An assessment of public perceptions for the planning of environmental education
Turner R. 2005. An assessment of public perceptions for the planning of environmental education. University of Newcastle Upon Tyne. United Kingdom
Environmental education (EE) is increasingly advocated to assist coral reef conservation by engendering resource stewardship. Using semi-structured interviews, this study investigates the knowledge and perceptions of coral reefs among residents of Tutuila, American Samoa, and factors that affect these. The implicit assumption of the need for a change in perceptions to become more in line with scientific opinion is assessed in terms of its efficacy to deliver the intended outcomes of EE. The study concludes that EE must be appropriate to the social and cultural context in its content and delivery, in order to ensure that information provided is relevant to local needs and values.