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Research Brief

Taking photographs may hinder memory in museums

January 1, 2015 | Media and Technology, Exhibitions
How does taking photos affect people’s memories of objects in a museum? Henkel compared people’s recall after taking photos and after simply observing museum paintings and objects. People remembered more when they observed than when they took a photo. However, if the photo zoomed in on a specific feature, people remembered the whole object better.

TEAM MEMBERS

  • Suzanne Perin
    Author
    University of Washington
  • Citation

    Resource Type: Research Products
    Discipline: Art, music, and theater | General STEM
    Audience: General Public | Museum/ISE Professionals
    Environment Type: Media and Technology | Exhibitions | Museum and Science Center Exhibits

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