Environmental Interpretation in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park: An Assessment of Programme Effectiveness

Does more interpretation lead to greater outcomes? An assessment of the impacts of multiple layers of interpretation in a zoo context

“…However, many such stated objectives are difficult to measure in the context of a one-off research project as well as unrealistic to achieve as a result of a single interpretive program or zoo visit. Moreover, Madin and Fenton (2004) point out that much interpretation is developed and implemented in the absence of clear objectives, making it impossible to use these as a basis for gauging "success" or "effectiveness". Instead, like the present study, they use a "bottom up approach" (p. 123) informed by visitors as well as more general interpretive objectives gleaned from the literature (Weiler and Davis, 1993) to develop evaluation criteria.…”

“…One reason why interpretation outcomes are poorly understood and largely under-researched is that, until recently, there was a lack of valid and reliable instruments for measuring these outcomes (Madin and Fenton, 2004). For the present study, the nature-based tourism instrument of the STCRC"s Interpretation Evaluation Tool Kit was used, which consists of twenty-nine questions that measure ten interpretive outcomes (Ham and Weiler, 2005).…”

“…how positive visitors feel toward particular species, environments or nature conservation generally), few have succeeded in explaining the outcomes of interpretation. Stewart et al (1998), Madin and Fenton (2004), Ham and Weiler (2006), Ballantyne et al (2007) and others have all called for more research that links experiential variables and other "inputs" with interpretation outcomes.…”

“…Also, as mentioned earlier, both the present study and the Madin and Fenton (2004) study are based on self-report measures that, while thoroughly tested and validated, are limited to what the visitor "reports", rather than any objective measure such as knowledge testing, pre-and post-measures of attitude, or observation of actual behaviour. There needs to be further methodological and empirical work on measuring the actual (as opposed to perceived or selfreported) impacts on cognitive, affective and behavioural constructs, requiring a before-andafter research design ideally with a control group and random assignment of respondents to groups, something that is not easily accomplished with tourists in a naturalistic field setting.…”

The Development of an Interpretive Experience to Foster Positive Tourist Encounters and Manage Turtle Tourism in Northwest Western Australia: Implications for Further Research

“…Similarly, Medio, Ormond, and Pearson (1997) and Townsend (2003) found that an environmental briefing before scuba diving reduced incidents of tourists making contact with the reef. Furthermore, Tubb (2003) concluded that interpretation can significantly aid in fostering sustainable practices in tourism situations, and Madin and Fenton (2004) found that interpretation can change visitor understanding of targeted topics and issues. Such studies support the findings presented here that situations of increased interpretation led to a reduction in noncompliance in wildlife tourism situations.…”