Exploring the Recognition Processes of the Birdwatchers

• Main Authors: Weng, Jung-Hsuan, 翁榮炫
• Other Authors: Liu, Shiang-Yao
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2008
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/75451269476717002511

碩士 === 國立高雄師範大學 === 環境教育研究所 === 96 === This study aims to explore the differences of recognition process in bird identification between expert and novice birdwatchers. The sample was purposively drawn from birdwatchers with age over 12 years old. Data collection methods include self-report, naturalistic observation and diagnostic interview. A research instrument was designed to assess people’s bird recognition ability. Thirty-six bird species were randomly selected from a pool of 459 species recorded in a database and then a powerpoint presentation with those bird photos was created for phase one interview. In the phase two, more structured interviews were conducted in the fieldwork exercise mainly to seek recognition process. In this study, the interviewees included three specialization levels: novice, intermediate and expert, after comparing their scores on the bird identification test in the phase one. The results showed that people who had bird watching experiences and owned different kinds of field guides got higher scores on the bird identification test. Qualitative data further indicated differences in the focal features recognized by the novice and expert birdwatchers. The experts used the feature of color to identify species, while the novices tended to identify birds by their shape rather than color. The identification strategy used by the novice birdwatchers were similar to that by the experts, but the novices often failed in the fist step to find the family of bird. The feature of body shape is the focal identification point used by the birdwatchers to judge the family of bird. When required to distinguish species, birdwatchers tended to look for features, such as feather color, and special shape of body, head, and wings. This study also analyzed the Chinese common names of birds. According to the findings about the recognition process, we suggest that using proper “adjective” as characteristics to name the bird in Chinese may help birdwatchers to identify birds. The multiple strategies of bird identification found in this study can provide references for the edit of field guides and the design of interpretation activities especially for the novice birdwatchers. The prototype-matching theory could be applied to explain the recognition process of the expert birdwatchers.