This study collected data from seven planetarium email lists (one per planetarium regional organization in the United States), as well as online survey panel data from residents in each area, to describe and compare those who do and do not visit planetariums.
We examined an approach to reaching audiences who may not ordinarily engage with science. Termed Guerilla Science, this approach blends elements of access, by removing barriers to participation by embedding science into unexpected places, with those of inclusion, by designing activities that speak to the learning identities of participants.
The Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery (F|S) contracted Randi Korn & Associates, Inc. (RK&A) to study its visitors with two goals in mind: first, to collect current data about F|S visitors, including demographics and visit characteristics and second, to explore visitors’ experiences at F|S, in particular, what visitors value about their F|S experiences and how visitors rate their experiences in the context of the mission statement and newly articulated impact statement. Two data collection instruments were used for the visitor study: a standardized questionnaire and an in-depth
The Sports Legends Museum at Camden Yards approached Randi Korn & Associates, Inc. (RK&A) to conduct visitor research. This project was one of several the Museum engaged in to better understand its audience. Data were collected between May and July 2008 through 319 standardized questionnaires and 34 in-depth interviews with groups of visitors. While a "sports museum" is a focused type of museum, one major consideration was whether sports museum visitors are homogenous, prompting us to ask, what types of sports fan does the Sports Legends Museum at Camden Yards attract? To answer this, RK&A
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TEAM MEMBERS:
Randi Korn & Associates, Inc.Sports Legends Museum at Camden Yards
With the support of a Wallace Excellence Award, the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum (the Gardner) contracted with Randi Korn & Associates, Inc. (RK&A) to study its young adult visitors. The study is part of an initiative to engage young adults between 18 and 34 years old, and to create conditions for a compelling experience at the Gardner that will foster continuing relationships with the Museum. Data for this study were collected from in-depth interviews with 55 groups of young adult visitors (184 individuals) between 18 and 43 years of age. After the interview, each participant completed
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Randi Korn & Associates, Inc.Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
resourceevaluationMuseum and Science Center Programs
This annual report presents an overview of Saint Louis Science Center audience data gathered through a variety of evaluation studies conducted during 2014. This report includes information on the Science Center's general public audience demographics and visitation patterns, gives an overview of visitors' comments about their Science Center experience, summarizes major trends observed in the Science Center's tool for tracking educational programs, and presents highlights from front-end evaluations of a new exhibit about the Mars rovers.
This study, completed by Serrell and Associates in June of 2012, was the first phase in an overall visitor research program at the Natural History Museum of Utah completed. NHMU opened its new facility in November 2011, a spectacular integration of a LEED- certified building anchoring the museum’s significant collections and research programs, and a series of exhibitions designed to illuminate the natural world through the lens of Utah’s human and natural history. The Museum has a total of 51,270 square feet of public interpretive space. With the purpose of setting “clear eyes to the future,”
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TEAM MEMBERS:
Natural History Museum of UtahBecky MenloveBarbara Becker
This tracking and timing study was carried out by Serrell and Associates in April of 2013 as a second phase of the Museum's visitor research program for its new facility and exhibition experiences (see Whole-Museum Stay-Time Study of April 2012 for the first phase of this work). The Natural History Museum of Utah (NHMU) at the Rio Tinto Center opened in November 2011, with a total of 51,270 square feet of public interpretive space. In 2012, NHMU began a multiphase evaluation process to help staff members understand the experiences that visitors have during their visits to the new building. The
The third and final study, completed by Serrell and Associates in April 2014 in a program of visitor research at the Natural History Museum of Utah. The Natural History Museum of Utah (NHMU) opened in November 2011, with a total of 51,270 square feet of public interpretive space. In 2012, NHMU began a multiphase evaluation process to help museum staff understand the experiences visitors have during their visits to the new building. The overall purpose of the research is to assess the degree to which the museum is meeting visitor needs and is having the desired impacts, so that future decisions
This annual report presents an overview of Saint Louis Science Center audience data gathered through a variety of evaluation studies conducted during 2013. This report includes information on the Science Center's general public audience demographics and visitation patterns, gives an overview of visitors' comments about their Science Center experience, summarizes major trends observed in the Science Center's tool for tracking educational programs, and presents highlights from a front-end evaluation of a new agriculture exhibit and a summative evaluation of the the Youth Exploring Science
The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) contracted RK&A to conduct audience research for the Central Park Zoo (Zoo), located in the heart of New York City. As part of the study, RK&A explored the value visitors’ place on their Zoo experiences and the ways in which visitors use the Zoo and surrounding area. Findings from the study provide the WCS with a preliminary understanding of their visitors and lay the groundwork for a second phase of audience research. How did we approach this study? RK&A conducted in-depth interviews to explore visitors’ thoughts and perceptions of the Zoo, as well as
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Wildlife Conservation SocietyStephanie DowneyRandi Korn
The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County (NHMLAC) contracted Randi Korn & Associates, Inc. (RK&A) to conduct audience research for the Page Museum (the Page) and La Brea Tar Pits (Tar Pits) as part of an overall strategy to examine the site’s current state and determine plans for its future. How did we approach this study? We designed the study to examine and compare Page Museum visitors’ and non-visitors’ perceptions of the Tar Pits and Page Museum; the meaning they construct from their experience; and their knowledge of current scientific research happening at the site. We conducted
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TEAM MEMBERS:
Natural History Museum of Los AngelesStephanie DowneyEmily Craig