Assessing the Impacts of Engaging with a Touch Table on Safari Park Visitors

Naomi Davies,Ellie Sowerby,Bridget Johnson

doi:10.3390/jzbg2030026

Naomi Davies, Ellie Sowerby + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/jzbg2030026

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Abstract

Modern zoos are increasingly viewed as educational facilities, with informal education programmes attempting to engage with visitors through a wide variety of methods. A ‘touch table’ consists of two collapsible tables which display a variety of artefacts to the public. This study investigated visitor engagement with touch tables alongside types of conversations being initiated by visitors. Covert observations recorded the type of groups visiting, their dwell time, perceived engagement level and the types of interactions and conversations they were initiating at the touch table. Dwell time was affected by the season, member of staff present, type of group visiting the touch table and engagement level of the group. Engagement level was also affected by group type. Longer average dwell time and higher engagement levels were displayed at a long-established touch table location, whereas more visitors engaged at the touch table when it was at a new location with predicted high footfall. Here, 68.3% of visitors initiated ‘surface level’ conversation, 27.2% initiated ‘deeper level’ conversation and 89.6% initiated ‘other’ conversation. This study resulted in touch table offerings being adapted to further increase their effectiveness as an informal education tool and to suggests ways in which touch tables can continue in a post COVID-19 world.

Highlights

Consists of two collapsible tables which display a variety of artefacts to the public
Modern zoos are increasingly being viewed as educational facilities, encouraging visitors to increase their knowledge of the natural world and awareness of global conservation issues [5,6,7]
Group type (H = 29.878, df = 3, p < 0.001) affected dwell time, with families spending the most time at the touch table (Figure 3)

Summary

Introduction

Consists of two collapsible tables which display a variety of artefacts to the public. This study investigated visitor engagement with touch tables alongside types of conversations being initiated by visitors. Covert observations recorded the type of groups visiting, their dwell time, perceived engagement level and the types of interactions and conversations they were initiating at the touch table. Dwell time was affected by the season, member of staff present, type of group visiting the touch table and engagement level of the group. UK zoological collections are legally required to provide an education provision to visitors [8]. Zoological collections are offering informal education programmes to engage with visitors, where learning is free choice but supported by wide ranging programmes, which could include species signs, interpretive material, keeper talks, encounters with staff at enclosures or discovery stations [14]. If the informal education activities are engaging and fun this satisfies both the visitors and zoological collections motivations; visitors are having a fun family day out and the zoological collections are delivering educational content to their visitors

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