THE ROLE OF COGNITIVE SCRIPTS IN THE ORGANIZATION OF CAMPUS TOURS

The aim of off-campus educational activity guides are to expand the knowledge of participants; however, visitors often rate tours according to the quality of their experience, rather than by what they have learned. Thus, ensuring that visitors are engaged requires that tour guides be able to identify the needs and expectations of visitors. This study sought to contextualize campus tours using four dramaturgical elements: “Actors” (tour guides), "audience” (visitors); “setting” (campus); “performance” (the tour). Dramaturgy and cognitive scripts were combined to form the research basis of this study. Free association models were employed to rank the sites subjects most wish to visit and service blueprints were used to illustrate how campus tour services should be organized and delivered. This study provides a comprehensive analysis of the processes used to decipher complex service encounters as well as concrete examples of their application.