This evaluation provides feedback from a tracking and timing study from the project "Seeing: The Interaction of Physiology, Culture, and Technology" at the Exploratorium. The evaluation concludes that Seeing is a large, complex collection of loosely related exhibit elements that attract and hold visitors’ attention well, but not exceptionally well. Yet, given the size and scope of the exhibits, a longer average time and more stops would not be expected. The individual interactive elements range from many that are modestly engaging, to some that are highly engaging, with a few exceptionally
The first phase of the evaluation, a front-end visitor study, assessing visitors' knowledge of and interest in space science and the cosmos, was conducted in May and June of 2000 at Boston's Museum of Science (MOS). The evaluation's second phase, a formative evaluation of the exhibition prototype, was completed in February of 2001 at the MOS. This summative report represents the third round of the evaluation process conducted by PERG, and is an evaluation of the current Cosmic Questions exhibition and related activities, based on data obtained by evaluators at two sites Boston's Museum of
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TEAM MEMBERS:
Joan KarpJudah LeblangSusan Baker CohenHarvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics
Evaluation of the Space Command Exhibit began in October 2002 with a tracking and timing study. A random sample of 100 visitors to the exhibit was tracked and timed. A member of a visiting group was selected at random as the subject. Subjects were tracked from station to station and the time spent at each exhibit or panel was recorded. This gives a measure of the relative attracting and holding power of each exhibit station. After a subject completed a visit, a "sweep" count was made, which involved counting the number of people at each exhibit station. Sweeps give another measure of the
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TEAM MEMBERS:
Minda BorunFranklin Institute Science Museum
The San Francisco Zoo's new Lemur Forest Exhibit is successful on almost every measure of visitor experience, education and inspiration. A summative evaluation, consisting of pre- and post-visit testing, and a tracking and timing study confirms that cued visitors gain knowledge about lemur types, lemur behavior, lemurs' endangerment status, and lemurs' land of origin. Visitors also demonstrate enhanced appreciation for lemurs and emotional connection to them post-visit. While many pre-visit respondents are inclined to value protecting lemurs and their environment, post-visit responses that
The purpose of this summative evaluation was to document visitors' use and impressions of Vanishing Wildlife immediately upon viewing the exhibit and, again, several months after their visit. In addition, staff members wanted to determine if the exhibit motivates visitors to perform specific conservation actions once they leave the aquarium. By collecting data three different ways (through timing and tracking observations, on-site exit questionnaires, and telephone questionnaires), and then comparing the results with data from Monterey Bay Aquarium (MBA) exit surveys, the evaluators were able
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TEAM MEMBERS:
Randi Korn & Associates, Inc.Monterey Bay Aquarium
This is a report from the supplemental summative evaluation of the exhibition, Genetics: Decoding Life at the Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago. The evaluation was designed to measure visitors' attention to the main messages of the exhibition, visitors' thinking and attitudes about genetics, and whether visitors made connection among their genes, themselves, and their families. The evaluation was designed to establish findings that complemented and built upon a previous summative evaluation. Two types of exit interviews were used to gather qualitative and quantitative data. A total of
In the Fall/Winter of 2002/3, RMC Research Corporation (RMC) conducted a summative evaluation of The Human Body film and outreach materials, including lobby exhibit, Teacher's Resource Guide, and Web site. These were the culminating activities in a series of studies conducted over the past three years related to The Human Body project, including formative evaluations of the film and each of the outreach components. These summative evaluations were designed to determine the overall effect on audiences of the finished products. This report contains sections relating to the major elements of The
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TEAM MEMBERS:
Alice ApleyMaryland Science CenterRalph AdlerWendy GrahamLaura Winn
This report presents the findings of a summative evaluation of Dynamic Earth, conducted by Randi Korn & Associates, Inc. (RK&A), for the Newark Museum in Newark, New Jersey. Data collection took place in April and May 2003. The evaluation documents the scope of the exhibition's impact and effectiveness via timing and tracking observations and exit interviews.
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TEAM MEMBERS:
Randi Korn & Associates, Inc.Newark Museum