In this article, Christopher J. Reich of the Anniston Museum of Natural History discusses visitor evaluation from the perspective of a museum director. Reich identifies and explains three obstacles that get in the way of visitor studies at institutions: the lack of time, lack of money, and threatening nature of evaluation.
In this article, Harris H. Shettel, museum consultant, questions why so few museums evaluate educational program and evaluations. Shettel provides six factors that she that explain why this is the case.
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TEAM MEMBERS:
Harris H. ShettelVisitor Studies Association
resourceresearchProfessional Development, Conferences, and Networks
In this article, Ross J. Loomis of the Colorado State University discusses the evolving field of visitor research. Loomis identifies three indicators of a presence of a field of visitor studies, but argues that this field is not very well organized.
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TEAM MEMBERS:
Ross J. Loomis
resourceresearchProfessional Development, Conferences, and Networks
This is an introduction to the "Visitor Studies" journal by Stephen Bitgood of Jacksonville State University. Bitgood summarizes discussions and highlights important issues from the First Annual Visitor Studies Conference. Bitgood analyzes visitor studies as a separate field.