Increasing Visitor Engagement during Interpretive Walking Tours. Issue 2 (November 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Douglas, David; Ellis, Gary; Lacanienta, Andrew
• Is Part Of: Journal of interpretation research. Volume 23:Issue 2(2018)
• Page Start: 31
• Page End: 48
• Publication Date: 2018-11
• Subjects: engagement -- familiarity -- dissonance -- heritage interpretation -- living history -- provocation -- question type -- theory of structured experience
• DOI: 10.1177/109258721802300203
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1092-5872

Abstract

This study examined the effect of living-history interpretation (i.e., first-person, third-person, no living history) and question type (i.e., relevant, dissonant, customary) on engagement of visitors during walking tours at a heritage site. One hundred seventy-six visitors participated in the study. Visitors completed a measure of engagement immediately following each of six stops during the walking tour. A measure of guest familiarity of the context of the site was also taken. Results from linear mixed-modeling revealed a three-factor interaction effect, familiarity by question type by living-history interpretation. Engagement of visitors is impacted by guest familiarity with the context, the living-history interpretation type, and the question type posed. Results might guide interpretation professionals in customizing interpretation experiences to stage more engaging interpretation experiences.