Museum Research Methods MUSM7034 Semester 1 2009 Session 5.3 Research Process www.arts.usyd.edu.au/departs/museum http://musm7034.ning.com/

Identify information needed Write scope of work / outline / research proposal / brief Carry out the work / commission a study Manage the project / manage the consultant (timelines, budgets) Summarise key findings, disseminate the information, apply it to processes and projects Audience research project

Identify information needed

Write scope of work / outline / research proposal / brief

Carry out the work / commission a study

Manage the project / manage the consultant (timelines, budgets)

Summarise key findings, disseminate the information, apply it to processes and projects

Start small and learn as you go. Call it a pilot. Work with a few standard measures that you can repeat in many studies to build a bank of data. 5-point rating scale measures of learning things visitors do (list of exhibitions etc) reason to come demographic descriptors Suggestions

Start small and learn as you go. Call it a pilot.

Work with a few standard measures that you can repeat in many studies to build a bank of data.

5-point rating scale

measures of learning

things visitors do (list of exhibitions etc)

reason to come

demographic descriptors

Agree on outcomes to be measured against What does success look like / feel like? Evaluation suggestions

Agree on outcomes to be measured against

What does success look like / feel like?

Consider your reporting audience Do they know a lot about the evaluation/research? Are they ‘numbers’ people? Do they care about methods? What is their stake in the project? What will they do with the information? Reporting

Consider your reporting audience

Do they know a lot about the evaluation/research?

Are they ‘numbers’ people?

Do they care about methods?

What is their stake in the project?

What will they do with the information?

Organise your data, know it well, be thorough with analysis Compare findings by visitor types Include data collection instruments in appendix Include quotes Help interpret the findings Be impartial Know your message

Organise your data, know it well, be thorough with analysis

Compare findings by visitor types

Include data collection instruments in appendix

Include quotes

Help interpret the findings

Be impartial

Present findings 1-2 page executive summary Include comparisons Show tables/graphs only when they help explain the data Present most relevant and useful data Include implications Have someone review it before you distribute/present Relevant to questions being asked Useful to stakeholders Clear and unambiguous

1-2 page executive summary

Include comparisons

Show tables/graphs only when they help explain the data

Present most relevant and useful data

Include implications

Have someone review it before you distribute/present

Relevant to questions being asked

Useful to stakeholders

Clear and unambiguous

Understand the role of social research in planning and museum management processes Identify the basic elements of social research design Demonstrate understanding of the most commonly used research methods Design and specify a research project, and apply research data to practical problems and situations Unit of Study Outcomes

Understand the role of social research in planning and museum management processes

Identify the basic elements of social research design

Demonstrate understanding of the most commonly used research methods

Design and specify a research project, and apply research data to practical problems and situations

Course outcomes Theories about audiences and engagement with museums Methods of researching audiences Designing research projects Commissioning research Understanding and applying research Overview of contemporary practice Conclusion

Course outcomes

Theories about audiences and engagement with museums

Methods of researching audiences

Designing research projects

Commissioning research

Understanding and applying research

Overview of contemporary practice

Review student goals Conclusion

Review student goals

What worked well? Lectures, tasks, readings, resources, facilities, Ning site, assessments? Suggested improvements Conclusion

What worked well?

Lectures, tasks, readings, resources, facilities, Ning site, assessments?

Suggested improvements

Student feedback forms Conclusion

Student feedback forms

Where to from here? Conclusion

Where to from here?

Gillian Savage Ph. 9954 0455 (business hours) E. [email_address] Ning. http://musm7034. ning .com/ Contact

Gillian Savage

Ph. 9954 0455 (business hours)

E. [email_address]

Ning. http://musm7034. ning .com/