujaoude*, Mora Rehm*, and Tim Golden. 2021. “Economic Impact of Rock Climbing in Bishop, California.” California Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance 7(2): 24-30. Link
28. Crawford, Christopher**, James N. Maples and Michael J. Bradley. 2021. ”Portable technology use and perceptions of its use among ultramarathon runners.” Alabama ASAHPERD Journal. 42 (1): 8-15. Link
27. Maples, James N. and Michael J. Bradley. 2021. “Outdoor Recreation and Rural Transitions in Central Appalachia: Revisiting the Economic Impact of Rock Climbing in Kentucky’s Red River Gorge.” Journal of Economic Impact 3(3): 186-195. Link
26. Miller, Alexandra**, James N. Maples, and Michael J. Bradley. 2021. “Demographic differences in hiker cellular technology use in backcountry areas in Montana’s Custer Gallatin National Forest.” Journal of Emerging Sports 6: 1-17. Link
25. Maples, James N., Michael J. Bradley, Jason Ray*, and Alexandra Miller**. 2021. “Visitor Expenditure Patterns in Trail Towns on Kentucky’s Sheltowee Trace.” SHAPE 59(1): 21-32. Link
24. Sharp, Ryan L., Michael J. Bradley, and James N. Maples. 2020. “Who Has the Right-of-Way? Equity and Economics of Off-Highway Vehicle Use in Eastern Kentucky.” Journal of Appalachian Studies 26(2) 191-208. Link
23. Maples, James N., Michael J. Bradley, and Natasha Hacker**. 2020. “Economic Impact of Paddling on the Kentucky River near Fort Boonesborough State Park.” SHAPE 58(1):9-21. Link
22. Bradley, Michael J., James N. Maples, and Ryan L. Sharp. 2020. “Identifying Perceived Barriers to Social Equity and Equal Access in Kentucky State Parks.” SHAPE 57(2):18-27. Link
21. Clark, Brian G., James N. Maples, and Ryan L. Sharp. 2020. “Awareness and Application of Minimum Impact Practices among Rock Climbers in the Red River Gorge, Kentucky.“ Journal of Outdoor and Environmental Education 23 73-86. Link
20. Sharp, Ryan, James N. Maples, and Katherine Gerlaugh. 2020. "Factors influencing knowledge and self-reported application of Leave No Trace principles amongst rock climbers in Kentucky’s Red River Gorge." Journal of Adventure Education and Outdoor Learning 20(1): 1-14. Link
19. Bradley, Michael J., William Z. Creech, James N. Maples, and Caelin Scott. 2019. “Shaping resident perceptions through exposure to tourism development in rural Kentucky communities.” KAHPERD Journal 57 (1): 37-43. Link
18. Maples, James N., Michael J. Bradley, Sadie Giles**, Rhiannon Leebrick, and Brian Clark. 2019. “Climbing Out of Poverty: The Economic Impact of Climbing in West Virginia’s New River Gorge.” Journal of Appalachian Studies 25(2): 184-201. Link
17. Mullins, C.K.**, M.J. Bradley., L.D. Mullins**, and J.N. Maples. 2019. “Increasing visitor knowledge of park history and natural resources via non-traditional recreation: An exploratory study of quicksand enthusiasts.” Natural Resources, 10(9), 358-366. Link
16. Liu, Hung-Ling Stella, Michael J. Bradley, I-Chun Nicky Wu, and James N. Maples. 2019. “Resident Perceptions of Black Bear Management in South Central Kentucky.” Natural Resources 10(7). Link
15. Bradley, M.J., J.N. Maples, D. Bogard, H. L. Liu, and R. L. Sharp. 2019. “Leverage leisure identity of birders in the United States.” Alabama ASAHPERD Journal (1), 9-21. Link
14. Martin, Karen and James N. Maples. 2019. “Guardianship and Predatory Crimes among Incapacitated Persons in Kentucky.” Contemporary Journal of Anthropologists & Sociologists 16: 54-69. Link
13. Jones, Erin**, Melissa Hoover**, Michael J. Bradley, and James N. Maples. 2019. “A pilot study to understand visitor preferences of a nature-based municipal park.” KAHPERD Journal, 56 (2), 16-24. Link
12. Bradley, Michael J., Julia Grundy**, James N. Maples, and Steve Chen. 2019. “Initiating a new community festival and understanding economic impact: A case study of a rural Kentucky community.” KAHPERD Journal 56 (2), 51-58. Link
11. Bradley, Christine, Michael Bradley, James N. Maples, and Stella Liu. 2018. “Crouch, pause, set: Social identity and leisure levels of female ruggers in Kentucky. Kentucky Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance Journal 55(2): 8-16. Link
10. Sharp, Ryan, Michael J. Bradley, and James N. Maples. 2017. “A Methodological Evaluation of an Environmental Education Survey: Is There a Technological Advantage?” Journal of Outdoor Recreation, Education, and Leadership 9(3): 275-279. Link
9. Maples, James N., Ryan L. Sharp, Brian Clark**, Katherine Gerlaugh**, and Braylon Gillespie**. 2017. “Climbing out of Poverty: The Economic Impact of Rock Climbing in Eastern Kentucky’s Red River Gorge.” Journal of Appalachian Studies 23(1): 53-71. Link
8. Bradley, Michael, James N. Maples, Andy Lewis**, and K. Joseph Berend **. 2017. “Beer Tourism in Central Kentucky: Identifying On-Site Experience Preferences for Kentucky Brewery Tourists.” Journal of Gastronomy and Tourism 2(3):153-162. Link
7. Bradley, Michael, K. Joseph Berend**, and James N. Maples. 2016. “Identifying Resident Brewery Visitor’s Level of Community Attachment.” Kentucky Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance Journal 54:1(18-25). Link
6. Sharp, Ryan L., Justin D. Kurtz**, and James N. Maples. 2016. “Clifty Wilderness Campsites and Rock-Shelters: Long-Term Comparative Analysis, Challenges, and Opportunities.” International Journal of Wilderness 22(1): 16-21. Link
5. Bradley, Michael J., Dylan Bogard**, Stella Liu, and James N. Maples. 2016. “Place attachment in Kentucky State Parks: An opportunity to increase park visitation and advocacy.” Kentucky Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance Journal 53(2): 30-38. Link
4. Dunbar, Zara, Bradley, Michael J., and Maples, James N. 2016. “Paducah Pride: Sense of Community of Local Visitors to a Craft Brewery in Paducah, Kentucky.” Kentucky Recreation and Park Society Quarterly 66(1): 14.
3. Leebrick, Rhiannon and James N. Maples. 2015. “Landscape as Arena and Spatial Narrative in the New River Gorge National River’s Coal Camps: A Case Study of the Elverton, West Virginia 1914 Strike.” Southeastern Geographer 55(4): 474-494. Link
2. Maples, James N. and Elizabeth A. East. 2013. “Destroying Mountains, Destroying Cemeteries: Historic Mountain Cemeteries in the Coalfields of Boone, Kanawha, and Raleigh Counties, West Virginia.” Journal of Appalachian Studies 19(1&2): 7-26. Link
1. Maples, James N. and William V. Taylor. 2013. “Writing Children’s Books in Sociology Class: An Innovative Approach to Teaching Social Problems to Undergraduate Students.” International Journal of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education 25(3): 358-368.