In this article, John J. Koran, Jr., Mary Lou Koran, and John Scott Foster, of the University of Florida, discuss how individual differences in learning influence learning in informal settings. The authors present a model for researching this topic, elaborate on variables involved in this model, and suggest potential research areas for exploration.
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TEAM MEMBERS:
John J. Koran, Jr.Mary Lou KoranJohn Scott Foster
In this article, G. Donald Adams of the Henry Ford Museum & Greenfield Village discusses the influence of positive word-of-mouth on motivating attendance at museums and other visitor attractions. Adams shares an example of a word-of-mouth situation and how assessments made at various stages in the process can help a museum plan public programs that create positive impressions.
In this article, Donald Patterson and Stephen Bitgood outline principles of exhibit design, which describe the relationship between visitor behavior and the characteristics of the exhibit environment. These principles include exhibit design factors (size, motion, aesthetic factors, novelty or rarity, sensory factors, interactive factors, and triangulation), visitor factors (visitor participation, object satiation, special interests, demographic factors, and other psychological factors), and architectural factors (visibility, proximity of animal/object, realism of exhibit area, and sensory
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.
In this brief article, VSA President Ridgeley Williams reflects on the past VSA conference in Minnesota and discusses the value of professional development workshops at VSA conferences.
This article features Arlene Benefield's interview with Beverly Serrell. Serrell, an expert on labels. Serrell discusses her work while on sabbatical, focusing on the development of labels and the role of labels in the exhibit development process, explains the 51% Solution, and other thoughts on visitor studies work.
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TEAM MEMBERS:
Arlene BenefieldVisitor Studies AssociationBeverly Serrell
In this article, Harris H. Shettel provides a critique of the 51% Solution, describing some of his concerns in detail. Shettel presents counterarguments to Beverly Serrell's support of the approach.
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TEAM MEMBERS:
Harris H. ShettelVisitor Studies Association
This article is a summary of a 1994 paper entitled, "Looking Back at Summative Evaluation" by Jeff Hayward and Ross Loomis, and refers to the discussion they led at the 1994 Visitor Studies Conference in Raleigh, NC. The discussion served to provide a meta-analysis of summative evaluation.
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TEAM MEMBERS:
Jeff HaywordRoss LoomisVisitor Studies Association
In this article, Beverly Serrell of Serrell & Associates proposes a type of standardized summative evaluation that sets criteria for determining the success of an exhibition. Serrell outlines her support of the "51% Solution."