This paper discusses a study aimed to answer some preliminary questions about the kinds of information remembered 20-30 years after a visit and the role that visitation frequency might play in influencing these recollections. In this study, twelve museum professionals were asked to recall their earliest, or a very early, museum experience and to relate it in as much detail as possible.
This paper discusses one research method used in front-end evaluation studies: focus groups. It provides an assessment of the fit of focus groups and front-end evaluation as well as suggests issues and considerations for maximizing the fit between focus groups and front-end evaluation
This paper discusses the history of museums as cultural institutions and presents the Model of the Dynamic Museum Environment as a useful method to help provide an understanding of what is happening in a given museum as well as a planning tool for designers. This model links the characteristics of the visitor, the museum environment, and the specific visitor-related goals of the institution.
This paper discusses how numerous methods and theories from sociological and anthropological research are applicable and useful in museum settings. These concepts can provide clues to new approaches to audience development and exhibit design. This paper relates to papers written by Dr. Adrian Aveni and Dr. Jeffrey Bonner featured earlier in this issue of "Visitor Studies."
This paper begins with a discussion of what is meant by the "anthropological perspective" and then demonstrates how the unique viewpoint of anthropology can cause evaluators to rethink what is interpreted in the museum context and on how it is interpreted. Secondly, this paper presents an example of how the subject matter of anthropology can inform museology. Finally, this paper briefly examines how anthropological research methods can expand the repertoire of msuuem researchers.
This paper focuses on the group context of visitor behavior. It includes an introduction of a simple model of behavior that describes how human behavior is influenced by group memberships, which is central to thinking in sociology and compatible to thinking in psychology and anthropology. Suggestions on how this model can be applied to visitor studies are also described.
This paper is a summary of presentation and panel discussion at the 1990 Visitor Studies Conference held in Washington, D.C. This discussion between evaluators and educators focused on their commitment to visitors and to understanding why visitors do or do not enjoy museum visits. Participants discussed different ways to define and quantify informal learning, as well as successes and failures in measuring informal learning at their institutions.
In this paper, Word Craft's Chris Parsons examines the question, "Is an exhibit's goal to change visitor behavior?" Parsons also proposes a way to develop so the goal is change through two methods: (1) defining who our visitors are; and (2) developing clearly stated behavioral objectives when planning new exhibits. This discussion can be applied to educational programs as well.
In this paper, John K. Haeseler of Economics Research Associates discusses how the total length of time a visitor spends at a cultural attraction such as a museum or zoo can be used to measure the holding power of the attraction. Haeseler describes methods which can be used to measure average visitor length of stay, provides examples of findings from various research investigations and discusses several considerations likely to affect length of stay.
In this paper, R.S. Miles reviews three evaluation studies of audivisuals carried out by researchers at The Natural History Museum, London between 1979 and 1987. Miles' review can inform the design of effective audiovisuals, which are expensive to produce, difficult to mock-up and test during development, and expensive to modify once produced.
This paper discusses research on visitor behavior in museums, specific visitor interest, attention and learning. It presents findings from a study conducted by researchers at the University of Florida, which evaluated 47 undergraduates' viewing patterns and learning at 11 static case exhibits at the Florida Museum of Natural History.
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TEAM MEMBERS:
John J. Koran, Jr.John Scott FosterMary Lou Koran
This paper discusses the evolution of zoo exhibits from cages to naturalistic enclosures and the research of these exhibits. It focuses on an evaluation of the Gorillas of Cameroon exhibit located in the Ford African Rain Forest of Zoo Atlanta. This paper presents findings from the study that mainly focus on the visitor responses to the exhibit.