World's Best Scientists 2026 revealed!

D-Index & Metrics

Social Sciences and Humanities

D-Index
37
Citations
11208
World Ranking
6076
National Ranking
2899

Overview

Stephen F. McCool is affiliated with the University of Montana in the United States and contributes to research primarily in the social sciences and psychology. Their work spans fields such as sociology and political science, social psychology, transportation, management science and operations research, and economics and econometrics.

McCool's research delves into several topical areas including diverse aspects of tourism research, recreation, leisure and wilderness management, cruise tourism development and management, conferences and exhibitions management, complex systems and decision making, regional resilience and development, and sustainability and climate change governance.

The scientist has published research in notable journals, with frequent appearances in the Journal of Ecotourism, the Journal of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism, and Tourism Planning & Development. Key recent papers authored or coauthored by McCool include:

  • Thinking like a system in the turbulent world of outdoor recreation management (2022) in Journal of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism
  • A Social-Ecological Systems Perspective on Working toward Resilience in Nature-Based Tourism Planning (2024) in Tourism Planning & Development

McCool has collaborated with coauthors including Ante Mandić, who appears as a frequent collaborator on multiple papers, as well as Steven Selin and Francisco Valenzuela.

  • Ante Mandić
  • Steven Selin
  • Francisco Valenzuela

The interdisciplinary nature of McCool's work intersects management of complex systems with environmental and social dynamics in tourism and recreation contexts. Their research contributions address challenges related to resilience, experience design, and governance within nature-based tourism and outdoor recreation sectors.

Prominent publication venues for McCool's work include:

  • Journal of Ecotourism
  • Journal of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism
  • Tourism Planning & Development

Within the social sciences, McCool's subfields of emphasis cover sociology and political science and social psychology, complementing a psychological perspective with a broader social systems approach.

Best Publications

  • Sustainable tourism in protected areas : guidelines for planning and management

    Paul F. J. Eagles;Stephen F. McCool;Christopher D. Haynes;Adrian Phillips

  • Community Attachment and Attitudes Toward Tourism Development

    Stephen F. McCool;Steven R. Martin

  • Tourism in National Parks and Protected Areas: Planning and Management

    Paul F. J. Eagles;Stephen F. McCool

  • Tourism Carrying Capacity: Tempting Fantasy or Useful Reality?

    Stephen F. McCool;David W. Lime

  • Agritourism: Motivations behind Farm/Ranch Business Diversification

    Norma Polovitz Nickerson;Rita J. Black;Stephen F. McCool

  • Rethinking carrying capacity

    Kreg Lindberg;Stephen McCool;George Stankey

  • Indicators of sustainability: challenges and opportunities at the interface of science and policy.

    Stephen F. Mccool;George H. Stankey

  • Tourism, recreation and sustainability : linking culture and the environment

    S. F. McCool;R. N. Moisey

  • Barriers to Effective Natural Resource Planning in a "Messy" World

    Paul R. Lachapelle;Stephen F. Mccool;Michael E. Patterson

  • Mapping the Dimensions of Successful Public Participation in Messy Natural Resources Management Situations

    Stephen F. Mccool;Kathleen Guthrie

  • What Should Tourism Sustain? The Disconnect with Industry Perceptions of Useful Indicators

    Stephen F. McCool;R. Neil Moisey;Norma P. Nickerson

  • Carrying capacity in recreational settings: Evolution, appraisal, and application

    George H. Stankey;Stephen F. McCool

  • Constructing partnerships for protected area tourism planning in an era of change and messiness

    Stephen F. McCool

  • Coping with Stress in Outdoor Recreational Settings: An Application of Transactional Stress Theory

    Theron A. Miller;Stephen F. McCool

  • Information Quantity and Communication Effectiveness: Low-Impact Messages on Wilderness Trailside Bulletin Boards

    David N. Cole;Timothy P. Hammond;Stephen F. McCool

  • Planning for sustainable nature dependent tourism development: the Limits of Acceptable Change system.

    Stephen F. McCool

  • Sustainable tourism in protected areas

    Paul F.J. Eagles;Stephen F. McCool;Christopher D. Haynes

  • Tourism in protected and conserved areas amid the covid-19 pandemic

    Anna Anna Spenceley;Steve McCool;David Newsome;Ana Báez

  • Exploring the Concept of “Ownership” in Natural Resource Planning

    Paul R. Lachapelle;Stephen F. McCOOL

  • The Role of Trust in Community Wildland Fire Protection Planning

    Paul R. Lachapelle;Stephen F. McCool

  • An assessment of frameworks useful for public land recreation planning.

    Stephen F. McCool;Roger N. Clark;George H. Stankey

Frequent Co-Authors

David N. Cole
David N. Cole US Forest Service
Daniel R. Williams
Daniel R. Williams US Forest Service
Richard Butler
Richard Butler University of Strathclyde
David Bruce Weaver
David Bruce Weaver Queensland University of Technology
Ralf Buckley
Ralf Buckley Griffith University
Jeffrey L. Marion
Jeffrey L. Marion United States Geological Survey

If you think any of the details on this page are incorrect, let us know.

Report an issue

We appreciate your kind effort to assist us to improve this page, it would be helpful providing us with as much detail as possible in the text box below:

Related Online Degrees & Career Pathways

Studying Social Sciences and Humanities in the USA opens doors to a variety of online degrees and professional routes. Many students are now choosing flexible and reputable online programs to match their personal and career goals.

Psychology is a popular option, with many looking for an online master degree in psychology to expand their knowledge or launch a new career. Those interested in clinical practice might consider accredited psyd programs, which provide the credentials needed for advanced psychological practice.

For those drawn to counseling and interpersonal relationships, marriage and family therapy online programs can be a great fit—offering streamlined paths to becoming a licensed therapist. Alternatively, educators and leaders may pursue accelerated edd programs designed to fast-track their growth in educational leadership.

With a wide range of online options, it’s important to consider accreditation, program length, cost, and your desired career outcome. Whether you want to help individuals, couples, families, or influence educational policy, there's an online program to help you achieve your goals.

Best Scientists Citing Stephen F. McCool

Trending Scientists

Recently Published Articles