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Evaluating the effect of a year‐long film focused environmental education program on Ugandan student knowledge of and attitudes toward great apes
Author(s) -
Leeds Austin,
Lukas Kristen E.,
Kendall Corinne J.,
Slavin Michelle A.,
Ross Elizabeth A.,
Robbins Martha M.,
van Weeghel Dagmar,
Bergl Richard A.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
american journal of primatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.988
H-Index - 81
eISSN - 1098-2345
pISSN - 0275-2565
DOI - 10.1002/ajp.22673
Subject(s) - national park , environmental education , psychology , range (aeronautics) , medical education , geography , pedagogy , engineering , medicine , archaeology , aerospace engineering
Films, as part of a larger environmental education program, have the potential to influence the knowledge and attitudes of viewers. However, to date, no evaluations have been published reporting the effectiveness of films, when used within primate range countries as part of a conservation themed program. The Great Ape Education Project was a year‐long environmental education program implemented in Uganda for primary school students living adjacent to Kibale National Park (KNP) and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (BINP). Students viewed a trilogy of conservation films about great apes, produced specifically for this audience, and participated in complementary extra‐curricular activities. The knowledge and attitudes of students participating in the program from KNP, but not BINP were assessed using questionnaires prior to ( N = 1271) and following ( N = 872) the completion of the program. Following the program, students demonstrated a significant increase in their knowledge of threats to great apes and an increase in their knowledge of ways that villagers and students can help conserve great apes. Additionally, student attitudes toward great apes improved following the program. For example, students showed an increase in agreement with liking great apes and viewing them as important to the environment. These data provide evidence that conservation films made specifically to address regional threats and using local actors and settings can positively influence knowledge of and attitudes toward great apes among students living in a primate range country.