What’s the story of the elephant? Evaluation of choose-your-own-adventure activities on public perception of human–elephant conflict

Abstract

Choose-your-own-adventure (CYOA) narratives offer immersive experiences that can effectively convey complex conservation concepts, fostering empathy and critical thinking, particularly in addressing issues like human–elephant conflict. Despite their potential, there is limited research on the use of CYOA activities in conservation education. In this study, we created an interactive story centered on elephant conservation, drawing fromexisting research to distill scientific concepts into engaging narratives and utilizing various modes of delivery (YouTube and live performances) to reach diverse audiences. We conducted postactivity surveys to assess variations in audience perception, learning, and conservation engagement intentions in relation to sociodemographic factors, activity type, and messages encountered. We then modeled the relationships between ordinal responses and explanatory variables using cumulative ordinal mixed models (N = 398). For the YouTube version, we also considered sociodemographic factors (YouTube n = 53, non-YouTube n=47). Our findings indicate a preference for live performances over online YouTube activity, with participants gaining knowledge about elephant conservation from both formats. For the YouTube activity, participants strongly agreed that the activity allowed engagement with the character and topic. They also expressed a higher likelihood of participating in several conservation actions, relative to a control group. While CYOA storytelling shows promise for conservation education, challenges remain in simplifying scientific language, assessing its impact on comprehension of complex issues, standardizing outcomes, and effectively communicating knowledge. Further research is recommended to adapt this approach, making it applicable to various audiences and domains beyond conservation.

Keywords

conservation / education / elephant / Elephas maximus / games / outreach

References

[1] Aarseth,E., (2012) A Narrative Theory of Games. FDG ’12: Proceedings of the International Conference on the Foundations of Digital Games, 129–133.

[2] Andrade,A., Dionisio, M., & Nisi,V., (2022) SeaStory: an interactive narrative using collaborative features. In: Proceedings of the 21st Annual ACM Interaction Design and Children. pp. 633–636.

[3] Avraamidou,L., & Osborne, J., (2009) The role of narrative in communicating science. International Journal of Science Education, 31(12), 1683–1707.

[4] Billah,M.M., Rahman, M.M., Abedin,J., & Akter,H., (2021) Land cover change and its impact on human–elephant conflict: a case from Fashiakhali forest reserve in Bangladesh. SN Applied Sciences, 3(6), 649.

[5] Bodrow,W., Busch,C., & Steinicke,M., (2011) Digital game based learning, Proceedings of the International Conference on E-Learning and the Knowledge Society. ASE Publishing House.

[6] Botetzagias,I., Dima,A.F. & Malesios,C., (2015) Extending the theory of planned behavior in the context of recycling: the role of moral norms and of demographic predictors. Resources, Conservation And Recycling, 95, 58–67. Available from:

[7] Breien,F.S. & Wasson, B., (2021) Narrative categorization in digital game-based learning: engagement, motivation & learning. British Journal of Educational Technology, 52(1), 91–111. Available from:

[8] Bruner,J.S. (1986) Actual minds, possible worlds. Harvard University Press.

[9] Chakravarty,S, Ghosh,S.K., Suresh,C.P., Dey, A.N. & Shukla,G (2012) Deforestation: causes, effects and control strategies, Global perspectives on sustainable forest management. INTECH Open Access Publisher, pp. 3–28.

[10] Chen,S.-W., Yang,C.-H., Huang,K.-S. & Fu, S.-L. (2019) Digital games for learning energy conservation: a study of impacts on motivation, attention, and learning outcomes. Innovations in Education and Teaching International, 56(1), 66–76.

[11] Cliburn,D.C. & Miller, S., (2008) Games, stories, or something more traditional: the types of assignments college students prefer. In: Proceedings of the 39th SIGCSE Technical Symposium on Computer Science Education. pp. 138–142.

[12] Dahlstrom,M.F. (2014) Using narratives and storytelling to communicate science with nonexpert audiences. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 111(suppl_4), 13614–13620.

[13] Dickman,A.J. (2010) Complexities of conflict: the importance of considering social factors for effectively resolving human–wildlife conflict. Animal Conservation, 13(5), 458–466.

[14] Din,H.W.-H. (2006) Play to learn: exploring online educational games in museums. In: ACM SIGGRAPH 2006 Educators Program. pp. 13–es.

[15] Dincelli,E., & Chengalur-Smith, I., (2020) Choose your own training adventure: designing a gamified SETA artefact for improving information security and privacy through interactive storytelling. European Journal of Information Systems, 29(6), 669–687.

[16] Ebner,M., & Holzinger, A., (2007) Successful implementation of user-centered game based learning in higher education: an example from civil engineering. Computers & Education, 49(3), 873–890.

