ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
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I've had success in recruiting people for focus groups and surveys using a couple of strategies:
 
1.  Offering adults and family groups modest incentives, such as IMAX theater tickets, some complimentary admission tickets for a future visit, or a gift certificate to the gift shop.
 
2.  Recruiting school classes prior to their field trip, again offering the school some incentives, whether it is simply a payment or some free programs or field trips.
 
3.  If the students don't need to be on site for the evaluation, I have had success in conducting evaluations at schools -- again with some incentives.  I have conducted a "focus group" or group discussion with entire classes, and/or had the kids fill out surveys.  In the U.S., various kinds of permission are needed, so you have to plan ahead several months to make this work.
 
Bob Russell
Learning Experience Design
(202) 997-5539
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-----Original Message-----
From: [log in to unmask]
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Tue, 13 Mar 2007 12:03 PM
Subject: Participant recruitment for evaluations


ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
*****************************************************************************

Dear members, I'm conducting some formative evaluations for new exhibits at the 
museum and I have found difficulties to recruit participants. Most of our 
visitors are students in school groups, I feel teachers don't want to take the 
group to another activity and miss the visit and they also don't want to divide 
kids to participate in different activities. 
Do you deal with similar problems?
How do you approach visitors to invite them to evaluations?
How do I convince them to allow kids too take part in this process?
Does a poster of recruitment works better than personal talk?
 
Thanks for any advice in this subject


Leticia Perez
Research and Evaluation Coordinator
Interactive Museum of Economics
Mexico City
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