Evaluating the impacts of theatre-based wildlife and conservation education at the zoo

Sarah Louise Spooner; Eric Allen Jensen; Louise Tracey; Andrew R Marshall

doi:10.1080/13504622.2019.1569201

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Evaluating the impacts of theatre-based wildlife and conservation education at the zoo

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Evaluating the impacts of theatre-based wildlife and conservation education at the zoo

Sarah Louise Spooner, Eric Allen Jensen, Louise Tracey and Andrew R Marshall

Environmental Education Research, Vol.25(8), pp.1231-1249

2019

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/13504622.2019.1569201

Appears in UniSC Diversity and Inclusion Research Collection

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Abstract

children's learning

conservation theatre

environmental education

puppets

anthropomorphic

UniSC Diversity Area - Life Stages

The experience of visiting a zoo as a child can be remembered decades later and potentially influences future environmental attitudes. In light of steadily growing criticism of the ethics and value of live animal shows, some zoos are seeking alternative means of delivering 'edutainment' to a broad audience. One such alternative is through theatre. We examine whether a family-orientated zoo theatre performance achieved animal knowledge and conservation awareness impacts. Impact was demonstrated if individuals correctly stated more animal and conservation facts post-performance compared to pre-performance. The theatre production was seen to have a very strong positive effect on both children's (pre-performance s.d.=1.69, post-performance s.d.=1.79 effect size (d)=0.70, w = 4403.5, p ≤ 0.001) and adults' (pre-performance s.d.=1.88, post-performance s.d.=2.14, effect size (d)=0.71, w = 1931.5, p ≤ 0.001) learning. Significantly more correct answers were given post-performance compared to pre-performance. We conclude that educational, family theatre can effectively deliver animal information and raise awareness of conservation efforts within a leisure setting. Further studies are needed to investigate the impact of theatre on conservation actions. Comparative studies between live animal shows and theatre could establish the best methods for conveying conservation information to zoo visitors.

Details

Title: Evaluating the impacts of theatre-based wildlife and conservation education at the zoo
Authors: Sarah Louise Spooner (Author) - University of York, United Kingdom
Eric Allen Jensen (Author) - University of Warwick, United Kingdom
Louise Tracey (Author) - University of York, United Kingdom
Andrew R Marshall (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast
Publication details: Environmental Education Research, Vol.25(8), pp.1231-1249
Publisher: Routledge
Date published: 2019
DOI: 10.1080/13504622.2019.1569201
ISSN: 1350-4622
Copyright note: Copyright (c) 2019. This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in Environmental Education Research on 2019, available online: http://www.tandfonline.com/10.1080/13504622.2019.1569201
Organisation Unit: Tropical Forests and People Research Centre; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; School of Science, Technology and Engineering; Forest Research Institute
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99451366902621
Output Type: Journal article

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Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration; International collaboration
Web Of Science research areas: Education & Educational Research; Environmental Studies

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