Knowledge, Interest, and Value of Youth Zoo Visitors

Autor/in	Burris, Alexandra M.
Titel	Knowledge, Interest, and Value of Youth Zoo Visitors
Quelle	(2017), (265 Seiten) PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit Ph.D. Dissertation, Indiana University
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Monographie
ISBN	978-0-3554-7956-0
Schlagwörter	Hochschulschrift; Dissertation; Recreational Facilities; Zoology; Youth Opportunities; Field Trips; Environmental Education; Personality Traits; Conservation Education; Knowledge Level; Student Interests; Student Behavior; Student Attitudes; Correlation; Mixed Methods Research; Likert Scales; Questionnaires; Semi Structured Interviews; Ecological Factors; Values; Familiarity + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Thesis; Dissertations; Academic thesis; Freizeiteinrichtung; Zoologie; Exkursion; Umweltbildung; Umwelterziehung; Umweltpädagogik; Individual characteristics; Personality characteristic; Persönlichkeitsmerkmal; Wissensbasis; Studieninteresse; Student behaviour; Schülerverhalten; Korrelation; Likert-Skala; Fragebogen; Ökologischer Ansatz; Wertbegriff
Abstract	In the face of massive global extinction, the mission of zoos for conservation education has increasing importance. Zoos are in a unique position to affect the development of youth in ways that are consistent with cultivating pro-environmental behaviors. The purpose of this study was to examine three intrinsic traits of youth important to the goals of conservation education: knowledge about animals, interest in animals, and value for animals. In particular, I explored the relationship between these three traits and the utterances and behaviors of youth zoo visitors during their visit. Using an embedded correlational data transformation mixed methods design, this study examined the experiences of 37 youth attending the zoo. Data collection sources included a drawing activity meant to assess the knowledge of youth about animals, Likert-type questionnaires meant to assess the youth's interest and value, and a semi-structured interview meant to ascertain critical moments from the youth's visit. The results of these instruments were paired with extensive video data of the youth's entire zoo visit. Results of the study indicated that youth organize their knowledge about animals around ecological and morphological concepts and that this forms the basis for their value of animals. The knowledge, interest, and value of youth zoo visitors did seem to correlate with some utterances and behaviors in the zoo, but learning talk was rare. Results also indicated that certain critical moments during the youth's visit were social in nature and centered on the behaviors of animals. These moments may be the most promising for influencing the development of knowledge, interest, and value. The discussion and implications sections of the study focus on the practical use of the findings for zoo education. The study points to the importance of studying intrinsic traits of youth as well as the important influences of the social and physical context on the development of these traits during a single zoo visit. Suggestions for future research are outlined based on these overarching findings. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.] (As Provided).
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Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2020/1/01