[17] Erdogan,M., Akbunar, S., Asik,U.O., Kaplan,H., & Kayir, C.G. (2012) The effects of demographic variables on students’ responsible environmental behaviors. Procedia—Social and Behavioral Sciences, 46, 3244–3248. Available from:

[18] Evans,R.D. & Evans, G.E. (1989) Cognitive mechanisms in learning from metaphors. The Journal of Experimental Education, 58(1), 5–19.

[19] Fazio,R.H. & Zanna, M.P. (1981) Direct experience and attitude-behavior consistency, In: Advances in experimental social psychology, 14. Elsevier. pp. 161–202.

[20] Fernando,P., & Pastorini, J., (2011) Range-wide status of Asian elephants. Gajah, 35, 15–20.

[21] Frazier,A., & Gonzales, J.E. (2022) Studying sequential processes of criminal defendant decision-making using a choose-your-own-adventure research paradigm. Psychology, Crime & Law, 28(9), 883–910.

[22] Göbel,S., & Mehm, F., (2013) Personalized, adaptive digital educational games using narrative game-based learning objects, In: Serious Games and Virtual Worlds in Education, Professional Development, and Healthcare. Igi Global. pp. 74–84.

[23] Green,M.C. & Jenkins, K.M. (2014) Interactive narratives: processes and outcomes in user-directed stories. Journal of Communication, 64(3), 479–500. Available from:

[24] Hanus,M.D. & Fox, J., (2015) Assessing the effects of gamification in the classroom: a longitudinal study on intrinsic motivation, social comparison, satisfaction, effort, and academic performance. Computers & Education, 80, 152–161.

[25] Hwang,G.J., Yang,L.H. & Wang,S.Y. (2013) A concept map-embedded educational computer game for improving students’ learning performance in natural science courses. Computers & Education, 69, 121–130.

[26] IUCN. 2023. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2023-1. https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/7140/45818198 [Accessed on 27th May 2024].

[27] Jannah,M., Halim,L., Meerah, T.S.M. & Fairuz,M., (2013) Impact of environmental education kit on students’ environmental literacy. Asian Social Science, 9(12 SPL ISSUE), 1–12. Available from:

[28] Jenkins,K.M. (2014) Choose your own adventure: interactive narratives and attitude change. University of North Carolina

[29] Jose,P.E. & Brewer, W.F. (1984) Development of story liking: character identification, suspense, and outcome resolution. Developmental Psychology, 20(5), 911–924.

[30] Kamaruddin,H., Othman, N., Sum,S.M. & Rahim,N.Z.A. (2019) Environmental education in Malaysia: past. Present And Future, 70, 226–235. Available from:

[31] Kuo,M.-J. (2007) How does an online game based learning environment promote students’ intrinsic motivation for learning natural science and how does it affect their learning outcomes? In: 2007 First IEEE International Workshop on Digital Game and Intelligent Toy Enhanced Learning (DIGITEL’07) (pp. 135-142). Los Alamitos, CA: IEEE Computer Society.

[32] LaDue,C.A., Eranda, I., Jayasinghe,C., & Vandercone,R.P.G. (2021) Mortality patterns of Asian elephants in a region of human–elephant conflict. Journal of Wildlife Management, 85(4), 794–802. Available from:

[33] Ladue,C.A., Farinelli, S.M., Eranda,I., Jayasinghe,C., & Vandercone, R.P.G. (2021) The influence of habitat changes on elephant mortality associated with human–elephant conflict: identifying areas of concern in the north central dry zone of Sri Lanka. Sustainability (Switzerland), 13(24), 13707. Available from:

[34] Lepper,M.R. & Malone, T.W. (1987) Intrinsic motivation and instruction effectiveness in computer-based education. In: Snow, R.E. & Farr, M.J. (Eds.) Aptitude, Learning and Instruction, 3, 1st ed. Routledge.

[35] Li,D., Zhao,L., Ma,S., Shao, S., & Zhang,L., (2019) What influences an individual’s pro-environmental behavior? A literature review. Resources, Conservation And Recycling, 146, 28–34. Available from:

[36] Ly,C.T. (2011) Current status of Asian elephants in Vietnam. Gajah, 35, 104–109.

[37] Margules,C.R. & Pressey, R.L. (2000) Systematic conservation planning. Nature, 405(6783), 243–253.

[38] Martín-Regalado,C.N., Briones-Salas,M., Moreno, C.E. & Sánchez-Rojas,G., (2022) Identifying areas for multidimensional biodiversity conservation, with a case study in Oaxaca, Mexico. Perspectives in Ecology and Conservation, 20(4), 369–376.

