Participatory Evaluation of Cultural Heritage Based Programming to Empower Communities: A Quantitative Analysis

Abstract

A survey conducted on Heritage Monitoring Scouts (HMS) programmes at six Florida regions examines participants’ perceptions of public archaeology outreach initiatives on cultural heritage preservation. HMS Florida focuses on tracking changes to at-risk archaeological sites through public outreach programmes. A statistical analysis demonstrated a correlation between participants’ perceptions and the effectiveness of certain elements that provide a substantial framework for reaching the public with the message of cultural preservation. The findings show that the Florida Public Archaeology Network is reaching its organisational goal of creating appreciation and awareness for heritage, which helps to sustain the mission and vision for those working in cultural preservation. These survey results will help other public archaeology outreach programmes impact cultural heritage initiatives focused on preserving the past, such as citizen science programmes.