Carson Lloyd
Public Underst Sci. 2014 Jul;23(5):547-56. doi: 10.1177/0963662512456128.
Zoos have increasingly sought to justify their existence by reference to a scientific role particularly in the domains of animal welfare and conservation. Given recent initiatives by the UK government to foster public engagement with science, it is timely to investigate public attitudes towards primary research activity by zoos. This study reports the views of 83 visitors to Edinburgh Zoo. Within certain items in a structured interview noun terms denoting research activity were manipulated ("research" versus "studies") as was their qualification (adjective "scientific" present or absent before the noun term). "Research" was associated with a restricted and negative perception of investigatory activity. This effect was intensified when the noun term was preceded by "scientific". It is concluded that there is a continuing need to challenge public perceptions, particularly of the phrase "scientific research"; that in the meantime zoos should perhaps exercise caution when using it in relation to their activities.
动物园越来越多地试图通过提及科学作用来证明自身存在的合理性,尤其是在动物福利和保护领域。鉴于英国政府最近发起的促进公众参与科学的倡议,现在正是调查公众对动物园主要研究活动态度的时机。本研究报告了83名爱丁堡动物园游客的看法。在结构化访谈的某些项目中,表示研究活动的名词术语(“研究”与“研究工作”)及其修饰词(名词术语前是否有形容词“科学的”)都进行了调整。“研究”与对调查活动的有限且负面认知相关联。当名词术语前加上“科学的”时,这种影响会加剧。结论是,持续有必要挑战公众的认知,尤其是对“科学研究”这个短语的认知;与此同时,动物园在将其用于自身活动时或许应谨慎行事。