Although schools traditionally take their pupils to Natural History Museums, little has been elicited about either the overall content of the conversations generated by such groups or of the effect on content in the presence of an adult. Transcripts were coded using a systemic network which had been designed based on pilot studies. A range of variables was created from the coded data. The number of conversations that contained at least one reference to the designated categories were ascertained overall and those of the three sub-groups, pupils and teacher, pupils and chaperone and pupils alone
In this paper, Harris Shettel, museum evaluation consultant, examines the rise of controversial museum exhibitions. Shettel argues that controversial subject matter should not be avoided, but rather presented in exciting, interesting and challenging ways that avoid controversy. Shettel points to the "Prisoners of War: Soviet Prisoners in Germany - German Prisoners in the Soviet Union" exhibition as an exemplar. The various ways exhibit evaluation studies can play an important role avoiding controversy are also identified.
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Harris ShettelVisitor Studies Association
This paper examines the differences between the single and married visitors to Old Sturbridge Village, within the single group itself, and between single and married museum members. In addition, "singletons" are defined and explored as single visitors to the Village to see how they differ from the great majority who visit with friends and families. A variety of measures, including t-test, analysis of variance, chi-square, CHAID, and factor analysis, elucidate significant points of contrast within the data.
In this paper, Hermann Schafer of Haus der Geschichte, the museum of contemporary history of Germany, discusses the value of non-visitor research as a public relations strategy. Schafer shares findings from an independent study of non-visitors.
This paper describes the use of front-end evaluation to guide the development of plans for a community museum. In 1995, the fifty-year old Fort Collins Museum received a grant to create new permanent exhibits and educational programs as well as a collection initiative for obtaining donated artifacts from community residents.
In this article, Gillian Savage of Environmetrics (Sydney) discusses exhibit planning and research efforts for the development of the Visitor Center at the Australian Institute of Sport.
In this article, Linda Ferguson, Audience Advocate and Evaluator at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra, discusses how the Memorial represents "the enemy" in its galleries in a way that meets the varying needs of their diverse audience. Ferguson shares results from a front-end evaluation study aimed at tackling this issue.
This article provides study findings from the summative evaluation of "The Universe in Your Hands: Early Tools of Astronomy" permanent exhibition that opened in May 1995 at the Adler Planetarium and Astronomy Museum. The renovated and recontextualized exhibit portrays the museum's collection of early astronomical instruments in the social and scientific setting of the European and Islamic worlds during the Middle Ages (1200 to 1500 A.D.).
9710718 Kleiman Cultural Research and Communications, Inc. is developing a project that will center around a one-hour documentary program entitled Promises to Keep. The film, now in its planning phase, will chronicle the day-to-day efforts of students, teachers, and parents at one inner city public high school as they work to implement standards-based math and science reform while maintaining their commitment to full educational equity. The goal is to inform viewers about a significant reform effort underway, heighten their awareness of the possibilities of high quality math and science education for all, and stimulate them to support or initiate similar efforts themselves. During the planning phase, the applicants will focus their efforts in several critical areas: 1. Develop a better definition of the target audience so that the next stage can be designed best to address the needs and interests of that audience. 2. Clarify the goals, structure, and content of the program. For example, is the proposed film to be primarily motivational or should it provide a "blueprint for change?" How, specifically, does the school achieve its goals of excellence and how will this be conveyed in the film? How can school around the country relate to the examples set by Thurgood Marshall High School? 3. Design a strong outreach, promotion, and distribution plans to assure that this will reach the intended audience. 4. Assess the location constraints that will be present during production. 5. Familiarize the advisors with the school where the film is to be made. The Co-Principal Investigators and film producers for the project are Vivian Kleiman, an award winning producer of such programs as Color Adjustment and My Bodies My Business, and Sharon Wood who has produced, directed, and or written programs for Portrait of America and Super Chief: The Life and Legacy of Earl Warren. Project advisors include Dennis Bartels, Yolanda George, Donna Gerardi, Nancy Kreinberg, and Tom Romberg.
National Public Radio (NPR) has been awarded a grant of $807,335 in declining amounts over a four year period for production of Science Friday, the weekly two-hour call-in radio show that deals with science topics. Over the four year period, NPR will make an increasingly larger commitment to the total budget of $1,763,768 until they assume total budgetary responsibility for the project in FY 2001. The series' goal is to make science easily accessible to the public and to help them realize the relevance of science and technology to everyday life. The format of the programs enables the public to engage in conversations with scientists and science educators to discuss contemporary science topics. Science issues anticipated to be included in future programs include: science and mathematics education, science literacy, science risk assessment and public policy, and the future of technology. In addition to the broadcast series, NPR will develop a web site for Science Friday which will distribute the radio series on demand via the Internet, bring Science Friday to cities and rural areas where the series is not broadcast, create live Internet chat groups where listeners can meet to discuss the program, provide sound bytes and audio files of guests, and create a "Science Day Book" which will be a calendar of events loaded with science opportunities for people in their own home towns. Science Friday also has established a joint project with Kidsnet, an established computerized clearinghouse for education through the media. Ira Flatow will continue as the series host and producer. Barbara Flagg of Multimedia Research has been engaged to assess the audience impact of the project.
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Kevin KloseWilliam BuzenbergBarbara Flagg