Morehead State University
The Paradigm Shift at Carter Caves State Resort Park: From Exhibitors to Educators
Institution
Morehead State University
Faculty Advisor/ Mentor
Gary O’Dell
Abstract
Carter Caves State Resort Park in Eastern Kentucky was established in 1946 and has since exhibited a number of caves to the public. This research project focuses on the occupation and culture of cave guides at the park and specifically addresses the paradigm shift at the park from an early emphasis upon folklore and exhibition of “wonders” to public education and interpretation of nature. This paradigm shift was revealed during the preliminary research process and provided a primary direction of investigation. The primary goal of this paper is to answer the following questions. What brought about this shift in emphasis? How was it implemented? How has the shift affected guide culture at Carter Caves State Resort Park? These questions were addressed using qualitative methods, involving interviews of present and former guides and participant observation conducted by the researcher when employed by the Park as a cave guide in 2005. The research provided insight upon both the institutional and informal culture of the occupation of cave guiding and the transition from an exhibitory to an educational style, using as a model the concept of paradigm shift presented by Thomas A. Kuhn in The Structure of Scientific Revolutions.
The Paradigm Shift at Carter Caves State Resort Park: From Exhibitors to Educators
Carter Caves State Resort Park in Eastern Kentucky was established in 1946 and has since exhibited a number of caves to the public. This research project focuses on the occupation and culture of cave guides at the park and specifically addresses the paradigm shift at the park from an early emphasis upon folklore and exhibition of “wonders” to public education and interpretation of nature. This paradigm shift was revealed during the preliminary research process and provided a primary direction of investigation. The primary goal of this paper is to answer the following questions. What brought about this shift in emphasis? How was it implemented? How has the shift affected guide culture at Carter Caves State Resort Park? These questions were addressed using qualitative methods, involving interviews of present and former guides and participant observation conducted by the researcher when employed by the Park as a cave guide in 2005. The research provided insight upon both the institutional and informal culture of the occupation of cave guiding and the transition from an exhibitory to an educational style, using as a model the concept of paradigm shift presented by Thomas A. Kuhn in The Structure of Scientific Revolutions.