In response to Marilyn Hood's article "The Use, Misuse, And Abuse Of Consultants, I: The View Of An Audience Researcher" found in the same issue, consultant Harris Shettel discusses the challenges of the consultant-museum staff relationship from the perspective of an evaluator. Shettel describes instances of misuse and abuse of consultant evaluators.
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TEAM MEMBERS:
Visitor Studies AssociationHarris Shettel
In this article, audience researcher Marilyn G. Hood offers precautions and identifies potential trouble spots to help consultants and researchers work together effectively in a partnership. Hood presents eight topics that are the bases for most difficulties arising in the relationship between consultant and museum staff and/or trustees. In addition, Hood outlines nine ways audience researchers may experience additional difficulties peculiar to this field.
This paper focuses on three major issues impeding evaluation at museums: 1) the lack of understanding about evaluation and its uses in museum settings; 2) tight budgets; and 3) staff issues. The authors explain how the Memphis Museum System has addressed each issue and offer suggestions for generic solutions for each issue, which can be used by others.
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TEAM MEMBERS:
Tara KnottDouglas Noble
resourceresearchProfessional Development, Conferences, and Networks
In this article, Stephen Bitgood, of Jacksonville State University, summarizes some of the professional issues related to visitor studies. Bitgood also argues in favor of professionalism in visitor studies and presents the advantages in having "visitor studies" identified as a professional field.
In this article, Ross J. Loomis of Colorado State University discusses the significance of the Visitor Studies Conference in Ottawa as well as the regular presentations on visitor research at the American Association of Museums national meetings. Loomis also outlines agenda items for the newly created Visitor Studies Association and future Visitor Studies Conferences.
In this paper, Minda Borun of the Franklin Institute Science Museum responds to questions raised by Harris Shettel during the opening session at the 1991 Visitor Studies Conference. Borun explains why the status of museum evaluation is "definitely improving," offers important research questions to consider, distinguishes between research and evaluation, and answers the lingering question, "Where do we go from here?" by summarizing the thoughts of several speakers who attended the conference.
This paper presents research related to labels that assist visitors in interpreting objects in scientific museums. The authors present an overview of the linguistic tendencies of labeling in museums and scientific exhibitions. In addition, initial findings from a study of modified label text will shed light on the impact of variable text. Note: the figures in this paper are in French.
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TEAM MEMBERS:
Julie DesjardinsDaniel JacobiMarie-Sylvie Poli
This paper discusses the the value of interpretive inquiry in examining visitors' reactions to museum environments as well as evaluating visitor outcomes expected by those producing the environments. This paper provides an explanation of interpretive inquiry as well as examples of this methodology in action at the Gibson House Living History Museum, Ontario Science Centre, and the Art Gallery of Ontario.
This paper discusses the Museum Impact and Evaluation Study, a research collaborative originated by the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago, and made up of nine museums from across the country. The intent of the study was to reach toward understanding the long-term outcomes of museums visits, focusing on the relationships that develop between visitors and museums and exhibits within museums over time. This overview provides a summation of the project's scope, research process, plan, and current status.
This paper discusses the benefits of conducting long-term evaluations. It explains the rationale behind and methodology used in a study of "Bird Discovery Point," a group of interactive exhibits located in the Aquatic Bird House at the Brookfield Zoo. The author briefly describes the issues that were raised in each of the eight evaluation efforts, the lessons from both the evaluation process and findings, and how this study impacted the decision-making processes of the institution, staff perceptions, and exhibit development in other areas.
In this paper, researchers from the National Zoological Park discuss ways of incorporating visitors into exhibit development and the value visitors bring to the process, specifically during front-end evaluation. The authors cite examples from the development of "The Good, the Bad, and the Cuddly: Attitudes Toward Animals" exhibit, which opened at the National Zoological Park in September 1991.
In this paper, John P. Braaksma of Carleton University discusses how the method of time-stamping can be used to obtain precise knowledge of visitor movements to aid program planning and improve customer service. This paper outlines the methodology Braaksma used when first employing the time-stamping technique in 1975 at the Winnipeg International Airport passenger terminal. It includes results of this pilot study and recommendations for applications of this method in other facilities like museums.