This study, requested by Smithsonian Secretary Lawrence Small, was conducted between April 2004 and May 2005, over all four seasons, and used the following methods: 1) open-ended interviews with 55 visit groups; 2) formal observations of a sample of 100 visitors, for which the observer estimated the age and gender of visitors and noted their paths, all stops over 3 seconds in length, what displays they looked at, and which hands-on devices they used; 3) a peer review panel comprised of seven ex- hibition specialists (curators, designers,writers, educators, and exhibition developers) who work
This newsletter issue focuses on natural history dioramas. Articles describe children's responses to dioramas, biological interest development in natural history dioramas, and inquiry at natural history dioramas.
This study was commissioned by Intel Corporation to explore the ways in which corporate sponsorships of museum exhibitions influence visitor perceptions of both the corporation and of the museum exhibition. [Note: Intel was not one of the sponsoring companies studied during this research, and was not mentioned to visitors during the course of the study.] The overall implication of this study for museums is that carefully chosen and presented sponsorships, for a majority of visitors, have no impact on opinion of exhibits, but, in some cases, can lead to improvements. For companies, such
The Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History (NMAH) contracted Randi Korn & Associates, Inc. (RK&A) to conduct a formative evaluation for Places of Invention, an exhibition funded by the National Science Foundation. The exhibition aims to stimulate visitors’ thought about how people, resources, and spaces work together to support invention in historic and modern communities. Through formative evaluation, RK&A explores visitors’ use of exhibition prototypes (including barriers to use) and the meanings visitors take away
DATE:
TEAM MEMBERS:
Randi Korn & Associates, Inc.Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and InnovationNational Museum of American HistorySmithsonian Institution
With support from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the Mathematics in Zoos and Aquariums project worked with zoo and aquarium staff members to integrate mathematical concepts into the interpretation of living collections. Over two years, the project developed three activities related to logic, measurement, and data analysis and conducted workshops with over 400 staff from 124 institutions. In refining the workshop model and conducting evaluation, we found that most staff increased their comfort with and use of math-based activities and that the goals of the participants and the
This article presents excerpts from reports written by visitor research professionals in Canada, Finland, Italy and Norway. These brief summaries describe visitor studies projects at various institutions in these countries.
DATE:
TEAM MEMBERS:
Visitor Studies AssociationGeorge Hein
This article outlines the attention-value applied to museum visitors. The model describes value as a three-level continuum (capture, focus, and engage) and assumes that the primary motivation for paying attention is perceived value. Bitgood discusses each stage of the visitor attention continuum with respect to the response indicators or behaviors that are associated with the stage, a description of variables that influence attention at that stage, the explanatory processes or mechanisms that appear to be in play during the stage, and possible design implications for the practitioner.
This handbook provides a generic package for the formative evaluation of exhibits. The book covers three major concerns in evaluation: flexibility, efficiency, and validity. The authors note that this evaluation package has been developed on the assumption that the "front- end" evaluation relating to exhibit development has already occurred, and that the "summative" evaluation phase is beyond the scope of the project.
DATE:
TEAM MEMBERS:
Curtin University of TechnologyLeonie RennieTerry McClafferty
Social science research into public understanding of animal cognition has tended toward a disciplinary focus with conceptual frameworks, questionnaires, concepts and categories that do not appear to align with the findings emerging from the scientific study of animal cognition. The goal of this paper is to present a framework that aligns the dimensions of these two disparate research fields to allow for better assessment of public perceptions of animal minds. The paper identifies different dimensions that have been categorized through the empirical study of animal cognition, as well as the
This report summarizes front-end research with visitors on the topic of agriculture, conducted by the Research & Evaluation Department of the Saint Louis Science Center. This front-end study was designed to inform the internal development teams connected to the Science Center agriculture exhibit. The main objective of the research was to gather information from Science Center visitors about their familiarity and interest in the topic, their experiences with farming, their top of mind knowledge about technology and sustainability as it relates to agriculture, and their expectations for an
Painting with Natural Selection is an interactive installation that uses evolution and scientific experimentation to create an artistic experience. Painting is the second phase of a larger art and science project that explores the relationship between evolution and reproduction. Phase I was building custom software that simulates virtual organisms growing, reproducing and evolving - Evorepro. Evorepro was funded by a Science Education Partnership Award led by Dr. John A. Pollock at Duquesne University. Painting was funded by a Spark Award from the Sprout Fund. In Painting, kids influence the evolution of simulated bacteria by changing their virtual environment. The experience allows kids to get creative right away as they develop an intuitive understanding of the ebb and flow of evolutionary processes. The virtual organisms respond and evolve in real-time creating a visceral connection between the individual and their impact in the virtual world that leads to an awareness of our footprint in our real world and wonder at life's adaptability.
DATE:
-
TEAM MEMBERS:
Carnegie-Mellon UniversityJoana Ricou
In April 2001, the Museum of Science in Boston launched the Current Science & Technology Center, an effort to address leading edge research for school and public audiences and to provide depth and context for science and technology stories in the news within a museum context and through various outreach methods. The Museum of Science (MOS), in collaboration with the Institute for Learning Innovation (Institute), has initiated a multi-year evaluation effort designed to support the Current Science & Technology Center and its Health Science Education Partnership through (1) the monitoring and