May 1st, 2010 | RESEARCH
This study, conducted over a four-year period at Chester Zoo in the UK, sought to evaluate the impact on visitor behavior and interpretation use that a transition from second- to third-generation zoo exhibit might affect. Visitors spent more time in the newer exhibit (even when allowing for relative floor area) and visitor time budgets suggest a high degree of visitor interaction with different exhibit elements. Specific interpretive elements were analyzed in detail, using quasi-quantitative methods in addition to more standard timing and tracking measures. From this, a proportional relationship between time and visitor engagement is proposed. Areas that were highlighted as under-performing during evaluation were retrofitted with simple, but highly visible, instructional signage and this was found to increase the proportion of visitors that stopped, and how long they stopped in a significant way.
Document
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Team Members
Andrew Moss, Author, North of England Zoological SocietyMaggie Esson, Author, North of England Zoological Society
David Francis, Author, North of England Zoological Society
Citation
Identifier Type: ISSN
Identifier: 1092-5872
Publication: Journal of Interpretation Research
Volume: 15
Number: 2
Page(s): 11
Related URLs
Tags
Audience: Educators | Teachers | General Public | Museum | ISE Professionals
Discipline: Ecology | forestry | agriculture | Education and learning science | Life science
Resource Type: Peer-reviewed article | Research Products
Environment Type: Aquarium and Zoo Exhibits | Exhibitions