A further word on admission fees vs. no admission fees for museums and the
issue of whether free things are perceived to be of little value--

My untested theory is that the vast majority of museum visitors would prefer
museums with free admission; this seems like a no-brainer.  Those who are
seriously interested in what museums have to offer and know a bit about the
variety of attractions in museums would probably be pleased if they were all
free.  If there's any point to deliberately seeking out a museum with stiff
admission fees for a family visit, it's probably snob appeal.  Some people
like to demonstrate their thriftiness and cleverness with how much money they
save, while others at the opposite extreme enjoy reporting how much they
spend.

It occurs to me that if there's anything to the notion that free or
inexpensive museums are sometimes perceived as being of little value, it
might be detected by polling the people who spend considerable sums for theme
parks and other expensive entertainments.  Do they also visit museums, free
or not?  Or do they assume that spending more money will yield a
higher-quality experience?  Although I wouldn't know how to devise a survey
with scientific or statistical validity, I think it would be enlightening to
quiz people standing in line to pony up their Disneyland or Disney World
admissions about their museum-going habits and attitudes.  Conversely, how do
visitors to free museums compare that experience to expensive diversions such
as theme parks, concerts, etc.?  Although the interests of large segments of
each group might exclude the interests of the other group (i.e., museumgoers
who wouldn't be caught dead in a theme park, regardless of price, and theme
park fun-seekers who disdain any kind of museum at any price), it seems to me
that some indications of the perceived value of free cultural attractions
might emerge.

Just a thought.  Do any of the studies from the entertainment industry
include this kind of comparative information?  It may sound like comparing
apples and oranges, but after all, you can compare them in some respects,
especially with regard to price and perceived value.

David Haberstich

=========================================================
Important Subscriber Information:

The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help" (without the quotes).

If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff Museum-L" (without the quotes).