Visitor Learning in Zoos and Aquariums: A literature review

The American Zoo and Aquarium Association (AZA) has dedicated Conservation Endowment Funds (CEF) to conduct a multi-institutional research project (MIRP) that will investigate the overall impact of visits to zoos and aquariums on visitors' conservation-related knowledge, attitudes, affect, and behavior. With oversight and input from MIRP Co-Principal Investigators and key advisors, the Institute for Learning Innovation [carried out] the following goals: 1. Conducting a literature review; 2. Developing an overall research plan, design and methodologies for conducting a multi-institutional research project or series of projects; 3. As necessary and appropriate, conducting limited pilot testing of some of the proposed methodologies; and, 4. Assisting with the development of a full proposal (or proposals) to fund implementation of the research effort. This present report outlines the results of the literature review for this proposed area of study.