Effectiveness of Developed Interpretive Contents for Trail Signages

Environmental interpretation is an approach of communication used in most national parks and recreation areas to reveal information, create awareness and overcome park problems such as littering and vandalism. An experimental study was conducted to assess the effectiveness of developed interpretive contents for trail signages in influencing conservation awareness of visitors at Penang National Park (PNP), Malaysia. Interpretive signage with three different themes and storyline were designed using Tilden's interpretation principles and were placed along PNP's existing trails as treatment. The questionnaire survey was conducted before and after the visitors entered the park through Pasir Pandak (main entrance). The questionnaires were divided into three main sections and designed based on human basic psychological theory (belief, attitude and behavioural) to produce the concept of natural environment, emotional effect and human right.