[39] Mbaru,E.K., Hicks,C.C., Gurney,G.G. & Cinner, J.E. (2021) Evaluating outcomes of conservation with multidimensional indicators of well-being. Conservation Biology, 35(5), 1417–1425. Available from:

[40] Melcer,E.F., Ryan,J., Junius,N., Kreminski, M., Squinkifer,D., Hill,B. et al. (2020, April 25) Teaching responsible conduct of research through an interactive storytelling game. Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems - Proceedings.

[41] Niemiec,R.M., Sekar,S., Gonzalez,M., & Mertens, A., (2020) The influence of message framing on public beliefs and behaviors related to species reintroduction. Biological Conservation, 248, 108522. Available from:

[42] Norman,Z.D. (2020) Understanding the Effect of Distance Learning vs. Face-to-Face Learning Experiences on Students’ Engagement in Higher Education. Available from: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3734764

[43] Panjaitan,R.L. (2016) Implementing a “choose your own adventure” method in teaching basic concepts of sound to primary-school teacher candidate students. Journal of Physics: Conference Series, 739(1), 012104. Available from:

[44] Praet,E., Baeza-Álvarez, J., De Veer,D., Holtmann-Ahumada,G., Jones, J.S., Langford,S. et al. (2023) Bottle with a message: the role of story writing as an engagement tool to explore children’s perceptions of marine plastic litter. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 186, 114457. Available from:

[45] Saaban,S., (n.d.) Human-Wildlife Conflict in Peninsular Malaysia - Current Status and Overview. Malaysian Palm Oil Council. Retrieved March 26, 2022. Available from: https://mpoc.org.my/human-wildlife-conflict-in-peninsular-malaysia-current-status-and-overview-2/

[46] Sampson,C., Rodriguez, S.L., Leimgruber,P., Huang,Q., & Tonkyn, D., (2021) A quantitative assessment of the indirect impacts of human-elephant conflict. PLoS One, 16(7 July), 0253784. Available from:

[47] Scott,D., Cernasev, A., & Kiles,T.M. (2021) Reimagining pharmacy education through the lens of a choose your own adventure activity—a qualitative evaluation. Pharmacy: Journal of Pharmacy Education and Practice, 9(3), 151.

[48] Sharma,R., Goossens, B., Heller,R., Rasteiro,R., Othman, N., Bruford,M.W. et al. (2018) Genetic analyses favour an ancient and natural origin of elephants on Borneo. Scientific Reports, 8(1), 880.

[49] Sinha,S., (2022) Visible and hidden costs of human-elephant conflict on smallholders in Peninsular Malaysia. MRes thesis, University of Nottingham.

[50] Stanfill,A.G. & Martin, M.Y. (2023) Choose your own adventure: a perspective on career development. Journal of Clinical and Translational Science, 7(1), e143. Available from:

[51] Stein,N.L. (1982) The definition of a story. Journal of Pragmatics, 6(5–6), 487–507.

[52] Taheripour,F., Hertel, T.W. & Ramankutty,N., (2019) Market-mediated responses confound policies to limit deforestation from oil palm expansion in Malaysia and Indonesia. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 116(38), 19193–19199. Available from:

[53] Tan,C.K.W., Woei Lee, J., Hii,A., Loo,Y.Y., Campos-Arceiz, A., & Macdonald,D.W. (2018) The effect of using games in teaching conservation. PeerJ, 6, e4509.

[54] Thomas,S.P., Fathy,R., Aepli,S., Clancy, C.B., Lipschik,G.Y., Simpson,S.A. et al. (2022) Comparative evaluation of choose your own adventure and traditional linear case formats in radiology small group teaching. Academic Radiology, 29, S82–S88. Available from:

[55] Vadrevu,K., Heinimann, A., Gutman,G., & Justice,C., (2019) Remote sensing of land use/cover changes in South and Southeast Asian Countries. International Journal of Digital Earth, 12(Issue 10), 1099–1102. Available from:

[56] Wadey,J., Beyer,H.L., Saaban,S., Othman, N., Leimgruber,P., & Campos-Arceiz,A., (2018) Why did the elephant cross the road? The complex response of wild elephants to a major road in Peninsular Malaysia. Biological Conservation, 218, 91–98. Available from:

[57] Wahab,A., Zafir,A., Magintan,D., & Magintan, A.W. (2016) Historical review of human-elephant conflict in Peninsular Malaysia. In Journal of Wildlife and Parks, Vol. 31.

[58] Yamamoto-Ebina,S., Saaban, S., Campos-Arceiz,A., & Takatsuki,S., (2016) Food habits of Asian elephants Elephas maximus in a rainforest of Northern Peninsular Malaysia. Mammal Study, 41(3), 155–161. Available from:

[59] Young,R.D & Monroe, M.C. (1996) Some fundamentals of engaging stories. Environmental Education Research, 2(2), 171–187.

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

2024 The Author(s). Integrative Conservation published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden (XTBG).