ERIC Number: EJ979020
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2012
Pages: 14
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1059-8650
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Uncovering Visitor Identity: A Citywide Utilization of the Falk Visitor-Identity Model
Trainer, Laureen; Steele-Inama, Marley; Christopher, Amber
Journal of Museum Education, v37 n1 p101-114 Spr 2012
In his book, "Identity and the Museum Visitor Experience," John Falk makes the case that by understanding the underlying motivations that drive a visitor, a museum can create an experience that reflects a person's identity and therefore satisfy their motivation for visiting. According to Falk, this level of personal connection increases meaningfulness to the visit. This, in turn, helps a museum develop and sustain a community of learners, and ultimately attendance and revenue. A network of nine cultural institutions in Denver utilized Falk's instrument to gain a "snap-shot" of what motivates museum-goers in one metropolitan community. The study, which employed the Falk Visitor Identity-Related Motivation Typology, and its results, is presented in this article. Further, Denver Zoo outlines how it has used the data from the Falk study to rethink and enhance staff professional development, program development and learning outcomes, and marketing. (Contains 12 notes.)
Descriptors: Museums, Recreational Facilities, Cultural Centers, Identification, Motivation, Audiences, Classification, Professional Development, Program Development, Outcomes of Education, Marketing
Left Coast Press, Inc. 1630 North Main Street #400, Walnut Creek, CA 94596. Tel: 925-935-3380; Fax: 925-935-3380; e-mail: journals@lcoastpress.com; Web site: http://www.lcoastpress.com
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Opinion Papers
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Colorado
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A