In this article, researchers for the University of North Carolina at Asheville describe findings from their study that assessed the impact of two interactive, hands-on, informal science-learning programs on elementary and middle school children's (1) general interest in science learning and (2) short-term science learning. They used a separate-sample pretest-posttest research design to evaluate the impact of two informal science-learning programs--a robotics program and an electricity program at the Health Adventure at Pack Place. The appendix of this report includes the survey, observation
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TEAM MEMBERS:
Mark L. Harvey, Ph.D.Brandon HudsonBri Tureff
This paper reports a formative evaluation of an interactive exhibit in the Museum of Science, Boston, that encouraged visitors to create a model using everyday materials. The materials provided for visitors to create their models changed during the period of the evaluation, and visitors were observed and interviewed as they engaged with the various prototypes. Evaluation results show that the type of modeling material presented influenced the visitors' model making process and individual learning and behaviors as well as the interactions visitors had with each other.
This article discusses a study that investigated teacher perceptions of group visits to a science museum in Taiwan. Thirty teachers who traveled with large groups were interviewed about two issues: the involvement of travel agents and the size of the group. The findings indicate that responsibility and administrative details were the primary reasons that teachers chose to travel with a larger sized group, or with assistance provided by a travel agency. Curriculum fit was not the first consideration in planning field trips. The study also found teachers' ability and attitudes to using museums
This paper describes the Visitor Evaluation Program developed jointly by the Centre de Recherche Evaluation Social des Technologies (CREST) in Montreal (Bernard Schiele) and the CNRS in Paris (Jacqueline Eidelman). The purpose of the program is to ensure the successful installation of the future Galerie de l'Evolution at the Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle in Paris. The evaluation program is based on the application of principles and methods used in contemporary evaluation processes. This paper provides a brief description of the Galerie de l'Evolution project, the major stages of the
This paper discusses the first exploratory study that assessed word-of-mouth accuracy and influence in a museum setting and the application of this subject to the practice of public relations. The study was conducted in 1988 and 1989 at Henry Ford Museum/Greenfield Village as the basis for a public relations graduate thesis, and was intended to be a starting point for developing methodologies to make qualitative assessments of museum word-of-mouth.
In this paper, Jeff Bonner of the St. Louis Science Center discusses the merits of formal versus naturalistic evaluation within the museum context. Bonner also presents the approach and findings of a two-part study designed to compare the results of these two evaluation approaches. They compared the the results of a formal analysis of the holding power, ease of use, readability of text, and overall enjoyability of nine exhibits with a naturalistic study focused on how one volunteer, two part-time employees and a staff supervisor viewed the same exhibits.
This paper discusses the the value of interpretive inquiry in examining visitors' reactions to museum environments as well as evaluating visitor outcomes expected by those producing the environments. This paper provides an explanation of interpretive inquiry as well as examples of this methodology in action at the Gibson House Living History Museum, Ontario Science Centre, and the Art Gallery of Ontario.
This paper discusses the topic of visitor circulation through exhibition spaces. Specifically, this paper cites findings from a visitor tracking study through five traveling exhibits at the Anniston Museum of Natural History. Questions explored include: 1) How much influence does the spatial arrangement of objects within a gallery have on the behavior of visitors?; 2) How much do the characteristics of exhibit objects influence visitor behavior?; and 3) How effective are techniques for increasing visitation to a changing exhibit hall?
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TEAM MEMBERS:
Stephen BitgoodJoe HinesWayne HambergerWilliam Ford
This paper outlines theoretical foundations, methodology, and key findings from a membership survey conducted by the San Antonio Museum Association in 1987. The study was designed to provide insights to a variety of assumptions upon which the Association's membership management and marketing strategies were based. Central among the questions to be answered were the determination of the motivations expressed by members for joining the Association and forecasting potential changes in member program preference and member attendance patterns.
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TEAM MEMBERS:
James D. BigleyDaniel R. FesenmaierMark LaneWesley S. Roehl
This paper describes the rationale, objectives, methodology, and key findings of a marketing research project on the motor coach business at the Ships of the Sea Museum. The study was designed to better understand how to use promotional materials to best attract tour operators to come to Savannah and the museum as well as attract tour operators already coming to Savannah to the museum.
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TEAM MEMBERS:
David T. Guernsey, Jr.Douglas Robideaux
In this paper, Robert F. Kelly of the University of British Columbia presents a set of generalizations on visitor satisfaction based participation in two dozen empirical studies of museum visitors and non-visitors. Kelly analyzes visitors' motives for going or not going to museums and cites specific evidence from the Canadian Museum of Civilization.
In this paper, Margaret Marino of the New Mexico Museum of Natural History discusses methodology and findings of an extensive summative evaluation of the "Horse Tales--An Evolutionary Odyssey" exhibit. This permanent exhibition on the history, biomechanics and importance of the horse in the southwest premiered at the New Mexico Museum of Natural History before it was moved to the new Anne C. Stradling Museum of the Horse in Ruidoso, New Mexico. The appendix of this paper includes the observation forms and visitor survey used in the study.