Zoo and Aquarium Research Collaborative (ZAARC) Final Year 3 Participant Survey Study

Zoo and Aquarium Research Collaborative (ZAARC) is a NSF-funded research project by TERC and Oregon State University (co-PI’s Andee Rubin and John Falk) that is exploring a collaborative model for action research as a form of professional development for zoo and aquarium educators. Over the past three years, ZAARC has engaged education staff from six zoos and aquariums from across the country in learning about and conducting action research pertinent to their institutions. Dr. Cynthia Char of Char Associates, an independent consulting firm specializing in program evaluation, has been a member of the project’s research team, and conducted the program evaluation. The research utilized a mixed methods approach, with data sources including surveys, interviews, analysis of work products, and notes from monthly meetings and mentor site visits. Results below highlight findings from the final survey study.