In this paper, Minda Borun of the Franklin Institute discusses the publics' naive notions of science and how museums provide the opportune place to study the pre-existing misconceptions of visitors of all ages. Borun reveals findings from the Franklin Institute's 18-month study to discover visitors' naive notions about gravity and air pressure and to develop exhibits which help restructure these concepts. The project is intended to establish a new model for the design of effective science museum exhibits.
This paper shares research findings that explore the link between conceptual understanding, free exploration of hands-on science center exhibits, and Piagetian cognitive developmental levels. Implications on museum exhibits and field trip experiences are examined as well.
This paper presents findings from a label study project at the Franklin Institute Science Museum, part of the Naive Knowledge Research Project, funded by NSF to identify "naive notions" about science, in particular the cause and nature of gravity, and test the power of interactive devices to alter them. The device which prompted this label study was designed to correct the misconception that spinning pulls things in and, more specifically, that the earth's rotation generates its gravitational pull.
This paper presents the methodology and findings of an evaluation of the "Invisible Forces" exhibition at the California Museum of Science and Industry. The exhibit was designed to convey specific concepts related to electricity and magnetism, capture visitor interest for durations of 15 minutes or more of continuous use, be self-contained and comprehensible without reference to other exhibits or extensive text, and appeal to a broad range of ages and backgrounds.
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TEAM MEMBERS:
John H FalkKenneth PhillipsJennifer Johnson Boxer
In this paper, Alan J. Friedman, director of the New York Hall of Science, discusses the importance of evaluation, specifically formative evaluation, for measuring success at a museum and fulfilling mission statements. Friedman presents four real examples of exhibit projects, in which the directors or exhibit directors involved elected to expend funds for formative evaluation. Friedman goes on to discuss the benefits of this research and what surprising information staff came to know as a result.
In this paper, Sara Gaspar Hernandez discusses how cultural differences between social groups influence vistiors' experienes at science museums. Hernandez discuses methods used at her institution, UNIVERSUM Science Museum in Mexico City, to study, create and sustain exhibits that are respectful of individual and group differences. Findings from an evaluation of an exhibit on eclipses are outlined.
In this paper, museum consultant Deborah L. Perry discusses her findings from a research study investigating the museum experience, which identified and described the three important components of a successful museum exhibit. Perry outlines the role of participation, psychological needs, and outcomes (visitor learning) as they influence a museum visit.
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TEAM MEMBERS:
Deborah PerryVisitor Studies Association
This is a summary of A.W. Melton's 1936 paper, "Distribution of Attention in Galleries in a Museum of Science and Industry." Melton studied the role of movement in attracting visitors by evaluating a gear-shaper located in the machine tool section of the New York Museum of Science and Industry. Melton determined that while any kind of movement attracts visitors, the overall consequences of this movement on the exhibit may not be be positive.
This is a brief summary of A.W. Melton's 1936 paper, "Distribution of Attention in Galleries in a Museum of Science and Industry." Melton studied how visitor behavior was impacted by manually-operated exhibits demonstrating electricity. Automatic operation of the exhibits was compared with manual operation.
In this article, Jacksonville State University's Stephen Bitgood discusses an evaluation study of a "Falling Feather" gravity-themed exhibit at a science museum. Bitgood shares key findings from the evaluation, which revealed several problems with the exhibit.
In this article, the Center for Social Design's Don Thompson summarizes a 1985 article written by E. Feher and K. Rice featured in "Curator." Feher and Rice suggest that the museum can be a valuable environment in which to study learning processes. Thompson describes key findings from the researchers' investigation of the role of naive, or preconcieved notions, on learning which takes place at museum exhibits. The researchers interviewed school children at two exhibits centered around the principles of light and vision.
This article highlights findings from a study conducted by researchers at Jacksonville State University that assessed group visitor behavior at four exhibits at the Anniston Museum of Natural History. Researchers studied if male and female adults behave differently at exhibits when they are with a child than when they are with another adult as well as whether or not adult behavior was consistent across different types of exhibits.
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TEAM MEMBERS:
Stephen BitgoodChifumi KitazawaAndrea CavenderKaren Nettles