Time-based behaviors at an interactive science museum: Exploring the differences between weekday/weekend and family/nonfamily visitors

Cody Sandifer

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Museums and Cultural Heritage Science Education and Pedagogy Science Education and Perceptions

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine if time-based learning-associated visitor behaviors at interactive science museums differ across weekend/weekday groups and family/nonfamily groups. Forty-seven visitors were tracked through two interactive, thematic exhibitions at the Reuben Fleet Science Center. Statistical analysis of five separate dependent measures showed that: (a) regardless of the day of the visit, families spent more time than nonfamilies in individual exhibitions and in the science museum as a whole; (b) there was a separation of weekday visitors into two distinct groups: family visitors who spent, on average, almost 2 minutes per exhibit, and nonfamily visitors who spent, on average, less than 1 minute per exhibit; and (c) weekend family and nonfamily visitors did not differ in their average time spent per exhibit. These results are explained by a difference in visitor agendas and the crowded nature of weekend visits. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Sci Ed 81:689–701, 1997.

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2016The Museum Experience 1994Family behavior and learning in informal science settings: A review of the research 1996Science Centres and Science Learning 1996Families Are Learning in Science Museums 1986The Behavior of Family Groups in Science Museums 1991The long‐term impact of interactive exhibits 1985Predicting Visitor Behavior 1987It's the company you keep … The social determination of learning-related behaviour in a science museum

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