DIA - answers to some visitor research questions

[Alison Benjamin]

Hi,

Please see below for some questions & answers re: visitor research at the
DIA. Some questions remain unanswered and I will share those answers as I
get them.

I also have the results from a focus group study with teachers as well as a
draft of this year’s field trip and tour survey results. Please email me off
list if you want a copy because I'm not sure yet if these are documents I
can share on the wiki.

@Michael Elledge, you were curious about  "tech collaborations they have
explored with other museums or software/hardware companies and how they see
tech evolving wrt visitor interaction and education."

The attached document describes the DIA's approach to technology & outlines
their work with contractors Pentogram and Acoustiguide. You may also be
interested in the following wiki entries:

Current & upcoming audio tours @ the DIA
http://wiki.fluidproject.org/display/fluid/Interview+about+audio+tours+at+DIA

Interview notes:
http://wiki.fluidproject.org/display/fluid/DIA+Interpretive+Specialist+(June+30)
http://wiki.fluidproject.org/display/fluid/DIA+Education+and+Interpretive+Specialist+(July+2)

Thanks,
Alison


> Is there any sort of annual general reporting of visitor statistics you
do? Ex: how many visitors do you get in a year.

Our attendance numbers have been very inconsistent due to the construction
project. From November 2007 to November 2008, about 550,000 visitors
attended to museum. (I don’t have the exact final figure, but this count
should be relatively close.)



> What is usage like for audio tours?

I don’t have any counts. I’ll forward this question to Learning and
Interpretation and Visitor Services.



> I'd be interested in seeing some results of summative evaluations done
with technology based interpretives - for example the Diego Rivera audio
guide, or the art of dining table, or the contemporary art response station.
It doesn't have to be these interpretives specifically but I am interested
in how successful technology has been in terms of forwarding the goals of
the museum - ie helping people make connections with "big ideas" and the
visitor outcomes that are intended to be achieved by exhibits.

Sorry, I have nothing to share in this area. The dining table would be the
first to be studied, but that’s still pretty far off.



> Any stats / info about how many visitors speak English as a first or
second language, or not at all.

The most we will have is a count of requests for adding an audio tour in a
particular foreign language. I’ll include that in my e-mail to L&I and VS.



> What are the countries of origin of tourists.
> How many visitors are visiting only once, and how many are coming back on
a regular basis, and what are the factors that encourage repeat visits.

We’ll start to gather the basic demographic data at the end of this month.
We’ll then conduct regular surveys every November, March, and July
(hopefully). The surveys will answer the questions of where visitors come
from and how often they visit. They might provide some insight into the
questions about repeat visits, but very little.
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