The variables considered for the survey instrument – the questionnaire – have been developed based on
a literature review on place-attachment. Twelve items were used to measure place-attachment, assessed through a 5-point
Likert-type scale ranging from 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree). Since place-attachment is a multidimensional
construct, the scale incorporates two dimensions (Brown & Raymond, 2007): place-identity and place-dependence, each
one with six corresponding variables.
The study was conducted in three European mountain tourist sites – Peaks of Europe (Spain), Alps (France, Austria and
Switzerland) and Serra da Estrela (Portugal). The main survey was applied from March through July of 2009, and 630 valid
personally administered questionnaires were completed.