In this paper, the Franklin Institute's Ann Mintz discusses the managerial challenges associated with evaluation projects. Mintz explains how evaluators teeter on a continuum serving as both as artists and educators throughout the evaluation process. She cites evidence from an ongoing project at the Franklin Institute called the The Franklin Institute Computer Network that serves seven categories of museum visitors.
This paper presents an overview of evaluation efforts at the Canadian Museum of Civilization Corporation, which consists of two major national museums--the Canadian Museum of Civilization and the Canadian War Museum. The authors explain how their "do-it-yourself" evaluation approach as a model for other museums with very limited resources.
In this paper, researchers at Colorado State University discuss the advantages of using Virtual Reality (VR) to promote science learning in museum environments. The authors define the four leading features of VR and human factors guidelines and show, from evaluation of Mead Diorama Hall at the Denver Museum of Natural History, how renovated exhibits fit the effective learning criteria which were developed through VR research. This paper will also present results, derived from methods used to study the immersion experience in museums, to demonstrate that the renovated museum Hall elicits an
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TEAM MEMBERS:
Mark HarveyAndrej BirjulinRoss Loomis
In this paper, Sara Gaspar Hernandez discusses how cultural differences between social groups influence vistiors' experienes at science museums. Hernandez discuses methods used at her institution, UNIVERSUM Science Museum in Mexico City, to study, create and sustain exhibits that are respectful of individual and group differences. Findings from an evaluation of an exhibit on eclipses are outlined.
This paper analyzes the effectiveness of real people (actors) as communicators of messages in museums. It includes findings from an evaluation of professional actors, who assume the roles of fictitious and real characters from the history of science, technology, and medicine at the Science Museum in London. The study attempted to understand more fully how visitors react to such live interpretations.
In this paper, museum consultant Deborah L. Perry discusses the use of the knowledge hierarchy as a technique for measuring learning at a museum exhibit. Perry does not go into specific how-to information, but presents the concept and some examples related to the knowledge hierarchy.
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Deborah PerryVisitor Studies Association
In this case study, Carey Tisdal, internal evaluator at the St. Louis Science Center (SLSC), discusses the use of teacher response groups in the development of the school visit program at SLSC. This paper uses a case method to describe: (1) the context of policy and program issues from which the study arose, (2) the reasons this specific method was selected, (3) the development of a data base, (4) how the method was implemented to recruit and interview teachers, and (5) an analysis of the limitations and benefits of the methods.
In this paper, Pedro J.E. Casaleiro of the University of Leicester, Department of Museum Studies, discusses research that considers the investigation of evidence in mass media other than museums to help define a communications policy that bears the visitor in mind. In doing so, Casaleiro aims to broaden understanding about audiences' concerns with science, recognizing the presence of shared symbolic values created by both museums and traditional mass media. Casaleiro cites findings from studies of Portuguese newspapers and a natural history museum to support his claims.
In this paper, Ellen Stokes shares experiences at the St. Louis Zoo related to how guest services can influence the visitor studies agenda. Stokes discusses three issues: Part of the guest services director's job is to be an advocate for appropriate and appealing visitor services, the guest services perspective must view the institution as a whole (as contrasted with looking at one exhibit at a time), and this holistic approach to the institution can perhaps guide visitor studies into new directions.
In this paper, Margie Marino of the Denver Museum of Natural History discusses the value of museum maps and how her institution used evaluation to improve the design of a new hand-held map.
In this paper, Britt Raphling from the Adler Planetarium discusses how evaluation can be used to help focus interactive multimedia options so that exhibits meet both content objectives and visitor experience objectives. This paper outlines an "ideal" evaluation process tailored specifically to the challenges of developing interactive multimedia elements in museums. It requires exhibit developers, programmers, visitors and the evaluator to participate in a series of five steps designed to ensure the most effective possible outcome.
In this paper, the Exploratorium's Kathleen McLean discusses her concern about the quality of what museums offer visitors. McLean airs a number of assumptions, attitudes and misconceptions she frequently encounters in the process of designing and creating exhibits, basing much of her findings on her experience at the Exploratorium.