The major research question addressed by the "Exhibit Development Survey 1986" was whether major American museums were using the instructional development process to develop their exhibits. Approximately 24% of all major American museums representing a broad cross section of museum types responded to the survey. Their responses indicate that the development of exhibits has become the primary area of concern, with education as their second most important area of involvement, and the exhibits their most important educational activity. Further, the exhibit development process has undergone many recent changes. Fully one third of the respondents reported that they were using instructional development as a basis for the exhibit development process; 39% indicated that their institution included an instructional developer on their exhibit development team; and an additional 32% felt that their institution should use instructional developers for this purpose. Still others were using individual instructional development techniques as part of their exhibit development process. This report includes background information, the research questions, a discussion of the significance of the problem, an abbreviated literature review, and a discussion of the major findings. Conclusions are reported for 10 main areas of concern: (1) demographics of respondents; (2) institutional priorities; (3) development of exhibits; (4) consideration given visitors/audience; (5) use of instructional objectives; (6) integral and peripheral educational aspects of exhibits; (7) evaluation procedures; (8) coordinating exhibit development; (9) the current exhibit development process; and (10) instructional developers in the exhibit development process. Additional respondent comments are also discussed, and a number of recommendations are presented for museum administrators. (7 references) (BBM)