Page 14 - VISITOR INTERPRETATION SERVICES
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1.3 Principles of






                    Interpretation

















                   Tilden (1957) developed a holistic set of 6



                   historio-cultural and natural interpretive


                   principles which continue to influence



                   contemporary practitioners. According to



                   Tilden interpretation must:














                        1) Must relate what is displayed to the experience


                            of the visitor,



                        2) Is revelation rather than information,



                        3) Is a teachable art,


                        4) Provoke rather than instruct,



                        5) Relate parts to an underlying whole and that


                        6) Children need a qualitatively different interpretive



                            approach from adults







                   Since the 1970’s, cognitive psychology, behaviorism and



                   communication theory have tended to dominate visitor


                   interpretation in efforts to understand the cognitive



                   processes embedded in the visitor experience and to



                   positively influence its outcomes.









                   In many cases attraction practitioners used evaluation to



                   reshape the design of their interpretive tools in order to


                   improve communication and demonstrate educational



                   effectiveness. These developments were driven partly by



                   the need to demonstrate social relevance and justify


                   public expenditure.




























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