This paper presents an overview of evaluation efforts at the Canadian Museum of Civilization Corporation, which consists of two major national museums--the Canadian Museum of Civilization and the Canadian War Museum. The authors explain how their "do-it-yourself" evaluation approach as a model for other museums with very limited resources.
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, Charles A. Lewis, retired from the Morton Arboretum, discusses why and how visitors interact with botanical gardens and arboreta, places that provide natural ambiance as well as learning opportunities. Lewis argues that these types of "green museums" must recognize the psychological and physiological aspects of their landscapes that provide broader experiences for visitors.
In this paper, Professor of Psychology at Suffolk University, Robert C. Webb, discusses the parallels between visitor studies and consumer psychology. Webb analyses the relevance of consumer literature as it relates to exhibit planning.
In this article, Jacksonville State University's Amy Cota and Stephen Bitgood present abstracts of papers and articles on museum studies focused on memory.
In this article, Jacksonville State University's Ann Cleghorn summarizes a 1993 "Museum Management and Curatorship" article written by Paulette M. McManus. The article cites findings from a study of visitor's memories as indicators of the impact of museum visits. The study analyzed visitors ages 8-50 years, who visited "Gallery 33, A Meeting Ground of Cultures in the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery," an exhibition about human society and includes materials on beliefs, values, customs, and art from around the world.
In this article, Jacksonville State University's Stephen Bitgood provides a brief overview of the psychology of memory as it relates to visitor studies professionals. Bitgood outlines stages of memory, types of memory, other memory concepts, knowledge and exhibit experiences, and the measurement of memory.
In this article, Jacksonville State University's Amy Cota and Stephen Bitgood address the following evaluation questions: (1) Would label reading decrease when the number of labels is increased? (2) Do groups who visit in families behave differently than groups composed of adults only? and (3) Do label readers view exhibit objects longer than nonreaders? The researchers share findings from a study that evaluated these questions in the Egyptian Mummy gallery at the Anniston Museum of Natural History.
This proposal requests support for an exhibition on Native cultures of Alaska and Siberia for travel to Native and non- Native communities in rural Alaska. The exhibition consists of 200 small artifacts from Siberian and Alaskan archeological and ethnographic museum collections, archival photographs, Native craft and traditional arts, 20th century graphic arts, and videos. Curriculum packets and educational materials and videos will be prepared for use in the exhibition venues. These instructional materials, including an exhibit catalogue, will be designed to serve as "stand-alone" components as well. The Smithsonian Arctic Studies Center has selected "Crossroads of Continents *RFD Alaska" as a prototype project that will lead toward establishing standards for museum-based educational outreach programs for use in native communities in rural regions where professionally staffed museums usually do not exist. This goal is especially challenging in Alaska, where distances are great, population centers are small, and there are unique problems of transportation, communication, security, and language to be overcome. The project is an ideal one in that much of the basic research for the exhibition has already been accomplished. What is needed now is to develop a Native education component and local initiatives to accompany the core exhibit, and to produce the exhibition and the exhibition catalogue. Once developed, the experience of this project will serve to guide future programs not only in Alaska, but also throughout the Circumpolar North.
Field Museum of Natural History requests a $1,467,422 grant from the National Science Foundation in partial support of final planning and implementation of our LIFE OVER TIME exhibit and associated interpretive programs. This 21,000 square foot, permanent exhibit will provide our 1.4 million annual visitors with an understanding of basic evolutionary principles and an overview of the history of life from its origins through present. The exhibit will capitalize on Field Museum's extensive paleontological and biological collections. Developed in collaboration with the Museum's scientific staff, the exhibit development team and many outside consultants, the exhibit will attempt to address complex scientific issues in an informal learning environment. With a projected cost of $5,775,000. LIFE OVER TIME will open in 1994.
Boston Museum of Science seeks funds from the National Science Foundation for the development of a group of interactive exhibits and educational programs that will comprise the Museum's permanent TESTING THE THEORY activity center. The project is part of a new approach to exhibits that aims to make the experiences available to visitors closer to the actual process of scientific discovery. Visitors will carry out experiments in fields ranging from chemistry and cognitive psychology, to statistics, optics, and materials science. The focus will be on promoting specific experimental skills and scientific habits of mind, and on encouraging the transfer of these skills to everyday activities. The exhibit techniques developed during the prototyping and production of TESTING THE THEORY are expected to be of importance to science museums and others concerned with increasing science literacy.
The Museum of Life and Science will use this planning grant to bring together zoo, botanical garden, and science center professionals to a) assess the feasibility of an "interactive zoo," b) identify animals species that exhibit behaviors in a zoo environment that provide natural opportunities for related interactive exhibits, and c) generate a White Paper reviewing relevant exhibits in zoos and science centers and proposing design criteria for the interactive exhibits. The planning activities include: the development of a "White Paper" that will include a review of key research findings in developmental psychology and visitor behavior as they apply to playgrounds, zoos, and interactive exhibit environments, an overview of relevant exhibit techniques and technologies, and case studies of existing exhibits; a 2-day meeting to discuss the issues; and travel to exemplary museums, zoos, aquaria, and botanical gardens. These results will be used in the development of interactive exhibits in an outdoor setting included in the museum's Master Plan 2000. They have proposed the analogy of a field research station in their approach to learning in an outdoor setting. They envision three thematic "field stations": "Down to Earth," "Watery Worlds," and "Catch the Wind." The specific exhibit plans will be finalized after the completion of the planning grant. Although the Museum of Life and Science will be the primary beneficiary of this planning activity, the background information gathered, the issues discussed, and the critical appraisals will be relevant to other museums with and interested in developing exhibits in an out-of-door setting. The results will be broadly disseminated by means of publications and presentations at professional meetings.