An Assessment of Visitor Attitudes toward Resource Use and Management

Abstract

The Morro do Diabo State Park environmental education program was developed, implemented, improved, and modified using the Planning-Process-Product (PPP) evaluation model. Questionnaires, interviews, and observation were used to assess the needs and the available resources and to clarify goals and objectives to guide the design of activities. The program targeted school children and consisted of a slide show and a guided visit to the park. Formative evaluation provided educators with continuous feedback to improve activities. Summative evaluation used systematic measurement through an experimental design involving 144 students from fifth to eighth grades, randomly assigned to treatment and control groups. A written questionnaire was completed on three occasions: pretest, posttest, and retention. The results demonstrated that the program was effective and the objectives achieved. Other indirect outcomes based on community involvement also were assessed and confirmed the program's success.