Research and Evaluation
The goal of our Research and Evaluation department is to measure the Museum’s impact on guests, students, teachers and our community. Our interdisciplinary team of researchers and evaluators apply the best practices from a wide variety of social science fields to understand Griffin MSI's role in affecting STE(A)M transformation inside and outside of the Museum's walls.
Research projects
In addition to work supporting the everyday work of the Museum and its programs, the team is also running longer-term studies.
Sense of belonging
Studying how guests feel a sense of belonging at the museum, how it compares to other science and art museums and how it differs among cultures and age. You can find the survey we designed, a toolkit to help you analyze the data, and other resources in the free survey Tool Kit
Survey Toolkit
External research at Griffin MSI
We welcome external investigators who wish to conduct research related to Museum programs or spaces. If you would like to discuss conducting a study at the Museum, please contact us.
Publications
Nguyen, C. L., & Price, C. A. (2023, April 6). Transition Points: Snapshots of a STEM Journey. Chicago: Griffin Museum of Science and Industry. doi.org/10.35542/osf.io/vhqz2 (Link)
LaForce, M., Price, C. A., Mast, F., Brunson, F., Easterly, K. A., Decoteau, J. I. … & Vaishampayan, V. (2023). Fusing Equity in Whole School STEM Reform. Chicago: Griffin Museum of Science and Industry. doi.org/10.35542/osf.io/7f6jn (Link)
Lee, H., Price, C. A., Applebaum, L., Coleman, A., DeWitt, J., Miller, A., … Tanner, A. (2023, January 7). One but Not the Same: Non-Science Art in Science Education. Retrieved from edarxiv.org/qghjv (Link)
Price, C. A. & Applebaum, L. (2021). Measuring welcoming and a sense of belonging in museums. Curator: The Museum Journal. doi: 10.1111/cura.12454 (Link)
Staus, N. L., Falk, J. H., Price, C. A., Tai, R. H. & Dierking, L. D. (2021). Measuring the long-term effects of informal education experiences: Challenges and potential solutions. Disciplinary and Interdisciplinary Science Education Research. doi: 10.1186/s43031-021-00031-0 (Link)
Greenslit, J., Price, C. A., Malone, T. (2021). Aesthetic dissonance: The impact of viewing fine art in a science museum. Journal of Museum Education, 46(2), 202-215. doi: 10.1080/10598650.2021.1882178 (Link)
Applebaum, L., Price, C. A., Foster, A. (2021). How collaborative and competitive facilitation styles affect energy literacy in a science museum exhibit. Journal of Museum Education, 46(1), 113-126. doi: 10.1080/10598650.2020.1858268 (Link)
Price, C. A., Greenslit, J., Applebaum, L., Segovia, G., Harris, N. Quinn, K. A., & Krogh-Jespersen, S. (2021). Awe & memories of learning in science and art museums. Visitor Studies. doi: 10.1080/10645578.2021.1907152 (Link)
Mroczkowski, A., Price, C.A , Harris, N. & Skeeles-Worley, A. (2021). Youths’ perceptions of features of a museum-based youth development program that create a supportive community context: A qualitative case study. Journal of Adolescent Development. doi: 10.1177/0743558420985462 (Link)
Krogh-Jespersen S, Quinn KA, Krenzer WLD, Nguyen C, Greenslit J, Price CA (2020) Exploring the awe-some: Mobile eye-tracking insights into awe in a science museum. PLoS ONE 15(9): e0239204. (Link)
Gloria Segovia, Brett Nicholas, Christine Nguyen, and C. Aaron Price (2020). Facilitator Affect in a Drop-In, Teen-Led Community Service Learning Program. (PDF)
Falk, J. H, Koke, J., Price, C. A. & Pattison, S. (2018). Investigating the cascading, long term effects of informal science education experiences report. Beaverton, Oregon: Institute for Learning Innovation. (PDF)
Price, C. A. & Vaishampayan, G. (2018, October). Motivations and Evidence for Science Center-Based Teacher Education. Poster session presented at the Association of Science and Technology Centers, Hartford, CT. (PDF)
Price, C. A. & Chiu, A. (2018). An experimental study of a museum-based, science PD program’s impact on teachers and their students. International Journal of Science Education. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1080/09500693.2018.1457816 (PDF)
Price, C. A., Kares, F. K., Segovia, G. & Lloyd, A. B. (2018). Staff Matter: Gender differences in STEM career interest development in adolescent youth. Applied Developmental Science. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1080/10888691.2017.1398090 (PDF)
Price, C. A., Gean, K. G., Christenson, C. G., Behesti, E., Pernot, B., et al. (2016). Casual Games and Casual Learning about Human Biological Systems. Journal of Science Education and
Technology, 25, 1. (Link)
Price, C. A., Gean, K. G., & Barnes, H. (2015). The effect of live interpretation with theatre on attitudes and learning of children in the Mythbusters exhibit. Journal of Museum Education, 40, 2. (PDF)
Chiu, A., Price, C.A., & Ovrahim, E. (2015). Chicago-Area K-8 Teacher and Administrator Perceptions of STEM Education. Chicago: Griffin Museum of Science and Industry. (PDF)
Chiu, A., Price, C.A., & Ovrahim, E. (2015). Supporting Elementary and Middle School STEM Education at the Whole School Level: A review of the literature. Chicago: Griffin Museum of Science and Industry. (PDF)
Segovia, G. & Pernot, B. (2015). Demographic differences between museum-based fab lab attendees and non-attendees. Poster presented at the 2015 Conference of the Visitor Studies Association, Indianapolis, IN. (PDF)
Price, C. A., Pernot, B., Segovia, G. & Gean, K. (2015). Engineering attitudes, habits of mind and design awareness in a fab lab maker space summer camp. Paper presented at the 2015 conference of the National Research in Science Teaching, Chicago, IL. (PDF)
Understanding our impact
The goal of our Research and Evaluation department is to measure the Museum’s impact on guests, students, teachers and our community. Our interdisciplinary team of researchers and evaluators apply the best practices from a wide variety of social science fields to understand Griffin MSI's role in affecting STE(A)M transformation inside and outside of the Museum's walls.
Contact Us
The Research and Evaluation team is always open to collaborations. To learn more or inquire about volunteer opportunities, contact us.