ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions. ***************************************************************************** Jeff, Actually, "qualitative research" is a definition of the methods of the research, not the goals. What you've described as "start with data, then work toward a hypothesis" is (one type of) exploratory research, as opposed to more confirmatory research ("start with a hypothesis, then collect and analyze data"). Exploratory research can use quantitative methods (random sampling, statistical significance, experimental design, etc.) just as easily as qualitative (interviews, focus groups, observation, etc.), just as confirmatory research can use any of these techniques. Laia Robichaux Environmental Sciences Program Environmental Education Doctoral Program [log in to unmask] [log in to unmask] -----Original Message----- From: Informal Science Education Network [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Jeff Courtman Sent: Friday, November 04, 2011 7:26 AM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: Exhibit evaluation in Dimensions magazine ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions. **************************************************************************** * Eric, what you are talking about is qualitative research - you start with data, then work toward a hypothesis. Conversely, you can start with a hypothesis, then collect and analyze data to see if your suppositions are supported. There are also mixed methods designs. I also think your choice of "knowing how our audiences react" is very telling - as Charlie mentioned a few threads back, learning is a complicated, mushy topic that can be approached from multiple directions, through multiple theoretical models. For instance, even as an exhibit developer, you might be interested in learning as a function of emotional response, a behavioral, or a cognitive response (or something in between). In other words, you might be interested in knowing how they felt after the experience, what they learned, or what you taught them (I shudder when I wrote that last one :). What strikes me as being the common thread throughout this discussion is that learning is both spectral and dimensional - that is, we can talk about behavioral learning or social learning - points on the spectrum - and then we can talk about the finer aspects at each of those points - the dimensional. So when I see arguments about different points of view, I don't view them as dichotomous, but rather as connected. Central to this whole argument is that, by definition, evaluation is also spectral and dimensional: It can be done for different reasons, in various ways, and serve multiple purposes. *********************************************************************** For information about the Association of Science-Technology Centers and the Informal Science Education Network please visit www.astc.org. Check out the latest case studies and reviews on ExhibitFiles at www.exhibitfiles.org. The ISEN-ASTC-L email list is powered by LISTSERVR software from L-Soft. To learn more, visit http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html. To remove your e-mail address from the ISEN-ASTC-L list, send the message SIGNOFF ISEN-ASTC-L in the BODY of a message to [log in to unmask] *********************************************************************** For information about the Association of Science-Technology Centers and the Informal Science Education Network please visit www.astc.org. Check out the latest case studies and reviews on ExhibitFiles at www.exhibitfiles.org. The ISEN-ASTC-L email list is powered by LISTSERVR software from L-Soft. To learn more, visit http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html. To remove your e-mail address from the ISEN-ASTC-L list, send the message SIGNOFF ISEN-ASTC-L in the BODY of a message to [log in to unmask]