This paper presents comparative visitation patterns found in evaluation studies in German museums. It reveals statistics on the number, type, and development of museums in Germany as a central European country, and correlates these structures to their specific visitor patterns and visitor behavior, attitudes, and preference. The source of these findings is a three-year survey in Westfalen, a region with 200 museums which resembles a model of the total German museum structure.
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.
This paper discusses the influence of mutual communication on exhibit development and evaluation. It discusses how mutual communication techniques helped developers at the Impression 5 Science Museum see the production of "SPIN," a traveling hands-on exhibit about rotational motion, through the eyes of the visitor and imagine ways of generating visitor-object and visitor-developer dialogues in the exhibit.
This is a webinar presentation of the Common Guidelines for Education Research and Development, developed by the National Science Foundation and the U.S. Department of Education. The presentation outlines the background, organization and content, and implications of the Guidelines. The presentation may also be helpful for researchers and practitioners who are developing informal STEM learning project proposals.
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National Science FoundationU.S. Department of Education
This paper discusses four interpetative strategies employed by staff at the Arkansas State Parks System which have led to effective interpretation. These strategies include: (1) maintianing a position to interpret; (2) providing linked programs and messages to provide continuing and reinforcing learning opportuities; (3) using the Visitor Center as a threshold to the park; and (3) providing three levels of interpretation.
This paper discusses ways exhibit labels can be used to encourage social interaction. It summarizes research related to effective labeling for family visitors at zoos as well as strategies to reach this audience more effectively with educational and/or interpretive messages.
This paper describes ways that computers currently are used (and misused) in museums as interpretive support devices and the potential role computers can play in museums to improve the quality of visitor attention, involvement, and learning. Where and when computers can productively serve interpretive functions are discussed. However, it is pointed out that computers are not always cost-effective. Printed text with imbedded questions, interactive labels, and other nonelectronic methods often serve these functions as well or better than computers. References for follow-up study are included.
This paper discusses exhibit labels and how to design them effectively. Author Stephen Bitgood organizes the literature on exhibit labeling into three general components: (a) know your audience; (b) capture their attention; and (c) hold their attention. Bitgood's "ABCs of label design" are guidelines to produce more effective labels.
This paper introduces a nonparametric statistical method for the analysis of time data in visitor research and evaluation studies. Measures of duration are often used to analyze visitor behavior and determine exhibit effectiveness in museum settings. Examples of duration measures include the length of a museum visit, the interval between a first visit and a repeat visit, or the period of time a visitor devotes to an activity, such as the span of attention to an exhibit, or the time spent reading a label.
This paper discusses a study aimed to answer some preliminary questions about the kinds of information remembered 20-30 years after a visit and the role that visitation frequency might play in influencing these recollections. In this study, twelve museum professionals were asked to recall their earliest, or a very early, museum experience and to relate it in as much detail as possible.
The article describes the purpose of the evaluation for Statistics for Action (SfA): to learn to what extent SfA's set of materials and resources and training developed by math educators with input from environmental organizers, could increase numeracy among environmental organizers and the community members they serve. For this generally unpopular content (math) in an unusual context (environmental campaigns), the author describes project and evaluation design choices that worked, and those that didn’t.
In this article, the author offers explanations for what is characterized as startling disconnect between the scientific consensus around climate change and the lack of a social consensus. The author brings attention to this disconnect by offering some explanations for what may be contributing factors to a limited public discourse on science topics such as a lack of training and/or support for scientists communicating about their research. Twelve "Rules of Engagement" are proposed in order to to begin a conversation about how scholars can effectively and appropriately communicate about their
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University of MichiganAndrew Hoffman