Taking Stock of Interpretation Research: Where Have We Been and Where are We Heading?

We reviewed all manuscripts published within the Journal of Interpretation Research from 2010 to 2019 to identify lessons learned from the past decade and to propose future directions to advance the field. The last decade of the Journal featured a wide diversity of studies, including evaluations of interpretive programs and trainings, examinations of specific interpretive techniques, and various other related topics. We summarize the decade’s contributions and share lessons learned associated with interpretive techniques; organizational practices; professional development; diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice; visitor characteristics; and motivating attendance at interpretive programs. We then identify eight areas for future research, including: (1) measuring more ambitious outcomes; (2) identifying effective practices for diverse audiences; (3) studying innovations through adaptive management; (4) examining intergenerational learning; (5) evaluating professional development; (6) conducting organizational studies; (7) investigating the politics of interpretation and sensitive topics; and (8) partnering on research for diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice.

El entenado, de Juan José Saer: “nueva crónica de Indias”, “nueva novela histórica”, “metaficción historiográfica”, “ficción y de archivo” y “novela neobarroca”

Taking into account the different interpretative frameworks that have been proposed for a critical approach to the emergence of the historical fiction in the latest Latin-American narrative, the following article proposes a set of reading keys for the novel El entenado (1983), by Juan José Saer, paying attention, in a special way, to the metafictional and intertextual character of the novel, as common features to all the interpretive programs that will be considered.

A Comparison of Traditional and Facilitated Dialogue Programs in Grand Teton National Park: An Evaluation for the Future of Interpretive Programs

As part of finding their path for the next hundred years, the National Park Service is exploring diverse ways to engage the public and help create systemic changes in the way that the public interacts with each other. Facilitated dialogue in interpretive programs has been one of those ways. Traditionally, the public has embraced programming based on the expert and delivery, whereas the new direction leans toward an audience-centered, facilitated experience. To determine how this shift is affecting the experience related to interpretation in the parks, Grand Teton National Park (GRTE) conducted a study in 2015 and 2016. This multi-method study (this article presenting one slice) is based on the research model by Stern, et al (2012), which examined program and visitor characteristics among 56 live interpretive programs in Grand Teton National Park. Our goals were to compare traditional program with facilitated dialogue programs and to compare program characteristics over these two years. Findings indicate that traditional programs were significantly more attended than facilitated dialogue programs. However, when examining program characteristics, facilitated dialogue programs received significantly higher program evaluation scores than traditional programs. Adherence to the four-step Arc of Dialogue model was strongly and positively correlated with program characteristics.

The Impact of Appropriate Interpersonal Touch (AIT) via Handshake on Perceived Credibility of Interpreter and Message

The role of interpersonal touch has been studied in communication fields, demonstrating a handshake or other form of appropriate interpersonal touch (AIT) has rendered favorable results in rapport building with an audience as well as developing audience comfort and receptivity to messaging. This study aimed to determine if the use of a handshake prior to interpretive programming would increase the positivity of perception of a visitor toward interpreters and/or the message shared by interpreters. Four interpreters gave both control and test interpretive programs, with 404 participants completing surveys at the site for a period of about one month. The interpreters were then asked to reflect on their practice at the end of the study. The research also discusses viewpoints of professionals in the field of interpretation about the current use and perception of touch. Trough three angles, the research demonstrated that AIT positively affects a visitor's perception of the interpreter and the message shared. The research also highlights and discusses boundaries in the use of touch and next steps toward researching AIT's role in the field of interpretation.

National Parks for New Audiences

Changing sociocultural and historiographic contexts require new approaches to interpretation and presentation at National Park Service–administered sites. Through the study of two NPS parks in Washington State (San Juan Island National Historical Park and Whitman Mission National Historic Site), this article explores the agency’s interpretive programs and practices in relation to founding mandates and contemporary relevance. As demonstrated by these case studies, efforts to expand programming and presentations within the NPS system are ongoing but at present insufficient in light of current changes in demographics and visitation. Ultimately, for the NPS to remain relevant in the twenty-first century it must respect founding mandates but diversify interpretation of its parks’ contested histories, thereby enhancing its contemporary relevance and better engaging today’s audiences.

Choosing Illustrations of Spider (Faces) for Best First Impressions in Natural History Interpretive Programs A Program Component Analysis

This study demonstrates that faces of spiders that are neotenic are perceived as less scary than others, if not cute. A convenience sample of adults (n=69) at a university distributed 15 photographs spider faces along a ruler based on perceived scariness. Six of the seven photographs of jumping spiders (Family Salticidae) were ranked as least scary. Results suggest that using illustrations of jumping spiders to create a positive affective first impression in interpretive programs about spiders is a reasonable assumption. Spiders in the jumping spider family may be viewed as a –gateway spider.” This study illustrates a research and design approach termed Program Component Analysis (PCA), in which a design question for only a component of a program is subjected to systematic analysis.

Speculating on the Role of Context in the Outcomes of Interpretive Programs

Based on data from 272 live interpretive programs conducted across 24 units of the U.S. National Park Service, we investigate the influence of context upon interpretive programs and visitor outcomes. We first examined whether outcomes vary based upon the size of the audience and its age makeup; program characteristics such as duration, topic, and type; and characteristics of the setting including proximity to urban centers, program location (indoor vs. outdoor), and resource quality. We then examine whether different program or interpreter characteristics operate differently in different contexts by examining their relationships to visitor outcomes in four context pairings: programs with mostly children vs. mostly adults in the audience; culturally focused vs. environmentally focused programs; programs conducted in remote vs. urban parks; and indoor vs. outdoor programs. The findings suggest that a small number of program and interpreter characteristics may operate differently within different contexts. Based on these results, we propose hypotheses regarding which program characteristics appear to be more or less beneficial (or harmful) to generating desired visitor outcomes in different contexts.

The Difference between Good Enough and Great: Bringing Interpretive Best Practices to Life

The purpose of this paper is to illuminate in both a quantitative and qualitative sense the practices that distinguish great interpretive programs from those that may merely be adequate to satisfy the visitor's basic desires to learn, be entertained, or spend time with a ranger. Great programs, like great works of art, have the potential to impact audiences in a deeper sense by providing memorable experiences that may influence multiple aspects of visitors’ lives. This paper draws on experiences from three months of fieldwork, observing 376 interpretive programs across 24 units of the U.S. National Park Service, to illustrate examples of program elements that distinguished what we considered to be the best programs we observed.

Visitor Evaluation of Night Sky Interpretation in Bryce Canyon National Park and Cedar Breaks National Monument

Natural lightscapes are an important resource for parks and protected areas, including Bryce Canyon National Park and Cedar Breaks National Monument. Both locations offer night sky interpretive programs, attracting over 27,000 visitors annually, equaling all other interpretive programs combined. Parks need to understand what drives visitor interest and park managers need to assess if night sky interpretation is meeting expectations. A total of 1,179 night and day visitors to Bryce Canyon National Park and Cedar Breaks National Monument served as participants and completed a 36-item survey measuring knowledge, attitudes, benefits, and behaviors related to the night sky. Results show those who attended a night sky interpretive program gained a significant amount of knowledge about night sky issues. Both day and night visitors have strongly held attitudes about light pollution and the protection of the night sky in national parks.