In this article, Marilyn G. Hood of Hood Associates discusses a visitor study of the Holden Arboretum in rural Mentor, Ohio. The year-long study helped arboretum staff and trustees learn how the institution might more effectively serve its audience, which they suspected differ from season to season.
In this article, Stephen Bitgood and Arlene Benefield, both of the Center for Social Design at Jacksonville State University, present a critical appraisal of "The Heart Exhibition" which was set to undergo changes at the Franklin Institute of Science. This critical appraisal differs from an objective evaluation in that it is based on the opinions of the visitor experts (Bitgood and Benefield). The authors provide analysis and recommendations for each element of the exhibition.
In this article, Patricia Munro discusses the "Baffling Beauty" project developed by the Anstiftung, a nonprofit research organization in Munich. Munro summarizes the development of this "health forum," traveling exhibition as well as how evaluation techniques were integrated into the exhibit planning and implementation process.
DATE:
TEAM MEMBERS:
Patricia MunroVisitor Studies Association
In this article, Hans-Joachim Klein, of the University of Karlsruhe, and Patricia Munro discuss a comparative study of four health exhibitions to asses their effectiveness as a method of health promotion.
In this article, Bernhard Graf discusses the work of the Institut fur Museumskunde (Institute of Museum Studies), a division of the Staatliche Museen (State Museums) in Berlin. The Institut is devoted to research and documentation in the various areas of museum work, defined by the scientific disciplines relevant to the individual project.
In this article, Kathleen F. Wagner, Senior Vice President of Education at the Philadelphia Zoo, discusses the importance of institutional acceptance of visitor evaluation. She offers a 12-step approach to institutionalizing evaluation.
In this article, Kathleen Socolofsky of the Desert Botanical Gardens discusses the history of the institution, highlighting shifts in its mission and exhibit strategies. In particular, Socolofsky outlines the steps staff used in gaining institutional acceptance of visitor evaluation and in affecting the long-term acceptance of visitor-centered approaches to exhibits as well as the outcomes of this institutional acceptance.
This article provides an abstract of Jane Marie Litwak, Ph.D.'s dissertation. The dissertation applied concepts from cognitive psychology to the design of museum exhibit labels in an effort to direct visitor attention and increase learning in museum settings.
In this article, staff at the University of Florida's Florida Museum of Natural History discuss the efforts of the Learning in Informal Settings Program, including three international evaluation studies.
DATE:
TEAM MEMBERS:
John J. Koran, Jr.Mary Lou KoranBetty Dunckel CampAnne E. Donnelly
This is the conclusion of an article that was omitted from the previous issue of "Visitor Behavior." In this article, Kathleen F. Wagner discusses their efforts to institutionalize evaluation at the Philadelphia Zoo.
In this article, Stephen Bitgood, of Jacksonville State University, discusses evaluation efforts to assess people's understanding of evolution and to determine what type of messages might be most effective in communicating evolutionary theory. This article focuses on one aspect of their findings--the relationship between attitudes toward evolution/creation theories and the perception that evolution conflicts with Christian religions.
In this paper, Kathryn Nelson of the University of Washington discusses her efforts to study visitor response to naturalistic exhibits. Nelson shares evaluation methods and findings of Northern Trail exhibit at the Woodland Park Zoological Gardens. The purpose of the study was to assess how well visitors responded to the exhibit's attractiveness, enjoyment potential, and animal well-being as well as evaluate whether visitors felt they learned facts or attitudes during their visit and their overall impressions of the exhibit.