This article presents excerpts from reports written by visitor research professionals in Canada, Finland, Italy and Norway. These brief summaries describe visitor studies projects at various institutions in these countries.
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Visitor Studies AssociationGeorge Hein
In this article, Megan Axelsen, an Associate Lecturer and a PhD student at the University of Queensland in Australia, explores visitors' perceptions of festivals in art galleries. Axelsen also identifies several characteristics that distinguish festivals from other special events.
This article discusses the value and process of effective front-end evaluation. The article examines when and how museums should conduct front-end studies to inform the development of exhibits.
This article focuses on the setting factors associated with live animal exhibit design from the visitor perspective. Setting includes the physical features and events occurring in both the animal enclosure and the visitor areas.
In this article, Robert Eisenberger, professor of psychology at the University of Delaware, reviews two fundamental philosophical conceptions of motivation that influence contemporary views, show how these world views are embedded in current motivational theory, and consider how recent motivational findings can be applied to museum visitors. Then Eisenberger provides a visitor questionnaire that may be helpful in finding ways to increase visitor motivation.
This paper describes how an understanding of visitors could improve visitor services and museum experiences in order to maximize the attainment of museum objectives. Data from preliminary research at the Nehru Science Centre in India and implementation of findings in day-to-day management of science centre activities has brought about perceptible results, especially in creating new audiences and retaining visitors, thereby increasing overall visitor numbers and, above all, creating a renewed interest in the science centre among the community.
This paper discusses previous, current, and future visitor studies in Germany. It was presented at the Session International Marketplace of Ideas at the American Association of Museums 94th Annual Meeting in Cleveland, Ohio on April 26, 1999.
This article briefly outlines the unique evaluation strategy developed by staff at the Science Museum in London as part of the £50 million Wellcome Wing expansion project. The project aimed to produce "visit-centered" exhibitions that illustrate the impact of contemporary science and technology on ordinary people's lives.
This article discusses the influence of cueing visitors during evaluation studies. It reports findings from a study that compared two sets of data from thirteen various exhibits. The study examined the average times spent by uncued visitors versus cued visitors to determine if cuing visitors significantly increases the amount of time visitors spend in museum exhibitions.
This article discusses the goals, methods, and findings of a research study conducted by staff at the Monterey Bay Aquarium to evaluate their revised sea otter feeding program. The study evaluated the success of the volunteer training and peer coaching program as well as the effectiveness of the new program format in promoting the aquarium's mission.
This article discusses the development of the "New Heart of the Zoo" exhibit project at the San Diego Zoo. Old monkey cages and a bird yard from the 1930's will be replaced with multispecies habitats representing both Asian and African rainforests. This article outlines goals, methods and findings of a three-week formative evaluation for the new exhibit.
This article discusses the ways in which museums can serve people with all types of disabilities,beyond making doorways, entrances, elevators, parking, and restrooms accessible. It outlines how museums can improve intellectual access to all.