Museum Research Methods

MUSM7034Semester 1 2009

Session 5.3 Research Process

www.arts.usyd.edu.au/departs/museum

http://musm7034.ning.com/

[2] Museum Research Methods 2009

Identify information needed

Write scope of work / outline / research proposal / brief

Carry out the work / commission a study

Manage the project / manage the consultant (timelines, budgets)

Summarise key findings, disseminate the information, apply it to processes and projects

Audience research project

[3] Museum Research Methods 2009

Start small and learn as you go. Call it a pilot.

Work with a few standard measures that you can repeat in many studies to build a bank of data.

5-point rating scale measures of learning things visitors do (list of exhibitions etc) reason to come demographic descriptors

Suggestions

[4] Museum Research Methods 2009

Agree on outcomes to be measured against

What does success look like / feel like?

Evaluation suggestions

[5] Museum Research Methods 2009

Consider your reporting audience

Do they know a lot about the evaluation/research?

Are they ‘numbers’ people?

Do they care about methods?

What is their stake in the project?

What will they do with the information?

Reporting

[6] Museum Research Methods 2009

Organise your data, know it well, be thorough with analysis

Compare findings by visitor types

Include data collection instruments in appendix

Include quotes

Help interpret the findings

Be impartial

Know your message

[7] Museum Research Methods 2009

Present findings

1-2 page executive summary

Include comparisons

Show tables/graphs only when they

help explain the data

Present most relevant and useful data

Include implications

Have someone review it before you

distribute/present

Relevant to questions being asked

Useful to stakeholders

Clear and unambiguous

Current Knowledge

2

6 6

2

6

4

6

1

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

Low (1) 2 3 High (4)

Museum Research

[8] Museum Research Methods 2009

Understand the role of social research in planning and museum management processes

Identify the basic elements of social research design

Demonstrate understanding of the most commonly used research methods

Design and specify a research project, and apply research data to practical problems and situations

Unit of Study Outcomes

[9] Museum Research Methods 2009

Course outcomes

Theories about audiences and engagement with museums Methods of researching audiences Designing research projects Commissioning research Understanding and applying research Overview of contemporary practice

Conclusion

[10] Museum Research Methods 2009

Review student goals

Conclusion

[11] Museum Research Methods 2009

What worked well?

Lectures, tasks, readings, resources, facilities, Ning site, assessments?

Suggested improvements

Conclusion

[12] Museum Research Methods 2009

Student feedback forms

Conclusion

[13] Museum Research Methods 2009

Where to from here?

Conclusion

[14] Museum Research Methods 2009

Gillian Savage

Ph. 9954 0455 (business hours)

E. musm7034@live.com.au

Ning. http://musm7034.ning.com/

Contact