The 3 second rule

Vulpes

Vulpes

Well-Known Member
I have heard of some research that suggests that the average time spent at an exhibit by a visitor is 3 seconds! surely that cannot be true!? roughly what time do you think is spent at an exhibit?

What is the minimum amount of exhibits that could be in a zoo so that it can be called a zoo or provide people with a good day out?
 
I know from personal observation that there are many reptile exhibits where people spend maybe 10 seconds or less at, and frequently if there aren't any animals directly in view then visitors will cruise past the major mammal exhibits in a matter of seconds. Also, this summer when I visited 29 different zoos and aquariums I was shocked to see how 95% of zoo visitors seem to barely read any of the signage.
 
Got say it sounds a bit sort but then again if nothings their whats the point in looking for it so taking that into account 3 seconds is about the normal length of time for the average zoo visitor to look at something,on the other hand if you took a member of this forum you would end up with a lot longer of time spent watching.
 
Does this take into account, people who just casually look into an exhibit?

I do this alot on my way to an enclosure that really interests me & I have to admit that at chester I do this alot because I go so often.
 
I kinda just slide by exhibits as wel since I go to Melbourne zoo like every three weeks , though I can depend on how the animals are behaving but surely three seconds at one exhibit!
Perhaps this explains why Beijing zoo's recommened time to spend there is about one hour,
 
yeah it seems incredibally short! Personally I think that if the animals are active the average time greatly increases but reasearch does not state if the animals are active when the survey took place. when you think of it though I have seen kids running from enclosure to enclosure and probably spend less than 3 seconds!! Apparently the way they work out the entrance fee for a zoo is £3 an hour spent in the place! Means a hell of a lot of exhibits to make up some of the prices we see
 
3 - 10 seconds sounds about right for many species. I think the key factor affecting dwell time is 'is the animal visible'? And if it is then 'is the animal doing anything?' If either of these answers are no, most people move on pretty quick. Also depends on the nature of the exhibit. Traditional style reptile houses / aquariums / bird walks tend to result in visitor fatigue due to the monotony of the enclosures. Tank after tank after tank soon leads to visitors getting a bit bored. I would imagine that more innovative display methods (along with innovative interpretation)will lead to a higher likelihood of people hanging around. I watched about a dozen teenage lads in London zoo reptile house last week walking quickly past most of the rather uniform vivariums. A recently refurbished enclosure for Gila monsters and Sceloporus kept their attention for the best part of 10 minutes however and I reckon this was due to the extremely active Sceloporus displaying and courting on the back of a sleeping Gila, as well as the 'immersion style' of the vivarium (substrate, rockwork etc continued onto the public side of the viewing window).
 
Vulpes said:
I have heard of some research that suggests that the average time spent at an exhibit by a visitor is 3 seconds! surely that cannot be true!? roughly what time do you think is spent at an exhibit?
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It depends. When animal is invisible or inactive, many visitors just pass by. I often see people passing by some supposedly "attractive" animal, e.g. lion, because it is sleeping, and hanging long next to some "unattractive" one, e.g. rodent, because they are doing something.

There are many ways to change it. Some good exhibits are worth seeing for themselves, e.g. amazing rainforests in some tropical halls, where people are even not supposed to see most species.

Vulpes said:
What is the minimum amount of exhibits that could be in a zoo so that it can be called a zoo or provide people with a good day out?
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Perhaps just a few, if well done. I know some very small zoo houses but people still pay separate admission price.
 
Most people at my school when we went to the zoo for an excursion only spent time at the exhibits of animals that they could make jokes off!
 
Ive heard a very good expression, "people want to see interesting animals doing interesting things" and many regards its quite true as to the average zoo visitor a monkey is a monkey whether it be a rhesus macaque or a moloch gibbon.
 
It iritates me when people aren't patient. When they don't see anything that moves in a exhibit they go on with the tour. I think it's realy necessary to take your time. Of course we visit zoos another way than normal visitors. Lots of people come with children and they only get excited when they see active animals :) so they pass by the other exhibits or take a quick look.
 
I happen to notice just the last time I went to the zoo that people move in waves, I obviously spend most of my time at the trail of the elephants observing behaviour, just that every 20 minutes or so a wave of quite a lot of people would come through and there are three paddocks to observe elephants so, once someone started to leave others would just trail off.

Really strange like seeing robots,!
 
Marc said:
It iritates me when people aren't patient.
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I love the fact that people aren't patient, means I get alot of peace & quiet around the exhibits I enjoy spending my time at.

As long as there not harrassing the animals or breaking other laws who cares if the spend 3 secs at an enclosure instead of 5 minutes?
 
taun said:
I love the fact that people aren't patient, means I get alot of peace & quiet around the exhibits I enjoy spending my time at.

As long as there not harrassing the animals or breaking other laws who cares if the spend 3 secs at an enclosure instead of 5 minutes?
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Here, here my family when they need to go to the city usually drop me off at the zoo so I go in alone, although I was probably once one of them those tiny little kids that push and shove you to try and get to the front, the most common one I here is " Mommy I can't see!"
 
dragon(ele)nerd said:
although I was probably once one of them those tiny little kids that push and shove you to try and get to the front, the most common one I here is " Mommy I can't see!"
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Yes that is annoying people barging in, unless it is really busy I wont move from my spot to let people in too see.

It all depends on your upbringing thou, and it comes down to good manners.
 
taun said:
Yes that is annoying people barging in, unless it is really busy I wont move from my spot to let people in too see.

It all depends on your upbringing thou, and it comes down to good manners.
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Oh I usually answer questions by families and stuff and let them see, I guess the little kids are just eager,

Find it strange mainly because I'm the only one by myself around my age, only other people by themselves are photographers ahahaha
 
taun said:
Yes that is annoying people barging in, unless it is really busy I wont move from my spot to let people in too see.

It all depends on your upbringing thou, and it comes down to good manners.
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same here!!!!:):):):)
 
dont you just hate it when you set off around a zoo at the same time as a school group or annoying family!!grrrr!!! Tip go the wrong way around the zoo start at the end of th emap and finish up at No.1! Means nobody travels around with you!
 
company is nice of course on some occassion, randomn people approach me and have a conversation.. ... most of them are adults!
 
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