Examining Visitor Attitudes and Motivations at a Space Science Centre

• Main Author: Martin, Claudette
• Format: Others
• Language: English
• Published: Högskolan Dalarna, Vetenskapskommunikation 2004
• Subjects: space centre; planetarium; museum; visitor agendas; space science; astronomy; front end studies; visitor motivations; constructivism; free-choice learning; audience research
• Online Access: http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:du-1162

The H.R. MacMillan Space Centre is a multi-faceted organization whose mission is to educate, inspire and evoke a sense of wonder about the universe, our planet and space exploration. As a popular, Vancouver science centre, it faces the same range of challenges and issues as other major attractions: how does the Space Centre maintain a healthy public attendance in an increasingly competitive market where visitors continue to be presented with an increasingly rich range of choices for their leisure spending and entertainment dollars?This front-end study investigated visitor attitudes, thoughts and preconceptions on the topic of space and astronomy. It also examined visitors’ motivations for coming to a space science centre. Useful insights were obtained which will be applied to improve future programme content and exhibit development.