This paper is discusses the role of the evaluator during the exhibit planning process. Using an exhibit planned by the Memphis Museum System, "Mr. Crump's Memphis," this paper will elucidate the evaluator's role in exhibit planning, particularly in helping the planning team determine, articulate, and maintain clear exhibit goals, which translate into specific exhibit objectives.
This paper is a summary of presentation and panel discussion at the 1990 Visitor Studies Conference held in Washington, D.C. This discussion between evaluators and educators focused on their commitment to visitors and to understanding why visitors do or do not enjoy museum visits. Participants discussed different ways to define and quantify informal learning, as well as successes and failures in measuring informal learning at their institutions.
In this paper, Word Craft's Chris Parsons examines the question, "Is an exhibit's goal to change visitor behavior?" Parsons also proposes a way to develop so the goal is change through two methods: (1) defining who our visitors are; and (2) developing clearly stated behavioral objectives when planning new exhibits. This discussion can be applied to educational programs as well.
The intent of this paper is to offer an introduction to this volume and to (hopefully) place the 1990 Visitor Studies Conference held in Washington, D.C., in the perspective of the general field of visitor studies. About 300 professionals from all over the world participated in the 1990 Conference, an increase from 175 attendees the year before. The collection of papers in this volume, although not inclusive of all papers presented at the Conference, should give the reader a feeling for the issues and discussions that took place.
In this article, Marilyn Hood of Hood Associates debunks seventeen common misconceptions held by museum professionals. Topics include visitor behavior, visitation trends, and evaluation methods.
In this article, Jeff Hayward of People, Places & Design Research discusses four common misconceptions about visitor research and evaluation. This article is adapted from an article published in "Children's Environments Quarterly" in 1987.
In this article, Jacksonville State University's Wayne Hamberger summarizes Chan Screven's 1990 article on the uses of evaluation before, during and after exhibit design in the "ILVS Review." Hamberger outlines Screven's list of misconceptions commonly held by professionals in exhibition centers.
In this article, Jacksonville State University's Bill Ford discusses findings from three studies that suggest that self-reports are often inaccurate if they are not validated. There are often differences between stated preferences of visitors and their actual behavior.
In this article, Jacksonville State University's Stephen Bitgood discusses two misconceptions associated with signs that attempt to control visitor behavior. Bitgood cites findings from a study of three types of Do-Not-Feed signs at the Birmingham Zoo.
In this article, Jacksonville State University's Stephen Bitgood responds to nine commonly misconceptions about evaluation. Bitgood cites recent research findings related to visitor evaluation theories and approaches in museums/zoos.
In this article, Jacksonville State University's Stephen Bitgood responds to seven commonly-held beliefs about visitors. Bitgood cites recent research findings to explain visitor behavior in museums/zoos.
In this article, Ohio State University's Gary W. Mullins, Ph.D. discusses the importance of interpretation, a process of non-formal environmental education and visitor communication services in leisure settings, in understanding visitor behavior. Mullins cites several recent studies in this area and key findings related to better understanding the interpretive clientele.