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Préalable Linked to the exhibition project and involves collecting information, (for example, about visitors’ prior knowledge, difficulties related to the theme, and attitudes of the target audience). |
Front-End Performed before defining the exhibition design. The purpose is to determine “correct” or “incorrect” concepts, as well as visitors’ prior knowledge and interests related to the subject to be displayed. |
Preliminary Occurs while the exhibition is being planned, especially during the initial formulations and definition of the exhibition contents. Audience knowledge, concepts, interests, attitudes, and preferences are determined. Because ideas are evaluated, this step is also called concept evaluation. |
Formative Takes place in the planning stage of the exhibition, providing information about the effectiveness of the proposal. This information facilitates modifications by the organizer and designer to reach objectives. |
Formative Occurs when the exhibition is being prepared. The aim is to obtain information about the effectiveness of the proposal, by presenting models or parts of the exhibition to the public. Recommended modifications might be incorporated into the final exhibition. |
Formative Uses prototypes to examine visitor attitudes and reactions, and to determine which exhibits should be changed to improve communication. |
Formative Takes place during the early phases of exhibition design development, examining expographic resources through prototypes and simulations. |
Summative Takes place when the exhibition is already open to the public. The purpose is to verify the effectiveness of the entire effort by determining how well the stated goals were achieved. The specific measurement of effectiveness varies from study to study. These studies may suggest the need for changes in the exhibit in progress or be of assistance in planning new exhibitions. |
Sommative Permits evaluation of the interaction between the exhibition and the public. Aspects like audience perceptions, preferences, attitudes, and learning are normally studied. The results of this evaluation can be applied to new exhibitions. |
Summative Analyzes the exhibition’s degree of success in communicating its message. Strives to understand how the exhibition works as a whole, how the visitors interact with the exhibition, and what they learn from it. |
Summative Analyzes the interaction between the exhibition and the public via the proposed communication model. Helps formulate theories on how visitors learn and interact with a specific exhibition. |
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Remedial Identifies how an exhibition which is already installed can be improved. However, significant problems found in this evaluation are often too expensive to resolve. |
Corrective Consists of almost immediate changes after unsatisfactory aspects of the exhibition are identified. |
Process Provides information about the exhibition’s procedures, emphasizing characteristics such as size, guide availability, etc., and indicates how these characteristics can influence visitor learning and satisfaction. |
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Evaluation de l´évaluation Groups and analyzes the recommendations made throughout the study. |
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Process Performed by the team responsible for exhibition design and/or execution, and aims to refine the methodologies and work/planning techniques. |
Product Measures and interprets the accomplishment of exhibition goals. These studies focus on how much visitors learn and/or change their attitudes after visiting the exhibition. |
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Technical evaluation or critical appraisal Conducted by the staff responsible for raising unsatisfactory technical issues and evaluating the merit of the exhibit design, often with the help of outside experts. Both the project and installed exhibition are evaluated. |