Abstract
More than ever before qualitative research is necessary to better understand inclusive practices in museums through the stories of visitor experiences and their meaning making. In this paper, the authors provide an overview of qualitative research methodologies used in art museums through an interactive matching game. Following the session we explore two specific qualitative methods involving visitor comment cards and recorded conversations in art museum exhibitions called small stories and paired listening respectively. Oftentimes, qualitative research entails long-term, in-depth investigations. The authors propose two strategies that are currently used in museums and are being further developed by the co-presenters. Small stories are a form of narrative inquiry research and analysis first articulated by sociolinguist researchers Bamberg and Georgakopoulou as early as 2006 to separate narrative research’s focus on long form biographical life stories toward valuing and understanding small stories—short responses that reveal social identity perspectives. One co-presenter is developing this as a methodology for use in art museums to analyze comment cards to understand visitor responses to contested or controversial content in art museum exhibitions. Likewise, paired listening conversations involve a record of dialogue between two people discussing a work of art. A form of ethnography, these recorded conversations provide insight into visitor experience by “listening in” on the exchange. Stainton (2002) writes, “Capturing the conversational construction of meaning by visitors with respect to aspects or features of the artwork gives the researcher critical insights about the visitor experience as it happens.”
Presenters
Deborah RandolphPrincipal Researcher, International Scholars Group, United States Ann Rowson Love
Associate Professor, Museum Education and Visitor-Centered Curation, and Liaison to The Ringling, Department of Art Education, Florida State University, United States
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
KEYWORDS
Qualitative Research Narrative Inquiry Ethnography Art Museums Visitor Experience
Digital Media
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