The effects of exhibitions can vary depending on the methods of delivering messages to visitors; the contents and quality of information that visitors can acquire may differ depending on the selection of exhibits and the presentation methods of exhibi...
The effects of exhibitions can vary depending on the methods of delivering messages to visitors; the contents and quality of information that visitors can acquire may differ depending on the selection of exhibits and the presentation methods of exhibits. To plan more effective exhibitions, exhibitions should be evaluated and verified through research. This is important in that it will present measures for improving shortcomings in exhibition goals and procedures; and it will also provide new ideas and goals for future exhibition plans.
The purposes of this study are: 1) to investigate the applicability of evaluation methods by organizing related theories systematically through a literature review; and 2) to provide more practical and valuable information about the methods by applying them to actual museums.
Under an assumption that physical, environmental elements directly affect the attendance of museum, the scope of this research has excluded software aspects of exhibitions--exhibition themes or contents as well as exhibition programs. In conducting analyses and evaluations, this study focuses mainly on hardware aspects--delivery methods of exhibition contents, arrangement of exhibits, presentation formats, and sign systems. For this study, the National Science Museum was investigated since it uses various themes and exhibition methods, compared with other science museums. Exhibition structures and presentation formats were first analyzed, and then the methods of trace and observation were used to investigate how visitors use the museum. Surveys were also conducted at two different times.
Depending on the structure of space, presentation formats used for exhibitions in the National Science Museum can be divided into two areas, circling around the open main hall: 1) History of the nature and Korean science technology on the third floor; and 2) understanding and use of the nature on the first floor and basement. Each exhibition hall has an open space, not a closed space like a room. At the entrance of each exhibition area, a guide map is installed to demarcate each area, so a boundary between exhibition themes is not limited in time and space. Accordingly, an exhibition can be viewed smoothly since moving to each exhibition area is easy and visual linking is high. Viewing behaviors were analyzed for each presentation format, focusing on the rates of viewing and using exhibits. The results of the analyses showed that problems of exhibits, arrangement methods of exhibition space, or guide systems are more prominent than those of the presentation format itself.
Based on these results, measures for improvement are suggested as follows:
First, all exhibition areas are open to the voided main hall without making distinctions, so both viewing concentration and frequency were found to be low depending on the characteristics of exhibits and exhibition areas. To solve this problem, new methods of constructing an environment should be used to improve concentration by partitioning space for each exhibition area, not interfering with viewing exhibits; or new formats of exhibition halls using new window frames or holes should be explored to stimulate visitors' curiosity and to lead viewing traffic flow in the museum.
Second, when exhibits were displayed in a cluster form in corner areas, or when many exhibits were presented in a wall-mounted type or Ireland type of showcases, visitors moved fast without viewing the exhibits and showed a low viewing rate. To improve this problem, various methods of adjusting contrast between light levels and adjusting the number of exhibits displayed should be used. These new approaches will construct a rhythmic exhibition environment that can regulate viewing speed and form an even viewing distribution.
Third, most exhibits showed low viewing rate, except for exhibits that have distinctive characteristics of each exhibition area--large scale exhibits or exploration-type exhibits that need some manipulation, or exhibits with visual effects. Displaying symbolic exhibits with strong representative value of each area should be considered. In presenting representative exhibits, a gate can be installed at each exhibition area, and representative exhibits are displayed by the gate or between exhibition booths. A systematic plan with a hierarchy is needed for displaying representative exhibits.
Fourth, sign systems (e.g., guide map, exhibition title of each theme at the gate, signs posted on the floor) were found to be ineffective. Survey results showed that some visitors had difficulties in finding exhibition routes when many exhibits were displayed. For this problem, a gate or partition can be installed at the entrance of each exhibition area to increase an overall understanding of exhibition theme, plot, or contents. Guide panels, video guide systems, or guide pamphlets about exhibits can be also helpful. Or, if a small space is provided at the end of each exhibition area, it can be used to give an orientation on the next exhibition or used as a resting place. These methods will be effective in stimulating visitors' curiosity about the next exhibition, delivering exhibition contents, and maintaining an even viewing distribution.
This research was conducted as a basis for evaluating exhibitions from the perspectives of visitors. There are some limitations in this study: 1) In analyzing and verifying the characteristics of viewing patterns and the effectiveness of delivery methods, concrete evaluation elements were not extracted, and comparative analyses were not conducted; and 2) in conducting surveys, real perception of survey participants were not investigated. Since this study focuses on the evaluation of a specific science museum, the study results cannot be used as evaluation criteria for all science museums.
In future studies, these limitations should be explored. Furthermore, by expanding the scope of research, software aspects of exhibitions (e.g., exhibition scenarios or programs) should be evaluated to establish more general evaluation criteria. Such research will provide valuable information for better exhibition plans, reflecting visitors' needs as well as their behavioral characteristics.