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Peer-reviewed article

Museum Visitor Preferences and Intentions in Constructing Aesthetic Experience

November 1, 1996 | Public Programs, Exhibitions
Visitors to art museums vary on a number of a dimensions related to how they construct their museum experience. The visiting preferences and intentions of a sample of visitors to the Metropolitan Museum of Art were examined by having them respond to a survey as they entered the Museum. Visitors were presented with a set of nine contrasting statements (e.g., “I know how I like to look at art” and “I would like to learn more about how to look at art”.) separated by a six-point scale. Responses to the statement pairs indicated wide variability on items concerning whether visitors liked to look at many works of art in depth, or a few works briefly; whether they preferred to discuss works with others, or look alone; whether they preferred a linear or global organization; whether they wanted to learn more about how to look at art, or felt their skills were adequate. A series of regression equations looked at the relationship of age, education, self-reported knowledge of art, and frequency of Museum visitation to responses to the statement pairs. Knowledge of art was consistently the most important predictor.

TEAM MEMBERS

  • Jeffrey Smith
    Author
    Rutgers University
  • Lisa Wolf
    Author
    Felician College
  • Citation

    DOI : 10.1016/0304-422X(95)00006-6
    Publication Name: Poetics
    Volume: 24
    Number: 2-4
    Page Number: 219
    Resource Type: Research Products
    Discipline: Art, music, and theater | Education and learning science
    Audience: Museum/ISE Professionals
    Environment Type: Public Programs | Museum and Science Center Programs | Exhibitions | Museum and Science Center Exhibits

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