Virginia Beach is for Lovers of Dark Tourism

Description/Abstract/Artist Statement

Four ODU students conducted a program evaluation for the Unforeseen Circumstances -- Tales of Misfortune Tour of Cedar Grove Cemetery in Norfolk, Virginia on October 5, 2019. Every year, the Norfolk Society for Cemetery Conservation offers historical tours to educate people in the Hampton Roads area about Norfolk cemeteries and the people buried there. This tour was hosted by a knowledgeable tour guide who told stories of all the mysterious deaths in the cemetery. To determine participants’ opinions of the tour, evaluators distributed a one-page survey to participants at the end of the event. Eighteen participants filled out the survey. The survey items focused on participants’ previous experience of Norfolk Cemetery tours, the way they learned about the tour, likes and dislikes, and willingness to return and recommend the tour to others. After data analysis, evaluators determined that most participants had attended a tour run by the Norfolk Society for Cemetery Conservation before. Education was a main reason many people attended the tour: they enjoyed learning about Norfolk history. Those that stated they had attended this type of tour before also stated that they would like to know more about disease-related deaths. Many participants stated they would attend another tour with some suggested additions. Evaluators recommend that the organization offer an extra day for the tour to accommodate for inclement weather. Also, for the organization to invest in a better-quality speaker that is more equipped for a bigger crowd, this would give the participants a better experience while touring.

Presenting Author Name/s

Ashley-Nicole Chinyereugoma Nnadi

Faculty Advisor/Mentor

Lindsay Usher

Presentation Type

Poster

Disciplines

Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research

Session Title

Poster Session

Location

Learning Commons, Atrium

Start Date

2-8-2020 8:00 AM

End Date

2-8-2020 12:30 PM

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Feb 8th, 8:00 AM Feb 8th, 12:30 PM

Virginia Beach is for Lovers of Dark Tourism

Learning Commons, Atrium

Four ODU students conducted a program evaluation for the Unforeseen Circumstances -- Tales of Misfortune Tour of Cedar Grove Cemetery in Norfolk, Virginia on October 5, 2019. Every year, the Norfolk Society for Cemetery Conservation offers historical tours to educate people in the Hampton Roads area about Norfolk cemeteries and the people buried there. This tour was hosted by a knowledgeable tour guide who told stories of all the mysterious deaths in the cemetery. To determine participants’ opinions of the tour, evaluators distributed a one-page survey to participants at the end of the event. Eighteen participants filled out the survey. The survey items focused on participants’ previous experience of Norfolk Cemetery tours, the way they learned about the tour, likes and dislikes, and willingness to return and recommend the tour to others. After data analysis, evaluators determined that most participants had attended a tour run by the Norfolk Society for Cemetery Conservation before. Education was a main reason many people attended the tour: they enjoyed learning about Norfolk history. Those that stated they had attended this type of tour before also stated that they would like to know more about disease-related deaths. Many participants stated they would attend another tour with some suggested additions. Evaluators recommend that the organization offer an extra day for the tour to accommodate for inclement weather. Also, for the organization to invest in a better-quality speaker that is more equipped for a bigger crowd, this would give the participants a better experience while touring.