title: It’s a sign: From nocturnal kiwi to daytime heroes - The power of design in shaping conservation behaviour

authors: Fick-Swann, Skye

subjects: antecedent intervention

abstract: Interpretive signage is widely used in zoos and aquariums to support conservation education, yet evidence of its behavioural effectiveness remains inconsistent. I examined whether a poster designed using Big Hero Visualisation (BHV) principles functioned as an effective antecedent stimulus to increase recall of the five kiwi species. A between-subjects online experiment presented participants with existing National Aquarium exhibition signage, with the BHV kiwi poster included as an additional antecedent stimulus for the experimental condition only. The control condition viewed the same materials without the BHV poster prior to recall assessment. Participants also completed the Value Orientation Scale (VOS) and the New Ecological Paradigm (NEP) scale to explore whether self-reported environmental value orientations predicted recall or interacted with the signage condition. The logistic regression indicated that participants who viewed the BHV poster were more likely to recall the correct number of kiwi species compared to the control condition. None of the VOS or NEP subscales, nor their interactions with condition, were associated with recall accuracy. The study provides applied evidence that antecedent manipulations in visual design may influence immediate recall of conservation information. However, the online format likely increased attending relative to naturalistic settings, and I measured only immediate recall rather than broader behavioural outcomes. Future research should investigate how BHV elements perform amongst real-world competing stimuli and whether specific design components are more effective antecedent features. Overall, the results support continued evaluation of interpretive design as a low-cost behavioural intervention for improving conservation-related learning.

text: It’s a sign: From nocturnal kiwi to daytime heroes - The power of design in shaping conservation behaviour Interpretive signage is widely used in zoos and aquariums to support conservation education, yet evidence of its behavioural effectiveness remains inconsistent. I examined whether a poster designed using Big Hero Visualisation (BHV) principles functioned as an effective antecedent stimulus to increase recall of the five kiwi species. A between-subjects online experiment presented participants with existing National Aquarium exhibition signage, with the BHV kiwi poster included as an additional antecedent stimulus for the experimental condition only. The control condition viewed the same materials without the BHV poster prior to recall assessment. Participants also completed the Value Orientation Scale (VOS) and the New Ecological Paradigm (NEP) scale to explore whether self-reported environmental value orientations predicted recall or interacted with the signage condition. The logistic regression indicated that participants who viewed the BHV poster were more likely to recall the correct number of kiwi species compared to the control condition. None of the VOS or NEP subscales, nor their interactions with condition, were associated with recall accuracy. The study provides applied evidence that antecedent manipulations in visual design may influence immediate recall of conservation information. However, the online format likely increased attending relative to naturalistic settings, and I measured only immediate recall rather than broader behavioural outcomes. Future research should investigate how BHV elements perform amongst real-world competing stimuli and whether specific design components are more effective antecedent features. Overall, the results support continued evaluation of interpretive design as a low-cost behavioural intervention for improving conservation-related learning.

year: 2025

title: Visual collaging of music in a digital library

authors: Bainbridge, David

abstract: This article explores the role visual browsing can play within a digital music library. The context to the work is provided through a review of related techniques drawn from the fields of digital libraries and human computer interaction. Implemented within the open source digital library
toolkit Greenstone, a prototype system is described that combines images located through textual metadata with a visualisation technique known as collaging to provide a leisurely, undirected interaction with a music collection. Emphasis in the article is given to the augmentations of the basic technique to work in the musical domain.

text: Visual collaging of music in a digital library This article explores the role visual browsing can play within a digital music library. The context to the work is provided through a review of related techniques drawn from the fields of digital libraries and human computer interaction. Implemented within the open source digital library
toolkit Greenstone, a prototype system is described that combines images located through textual metadata with a visualisation technique known as collaging to provide a leisurely, undirected interaction with a music collection. Emphasis in the article is given to the augmentations of the basic technique to work in the musical domain.

year: 2004-10-01

title: Searching for synergy: Māori/indigenous and scientific conservatory values - the affinity propositon

authors: Simon, Katerina Heremoana

subjects: Development studies

abstract: "Reconciling similarity/ affinity and difference/ distinction is one of the most important development issues of our contemporary period. Yet much effort aimed at gaining support for the plight of Māori/ indigenous peoples remains locked into the assertion of difference and distinction alone, those points of cultural affinity that could play an important role in processes of reconciliation and movement forward being largely ignored. What is proposed here is what is referred to as the ‘affinity proposition’, that is, it is argued that Māori/ indigenous development requires, for its further advancement, a focus not only on difference and divergence, but also on similarity and affinity. At the very heart of Māori/ indigenous development are issues relating to social justice, economic equity, freedom, ecological sustainability and cultural diversity, concepts which are equally highly valued in many sectors of mainstream (non-indigenous) society. Certainly, there are important differences in the ways in which these values are perceived and articulated in the context of different cultures, and these differences have recently been the focus of considerable attention and debate. However, there are also similarities which have received less attention in spite of the fact that they may hold the key to achieving a sufficient level of mutual understanding to underpin effective Māori/ indigenous development.

This paper explores the development of a synergistic process of reconciliation between Māori/ indigenous values and scientific conservatory values. It reports on the preliminary findings of a research project whose focus is a cross-cultural study of environmental governance and management regimes under the New Zealand Resource Management Act 1991. The central questions addressed here are: Can reconciliation be achieved through recognition of both affinity and difference? Could such reconciliation underpin effective Māori/ indigenous development? It is argued here that a process of synergy is already under way, a process that can best be understood in terms of a theoretical framework that encompasses both the concept of modernity and the sustainable development paradigm."

text: Searching for synergy: Māori/indigenous and scientific conservatory values - the affinity propositon "Reconciling similarity/ affinity and difference/ distinction is one of the most important development issues of our contemporary period. Yet much effort aimed at gaining support for the plight of Māori/ indigenous peoples remains locked into the assertion of difference and distinction alone, those points of cultural affinity that could play an important role in processes of reconciliation and movement forward being largely ignored. What is proposed here is what is referred to as the ‘affinity proposition’, that is, it is argued that Māori/ indigenous development requires, for its further advancement, a focus not only on difference and divergence, but also on similarity and affinity. At the very heart of Māori/ indigenous development are issues relating to social justice, economic equity, freedom, ecological sustainability and cultural diversity, concepts which are equally highly valued in many sectors of mainstream (non-indigenous) society. Certainly, there are important differences in the ways in which these values are perceived and articulated in the context of different cultures, and these differences have recently been the focus of considerable attention and debate. However, there are also similarities which have received less attention in spite of the fact that they may hold the key to achieving a sufficient level of mutual understanding to underpin effective Māori/ indigenous development.

This paper explores the development of a synergistic process of reconciliation between Māori/ indigenous values and scientific conservatory values. It reports on the preliminary findings of a research project whose focus is a cross-cultural study of environmental governance and management regimes under the New Zealand Resource Management Act 1991. The central questions addressed here are: Can reconciliation be achieved through recognition of both affinity and difference? Could such reconciliation underpin effective Māori/ indigenous development? It is argued here that a process of synergy is already under way, a process that can best be understood in terms of a theoretical framework that encompasses both the concept of modernity and the sustainable development paradigm."

year: 2003-05