Version 1
: Received: 12 June 2024 / Approved: 12 June 2024 / Online: 13 June 2024 (12:12:15 CEST)
How to cite:
Spooner, S. L.; Heath, N.; Dymond, T. Using Eye-Tracking to Create Impactful Interpretation Signage for Botanic Gardens and Other Visitor Attractions.. Preprints2024, 2024060842. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202406.0842.v1
Spooner, S. L.; Heath, N.; Dymond, T. Using Eye-Tracking to Create Impactful Interpretation Signage for Botanic Gardens and Other Visitor Attractions.. Preprints 2024, 2024060842. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202406.0842.v1
Spooner, S. L.; Heath, N.; Dymond, T. Using Eye-Tracking to Create Impactful Interpretation Signage for Botanic Gardens and Other Visitor Attractions.. Preprints2024, 2024060842. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202406.0842.v1
APA Style
Spooner, S. L., Heath, N., & Dymond, T. (2024). Using Eye-Tracking to Create Impactful Interpretation Signage for Botanic Gardens and Other Visitor Attractions.. Preprints. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202406.0842.v1
Chicago/Turabian Style
Spooner, S. L., Nicola Heath and Tee Dymond. 2024 "Using Eye-Tracking to Create Impactful Interpretation Signage for Botanic Gardens and Other Visitor Attractions." Preprints. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202406.0842.v1
Abstract
Despite their prevalence in almost all publicly orientated conservation settings, sign design receives limited attention in the research literature. We used a remote eye-tracking device to test how visitors read educational signs, maps, and species signage. Three designs, plus a plain-text control sign, were tested for each sign type. Sign content was based on Brackenhurst Botanic Garden, Kenya and included four different information texts (156-256 words long) and a species information text (64 words long). Four presentations of extinction threat-status were also tested as were depictions of trail routes on maps. Data were collected from 51 participants at six cultural venues across Nottingham, UK. Signs positioned centre-left of an exhibit were read first. Information on the left-hand side of signs was read first and dwelled upon the longest. Signs with a single large image and a single block of text were generally preferred, and images were most frequently recalled. Extinction threat-status was most frequently viewed and best recalled from green-red thermometer diagrams and least from the IUCN red-list diagram. Map routes were clearest when presented as coloured solid lines. This study indicates the potential benefit of eye-tracking research for measuring sign use and assisting in sign design.
Copyright:
This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
