Emily,
   I have recently done some research in that area for a class and have a short list of articles/papers -- they are not strictly kiosk related but they may help.

Ayers, R. and C. T. Melear (1998). Increased Learning of Physical Science Concepts Via Multimedia Exhibit Compared to Hands-on Exhibit in a Science Museum San Diego, CA, National Association for Research in Science Teaching: 17.
   The purpose of this study was to determine whether the use of an interactive multimedia exhibit is more effective that a traditional hands-on exhibit in teaching physical science in a museum setting. The Simple Machine exhibit, a permanent display at the East Tennessee Discovery Center, was used as a comparison with an interactive computer exhibit. Elementary school students (n=104) took a multiple-choice quiz before entering into the museum and again after interacting with the exhibits. A random sample was selected in order to determine whether the students would experience the traditional or the multimedia exhibit. Results indicate that there is an increase in science learning when students interact with a multimedia exhibit when compared to the hands-on exhibit. Also, there appears to be no significant difference in thhe holding power of the exhibits. Both exhibits ere very efficient in attracting and engaging students, and statistical tests indicate no gender difference in learning or holding power. (Contains 33 references.)

Marty, P. F. (1999). "Museum Informatics and Collaborative Technologies: The Emerging Socio-Technological Dimensions of Information Science in Museum Environments." Journal of the American Society for Information Science 50(12): 1083-1091.
   The museum offers a starting point from which to examine the fundamental nature of collaborative work and interdisciplinary scholarship. This article examines the socio-technoligical impact of introducing advanced  information technology into the Spurlock Museum, a museum of world history and culture at the University of Illinois. It addresses the implementation of such methodologies as computer-supported cooperative work (CSCW) and computer-mediated communication (CMC) in the museum environment. Discussions are illustrated with examples and scenarios drawn from the Spurlock Museum and emphasize the  intimate relationship between the museum's social structure and information systems. Viewed in a holistic fashion, such studies of collaborative activities within the museum will help shape the future of museum informatics, an emerging sub-discipline of the field of social informatics.

Lee, S. and R. S. Heller (1997). "Use of a Keystroke Log File to Evaluate an Interactive Computer System in a Museum Setting." Computers and Education 29(2-3): 89-101.
   Multimedia evaluation and evaluation of public space learning environments are complex processes. The typical challenges of public space design and implementation, such as the inability to relly know the user as well as the lack of access to the setting for long-term evaluation require the evaluator to use a series of tools and techniques. This paper discusses the results of using a keystroke log file to identify the use and visitor usage patterns of the sophisticated interactive multimedia system installed at the Wexner Learning Center of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. The findings of the evaluation include the identification of four typical sessions, a series of engagements with the technology and with the content and the need for other evaluation techniques to determine the cause of some of the exhibited behaviors.

on 6/27/01 9:14 PM, Emily Timmel at [log in to unmask] wrote:

> Does anybody know of any studies that focus on how
> people interact with computer kiosks?  I'm interested
> in people's attention spans, particular designs that
> are most successful (that is are people so used to an
> ATM format that they respond best to it or vice
> versa), and gender differentiation in regards to
> design and attention span.
>
> Any leads would be very helpful.
>
> Thank You,
>
> Emily Timmel
>
>
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