In this paper, Harris Shettel, museum evaluation consultant, examines the rise of controversial museum exhibitions. Shettel argues that controversial subject matter should not be avoided, but rather presented in exciting, interesting and challenging ways that avoid controversy. Shettel points to the "Prisoners of War: Soviet Prisoners in Germany - German Prisoners in the Soviet Union" exhibition as an exemplar. The various ways exhibit evaluation studies can play an important role avoiding controversy are also identified.
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Harris ShettelVisitor Studies Association
In this paper, researchers from the University of North Carolina at Asheville, Denver Museum of Natural History (DMNH), and Colorado State University, present findings from two studies that established a link between certain design features commonly found in museum environments and the state of psychological flow. Study one observed visitor behavior in a museum hall at DMNH before and after renovation. The study found that after the design changes, visitors attended more to the exhibits. Study two, a post-hoc survey analysis, investigated which design features in particular are responsible for
In this paper, John H. Falk, of Science Learning, inc., provides a brief overview of brain research and suggests implications for the museum field in terms of to define and measure learning.
This paper examines the differences between the single and married visitors to Old Sturbridge Village, within the single group itself, and between single and married museum members. In addition, "singletons" are defined and explored as single visitors to the Village to see how they differ from the great majority who visit with friends and families. A variety of measures, including t-test, analysis of variance, chi-square, CHAID, and factor analysis, elucidate significant points of contrast within the data.
This paper examines one Australian museum’s commitment to create social awareness of political issues within its community. The paper begins by discussing the challenge of cultural representation of Indigenous peoples in the context of civic engagement. Some of the historical and political issues facing Indigenous Australians and their representation in Museums are discussed. A study of the Indigenous Australians exhibition at the Australian Museum in Sydney investigates visitors’ perceptions of the exhibition. Recommendations are made as they relate to community partnerships, interpretive
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Katherine S. H. BoumanAustralian Museum
This paper was presented as part of a Keynote Address at the Visitor Studies Association Conference, July 2006, Grand Rapids, Michigan. Speaker Cheryl Meszaros, director of public programs at the Vancouver Art Museum, presents a brief historical overview of interpretation, identifying "endangered aspects of interpretation," as well as a brief history of interpretive practices in museums that culminate in "whatever" interpretation, in which we say one thing but do the opposite.
The authors of this article are reporting on the accumulated wealth of knowledge and experiences of their colleagues at the Institute for Learning Innovation and thank them for sharing their stories. The Institute is a not-for-profit learning research and development organization committed to better understanding the nature of free-choice learning and its role in a Learning Society. Its mission is to study, support and advocate for free-choice learning—learning that fulfills the life-long human quest for knowledge, understanding and personal fulfillment. The Institute was established in 1986
In this paper, researchers at the University of Queensland discuss findings from investigations on conservation learning at two Queensland ecotourism sites—a three hour whale watching cruise operating from the Gold Coast and turtle viewing at Mon Repos Turtle Rookery, Bargara. The researchers present a set of five challenges they faced in this research, as a warning to all who might dare to attempt similar studies. Their experience has demonstrated that the famous adage of show business, “Never work with children or animals” can indeed apply in wildlife tourism research.
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Karen HughesRoy BallantyneJan Packer
This paper presents results from the testing of a simple visitor survey tool modeled on traditional semantic differential techniques to identify socially agreed traits or attributes that might influence audience bias toward an exhibit species. The authors from the Wildlife Conservation Society Institute suggest that understanding these connotative meanings can aid exhibit developers in the creation of experiences. Five tests were conducted with this methodology, each focused on a different animal (dolphins, sharks, cheetahs, zebras, and African wild dogs). With four of the subject animals, a
In this article, D. Neil Bramer, executive director of the Elmhurst Art Museum, discusses the value of visitor studies and the need to push museum decision-makers to address visitor needs. Bramer argues that museums need to be more empathetic to visitors.
In this article, Steven Yalowitz, doctoral candidate in Experimental Psychology at Colorado State University, discusses information processing and behavior in museums. Yalowitz explores and draws connections between the different terminology used by researchers in studying these concepts.