Centre for Comparative and Evolutionary Psychology, Department of Psychology, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, United Kingdom.
PLoS One. 2012;7(9):e44680. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0044680. Epub 2012 Sep 13.
Primate behavioural and cognitive research is increasingly conducted on direct public view in zoo settings. The potential of such facilities for public engagement with science is often heralded, but evidence of tangible, positive effects on public understanding is rare. Here, the effect of a new zoo-based primate research centre on visitor behaviour, learning and attitudes was assessed using a quasi-experimental design. Zoo visitors approached the primate research centre more often when a scientist was present and working with the primates, and reported greater awareness of primates (including conservation) compared to when the scientist was not present. Visitors also reported greater perceived learning when the scientist was present. Installation of information signage had no main effect on visitor attitudes or learning. Visitors who interacted with the signage, however, demonstrated increased knowledge and understanding when asked about the specific information present on the signs (which was related to the ongoing facial expression research at the research centre). The findings show that primate behaviour research centres on public view can have a demonstrable and beneficial effect on public understanding of science.
灵长类动物行为和认知研究越来越多地在动物园环境中进行，直接面向公众。此类设施通常被认为是公众参与科学的一种潜在方式，但很少有证据表明它们对公众理解有切实的积极影响。在这里，使用准实验设计评估了一个新的基于动物园的灵长类动物研究中心对游客行为、学习和态度的影响。当有科学家在场并与灵长类动物一起工作时，游客更倾向于接近灵长类动物研究中心，并且与科学家不在场时相比，他们对灵长类动物（包括保护）的认识更高。游客还报告说，当科学家在场时，他们的感知学习效果更好。信息标识牌的安装对游客的态度或学习没有主要影响。然而，当被问及标识牌上的具体信息（与研究中心正在进行的面部表情研究有关）时，与标识牌互动的游客表现出了更多的知识和理解，这表明他们的知识和理解有所增加。研究结果表明，公众可以直接看到的灵长类动物行为研究中心可以对公众对科学的理解产生明显的有益影响。
