Science on a Sphere Evaluation at the Science Museum of Minnesota

Science on a Sphere Evaluation

at the Science Museum of Minnesota

Kirsten Ellenbogen, Ph.D., Director of Evaluation and Research in Learning

Amy Grack Nelson, Evaluation and Research Associate

SMM Science on a Sphere Evaluation

Science-on-a-Sphere Base-line Study

In winter 2006, SMM carried out a base-line study using four narrated NOAA visualizations. Timing data were gathered and visitors were interviewed to gauge their reactions to SOS, understand their comprehension of SOS, and gather comments about potential future enhancements.


Science-on-a-Sphere Base-line Study

Time Spent at Science on a Sphere (n=81)

Median Time Minimum Time Maximum Time 3 min. 16 sec. 14 min., 4 sec.

Viewing Behavior (n=81)

37% Stood in one place or circled less than half of the Sphere63% Circled more than half of the Sphere


Science-on-a-Sphere Formative Study

In spring 2006, SMM carried out an evaluation of SOS at its new location with new visualizations. Again, Timing data were gathered and visitors were interviewed to gauge their reactions to SOS, understand their comprehension of SOS, and gather comments about potential future enhancements.



Time spent at SOS during base-line study (n=81):

Median Time Minimum Time Maximum Time 3 min. 16 sec. 14 min., 4 sec.

Time spent at SOS during formative study (n=50):

Median Time Minimum Time Maximum Time3 min., 29 sec. 30 sec. 30 min., 17 sec.



Total time at SOS (n=50):

Median Time Minimum Time Maximum Time

Sat down (n=30) 5 min., 54 sec. 51 sec. 30 min., 17 sec.Didn’t sit (n=20) 2 min., 12 sec. 30 sec. 7 min., 30 sec.



Table 1: Behaviors viewed at SOS (n= 50)

Behavior Percent of VisitorsRead label 82%Talked about content on SOS 72%Pointed at SOS 62%Sat down 60%Read label out loud 24%Talked about technology of SOS 22%Pointed to label 20%



How Visitors Viewed the Sphere (n=50):

Percent of VisitorsStood in one place 26%Circled less than half 26%Circled half or more 12%Circled entire exhibit 36%



Interest in Science-on-a-Sphere (n=50):

Percent of VisitorsI was so interested I’d come see it again. 72%I was interested, but I wouldn’t come see it again. 22%I wasn’t really interested. 6%I didn’t find this interesting at all. 0%


Footprints Tracking Study

Footprints (16 min.) was set up to run continuously. Visitors were unobtrusively observed when they entered the exhibit area to understand their viewing behaviors and how long they watched the film. Observations took place December 26, 2006 to January 7, 2007.

SMM Science on a Sphere EvaluationFootprints Tracking Report (n=73):


Sat down (n=34) 6 min., 37 sec. 30 sec. 22 min., 9 sec.Didn’t sit (n=39) 40 sec. 7 sec. 8 min., 58 sec.

Formative Evaluation of SOS (n=50):


Sat down (n=30) 5 min., 54 sec. 51 sec. 30 min., 17 sec.Didn’t sit (n=20) 2 min., 12 sec. 30 sec. 7 min., 30 sec.

SMM Science on a Sphere EvaluationFootprints Tracking Report (n=73):


Formative Evaluation of the Sphere (n=50):


SMM Science on a Sphere EvaluationBlue Planet Report

Blue Planet (6 min., 30 sec.) was set up to run continuously. This study had two parts: sampling visitors for baseline data and sampling visitors who had viewed Blue Planet. Interviews took place in March and April of 2008. A total of 200 visitors were interviewed, 100 Blue Planet visitors and 100 baseline visitors.


Blue Planet Median Time Minimum Time Maximum TimeSat down (n=84) 6 min., 13 sec. 1 min., 10 sec. 19 min., 55 sec.Didn’t sit (n=16) 2 min., 3 sec. 1 min., 13 sec. 6 min., 38 sec.

Footprints Median Time Minimum Time Maximum TimeSat down (n=34) 6 min., 37 sec. 30 sec. 22 min., 9 sec.Didn’t sit (n=39) 40 sec. 7 sec. 8 min., 58 sec.

Formative Median Time Minimum Time Maximum TimeSat down (n=30) 5 min., 54 sec. 51 sec. 30 min., 17 sec.Didn’t sit (n=20) 2 min., 12 sec. 30 sec. 7 min., 30 sec.

SMM Science on a Sphere Evaluation Blue Planet Footprints Formative

Stood in one place 60% 82% 26%Circled less than half 27% 12% 26%Circled half or more 4% 3% 12%Circled entire exhibit 9% 3% 36%

SMM Science on a Sphere EvaluationResponses to Why is the Earth called the Blue Planet?

Base-line Visitors Blue Planet ViewersThe Earth is mostly water 62% 68%The Earth is made of ___% water 10% 12%Planet with water or as seen from space 13% 15%Because it’s blue 2% 1%Gases or Atmosphere 7% 0%Other 1% 1%I don’t know 5% 3%

SMM Science on a Sphere EvaluationPercentages of visitors who answered correctly the questions Why is Earth called the Blue

Planet? and How much of Earth’s water can humans use? Visitors broken down in to baseline visitors, Blue Planet film viewers, and viewers who watched specifically the Blue Planet explanation and 1% of Earth’s water explanation.

Correct answers to Correct answers toWhy is the Earth How much of Earth’scalled the Blue Planet? Earth’s water can

humans use?

Baseline Visitors 86% 7%Blue Planet film viewers 90% 57%

Contact InformationKirsten Ellenbogen, Ph.D.Director of Evaluation and Research in [email protected]

Amy Grack NelsonEvaluation and Research [email protected]

www.smm.org/researchandeval/

mailto:[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.smm.org/researchandeval/

The Onion – July 30, 2008

Al Gore puts infant son in rocket to escape dying planet.


Hot Exhibits Percent of Visitors Median Time Desert Animals 42% 0:00:48Extremes 52% 0:00:50Water Cycle 88% 0:00:43Scale 58% 0:00:56 Science on a Sphere 85% 0:02:00 Water Use 73% 0:00:45 3 Gorges 44% 0:01:10 Crops 63% 0:00:50 Dam Removal 75% 0:01:05 Groundwater 54% 0:01:12 Theater 50% 0:05:19 Water Pump 65% 0:00:65 Microscopes 38% 0:00:47

Documents

Science on a Sphere Evaluation at the Science Museum of Minnesota