On Wed, 20 Aug 1997 08:59:04 -0500, Sharyn Horowitz
<[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>I try with a few people (ie 3-4), fix what's not working, and repeat. I
>keep going until visitors seem to get it. It's not scientific, but it
>works, and it's a lot more satisfying than 100 trials of an exhibit that
>doesn't work.
>
>>Hi--For those of you who have done formative exhibit evaluations, what
>>is considered a sufficient sample when observing visitors interacting
>>with a small exhibit with only one "interactive" element (a touch box)?
>>100? 200? Any other thoughts on formative evaluation appreciated (and
>>yes, we have the book "Try It" which is on this very topic). Thanks for
>>any feedback!
>>
>>Stacey Otte
>>Collections Manager
>>Catalina Island Museum
>>[log in to unmask]
>
>Sharyn Horowitz, The Health Museum of Cleveland
>[log in to unmask]
>8911 Euclid Avenue
>Cleveland, OH 44106
>(216) 231-5010
>fax 216-231-5129
Sharon's right on the button with her response. If it takes about four
iterations to "get it right", that's a total sample per interactive
of 16-20. If it's not working after 4 tries, seriously rethink, or
give up, on that one. If you know you have different target audiences
for the material, one, you're a genius :-), and, two, you may have to
test some more for each audience.
The trick is to correctly set the scope of what you're testing. A big,
complicated interactive with many intuitive leaps will take more
testing, and maybe should be broken down into manageable chunks.
I would quibble, in the nicest possible way, with Sharon's, "It's not
scientific...." It is. Sample size is only a tiny part of "science."
Doug
Note new email address:
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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*
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