Visitor Codes of Conduct in Zoos
Author Information
Author(s): Guo Yulei, Fennell David, McCulloch Steven P.
Primary Institution: Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding
Hypothesis
How do visitor codes of conduct in Chinese and Anglophone zoos compare in terms of structure and content?
Conclusion
The study found significant similarities in visitor codes of conduct across Chinese and Anglophone zoos, with a predominant focus on regulating visitor behavior rather than emphasizing animal welfare and conservation education.
Supporting Evidence
- Visitor codes of conduct are similar across cultures, focusing on visitor behavior.
- Chinese zoos often use a mixed approach in their messaging compared to Anglophone zoos.
- Both Chinese and Anglophone zoos prioritize entertainment in their codes of conduct.
Takeaway
Zoos have rules to help visitors behave, but many of these rules focus more on keeping order than on helping animals. The study suggests that these rules could be better if they taught visitors about caring for animals.
Methodology
Content analysis of 49 zoo codes of conduct from Chinese and Anglophone zoos.
Potential Biases
Potential bias in the selection of zoos and the interpretation of codes due to cultural differences.
Limitations
The study did not exhaustively search all zoos and focused on those with accessible codes of conduct.
Participant Demographics
27 zoos from China and 22 from predominantly English-speaking countries.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.000
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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