Start with the Visitor Studies Association annual conference proceedings.
Address for the VSA is:
c/o Pat Hinske
10336 North Stanford Drive 97W
Mequon, WI  53097
PH:  (414)238-1916

Though I believe the proceedings are available from the Center for Social Design
P.O. Box 1111
Jacksonville. AL  36265
PH (205)782-5640

Then pick up "The Museum Experience" by John Falk and Lynn Dierking, ISBN:
0-929590-07-4

Other names to search for journal articles:  Paulette McManus, Roger Miles
(both UK), Deborah Perry, Lois Silverman, Marilyn (Molly) Hood, Randi Korn,
etc.  There is in fact quite a bit of literature, it's just not particularly
well organized.  Try "Curator", "Museum News", the ILVS journal.

Good luck!

Christina Simpson
Co-ordinator of Evaluation/Results Monitoring
Glenbow Museum
Calgary, Alberta
[log in to unmask]


>Dear Colleague:
>
>My name is Homer Wu, I recently joined this list and have sat on the
>sidelines waiting to see what people were discussing about. To my surprise
>I have not seen any subject regarding exhibits evaluation so far, so I
>though I would try to stir things up a little.
>
>I am a doctoral student here in the College of Forestry at Stephen F.
>Austin State University and am currently working on my dissertation.  My
>research is releated to an evaluation of the use and effectiveness of
>interpretive exhibits on a national park.   I have done some literature
>review on this topic, but so far not many are actually from "exhibit" stand
>points.  I have been searching in all the regular places for information.
>This has brought limited success.
>
>Another difficulty that I am facing is how to establish the criteria for
>effectiveness, and for validity and reliability reasons, what statistical
>methods should I use.  I assume that YOU as professionals (experts) would
>have done some kind of similar evaluations before, I would like to hear
>from you and hope you would provide me with some tips.
>
>Specifically, I am desparately looking for papers, journals, articles or
>books that deal with this issue.  Can any one direct me to newsgroups, WWW
>location, Gopher sites, or other databases for information about  how to
>evaluate the effectiveness of the interpretive exhibits?
>
>Please let me know if you know of any research was done in this field, I
>would be very grateful.
>
>Any leads would be highly appreciated.  Thanks in advance!
>
>
>Regards,
>
>Homer
>
>****************************************************
>Homer C. Wu
>Doctoral Research/Teaching Assistant
>Stephen F. Austin State University
>College of Forestry,  P. O. Box 6109
>Nacogdoches, Texas  75962
>U. S. A.
>Work: (409) 468-1347
>FAX:   (409) 468-2489
>E-mail: [log in to unmask]
>
>****************************************************
>
>