title: Evaluation of public engagement activities to promote science in a zoo environment.
abstract: Scientists are increasing their efforts to promote public engagement with their science, but the efficacy of the methods used is often not scientifically evaluated. Here, we designed, installed and evaluated the educational impact of interactive games on touchscreens at two primate research centres based in zoo environments. The games were designed to promote interest in and understanding of primates and comparative psychology, as a scaffold towards interest in science more generally and with the intention of targeting younger individuals (under 16's). We used systematic observational techniques and questionnaires to assess the impact of the games on zoo visitors. The games facilitated increased interest in psychology and science in zoo visitors, and changed the knowledge of visitors, through demonstration of learning about specific scientific findings nested within the games. The impact of such devices was greatest on younger individuals (under 16's) as they were significantly more likely to engage with the games. On the whole, therefore, this study demonstrates that interactive devices can be successful educational tools, and adds to the growing body of evidence that conducting research on public view in zoos can have a tangible impact on public engagement with science.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, Hampshire, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Jamie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Whitehouse
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, Hampshire, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Bridget M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Waller
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, Hampshire, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Mathilde
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chanvin
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of York, York, Yorkshire, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Emma K
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Wallace
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of York, York, Yorkshire, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Anne M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Schel
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, Hampshire, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Kate
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Peirce
authors.affiliation: Marwell Wildlife, Winchester, Hampshire, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Heidi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mitchell
authors.affiliation: Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, Edinburgh Zoo, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Alaina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Macri
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of York, York, Yorkshire, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Katie
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Slocombe
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000836:Animals, Zoo / Q000523:psychology*; D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000193:education / Q000379:methods; D004777:Environment; D006801:Humans; D011323:Primates / Q000523:psychology*; D011380:Programmed Instructions as Topic; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012586:Science / Q000193:education / Q000379:methods*; D018910:Video Games