Research and Evaluation Fellow

Description

Summary

The Children's Museum of Indianapolis pursues an active research program to understand audience preferences, the effectiveness of exhibits, and the success of educational programs.  We are especially interested in how families use the museum and benefit from their visit. In support these efforts, the Research and Evaluation (R&E) Department seeks a graduate fellow to assist with evaluation studies of current museum projects, in particular, the summative evaluations of two science-focused exhibits.

Fellowship Description:

The fellowship will take a project-based approach. Drawing on the fellow’s interests, field of study, and degree requirements, the fellow will pursue aspects of the evaluation of the permanent exhibit galleries in the newly opened Riley Children’s Health Sports Legends Experience. This summative exhibit evaluation will assess the effectiveness of the National Art Museum of Sport exhibit, the World of Sport exhibit and their associated programs in fostering family learning behaviors and in conveying the main messages. The fellow will work with the Director of Research and Evaluation and the exhibit’s core team to design the evaluation. Aspects of the project to be studied include:

• Family behavior in the gallery, including interaction with collections objects and use of interactive elements.
• Family-audience programs occurring in the galleries.
• Families’ reaction to the exhibits and understanding of the big idea and main messages.
• Learning outcomes (knowledge, skills, attitudes) resulting from visiting the exhibit or participating in programs.

Responsibilities

Anticipated activities to occur during the course of the graduate fellow’s project include:

• Reviewing relevant academic literature.
• Participating in the study design, including identifying research questions, selecting methods, and developing instruments and protocols.
• Data collection including but not limited to observing visitor behavior, interviewing visitors, co-leading focus groups, online surveys, and telephone interviews.
• Maintaining databases or systems to aid in data analysis, conducting data analysis, and preparing preliminary written reports under the supervision of the Director of Research and Evaluation.
• Co-presenting on the status of the study and/or the study findings to relevant staff.

Throughout the fellowship, the graduate fellow will:

• Participate in monthly meetings of the R&E Department and the interdepartmental Research and Evaluation Working Group.
• Participate in regularly scheduled meetings of the interdepartmental team(s) associated with the fellow’s assigned project.
• Participate in other museum meetings based on the fellow’s interests with options including exhibits currently in the development stage, the monthly diversity and inclusion book club, or planning meetings with other departments.

Qualifications

Requirements:

The ideal candidate will:

• Be actively pursuing a Master’s or PhD in one of the following fields: Museum Studies, Public History, Education, Sociology or Anthropology preferred, although other areas of study will be considered.
• Have some experience with social science research methods including data collection and analysis.
• Have excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Record information accurately.
• Be an outgoing person who enjoys talking with museum visitors and be able to facilitate conversations without leading responses.
• Have excellent time management skills, be a self-starter and self-directed.
• Be proficient in Microsoft Word and Excel.
• Be able to complete all required aspects of the museum’s on-boarding process, including but not limited to: a background check, orientation to the museum and its policies/procedures (3 days total), and occasional trainings on a variety of topics (e.g. autism awareness, zero tolerance, safety topics).
• Be able to devote 20 hours/week to the fellowship during the 2018-2019 school year.