To add to Doug Hoy's message:

I agree that pre- and post-tests are suitable for exhibition evaluations
with particular cognitive and behavioral goals.  I have utilized this model
of evaluation to measure attitudinal change in museum visitors.  In this
case, a post-test was conducted immediately after the museum visit AND
another test several weeks after the visit to evaluate the longer-term
effects of the visit.

Patricia Moore


>Something weird is happening with my newsgroup reader--I'm not getting
>some of these messages that people are replying to ??! (or is this
>what senility feels like?)
>So, in the absence of knowing all the thread, I'll try to add
>something.
>Pre- and post-tests are suitable for some exhibit evaluations,
>especially if there is an immediate cognitive or behavioural goal.
>We've done a few at my museums, and they don't usually find large
>effects. Perhaps the effect occurs a few weeks later--there is some
>controversy about this. I can send you our reports.
>Kay's suggestion is a good one, if you've never tried it. You can hear
>some surprising things. If the exhibit had an overall theme or some
>kind of content point to it, it can be interesting to compare this
>with what you hear from visitors.
>*************************************************************
>Doug Hoy              Evaluation           National Museum of
>[log in to unmask]              &              Science & Technology
>(613)998-6863v         Research       P.O.Box 9724, Station T
>(613)990-3654f                          Ottawa K1G 5A3 CANADA
>**Opinions expressed are not necessarily shared by the NMSTC**
>*************************************************************
>
>