Differences in visitor characteristics and experiences on episodic free admission days

Catherine D.D. Bowman; Adrianna Adkins; Brooke L. Owen; Kyle J. Rogers; Edgar Escalante; Judd Bowman; Brian Nelson; Alison Stoltman

doi:10.1080/09647775.2019.1578992

Differences in visitor characteristics and experiences on episodic free admission days

Catherine D.D. Bowman, Adrianna Adkins, Brooke L. Owen, Kyle J. Rogers, Edgar Escalante, Judd Bowman, Brian Nelson, Alison Stoltman

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2 Scopus citations

Abstract

To increase access, most U.S. museums provide free admission opportunities, either through episodic free days or other means. Although studies document the effects of museums transitioning from paid to free entry for museums considering a less extreme change, such as adding (or subtracting) a free day, detailed comparative data on the characteristics and experiences of visitors attending episodic free days and standard days are needed to inform decision making. This post-hoc analysis of data (n = 370) from the control condition of a larger study [authors] outlines significant differences in visitor characteristics, group composition, group behavior, and interest in and experience with the exhibit on free and standard days at a mid-sized natural history museum, highlighting the affordances and drawbacks of offering episodic free days.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	264-280
Number of pages	17
Journal	Museum Management and Curatorship
Volume	35
Issue number	3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1080/09647775.2019.1578992
State	Published - May 3 2020

Keywords

Museum access
admission
demographics
equity
visitorship

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Business and International Management
Visual Arts and Performing Arts
Tourism, Leisure and Hospitality Management

Access to Document

10.1080/09647775.2019.1578992

Cite this

@article{e4c4fc14514a4027ab69ac2cb3e9c2cf,

title = "Differences in visitor characteristics and experiences on episodic free admission days",

abstract = "To increase access, most U.S. museums provide free admission opportunities, either through episodic free days or other means. Although studies document the effects of museums transitioning from paid to free entry for museums considering a less extreme change, such as adding (or subtracting) a free day, detailed comparative data on the characteristics and experiences of visitors attending episodic free days and standard days are needed to inform decision making. This post-hoc analysis of data (n = 370) from the control condition of a larger study [authors] outlines significant differences in visitor characteristics, group composition, group behavior, and interest in and experience with the exhibit on free and standard days at a mid-sized natural history museum, highlighting the affordances and drawbacks of offering episodic free days.",

keywords = "Museum access, admission, demographics, equity, visitorship",

author = "Bowman, {Catherine D.D.} and Adrianna Adkins and Owen, {Brooke L.} and Rogers, {Kyle J.} and Edgar Escalante and Judd Bowman and Brian Nelson and Alison Stoltman",

note = "Funding Information: This work was supported by The National Science Foundation's Directorate for Education and Human Resources [grant number 1438825]. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2019, {\textcopyright} 2019 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.",

year = "2020",

month = may,

day = "3",

doi = "10.1080/09647775.2019.1578992",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "35",

pages = "264--280",

journal = "Museum Management and Curatorship",

issn = "0964-7775",

publisher = "Routledge",

number = "3",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Differences in visitor characteristics and experiences on episodic free admission days

AU - Bowman, Catherine D.D.

AU - Adkins, Adrianna

AU - Owen, Brooke L.

AU - Rogers, Kyle J.

AU - Escalante, Edgar

AU - Bowman, Judd

AU - Nelson, Brian

AU - Stoltman, Alison

N1 - Funding Information: This work was supported by The National Science Foundation's Directorate for Education and Human Resources [grant number 1438825]. Publisher Copyright: © 2019, © 2019 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.

PY - 2020/5/3

Y1 - 2020/5/3

N2 - To increase access, most U.S. museums provide free admission opportunities, either through episodic free days or other means. Although studies document the effects of museums transitioning from paid to free entry for museums considering a less extreme change, such as adding (or subtracting) a free day, detailed comparative data on the characteristics and experiences of visitors attending episodic free days and standard days are needed to inform decision making. This post-hoc analysis of data (n = 370) from the control condition of a larger study [authors] outlines significant differences in visitor characteristics, group composition, group behavior, and interest in and experience with the exhibit on free and standard days at a mid-sized natural history museum, highlighting the affordances and drawbacks of offering episodic free days.

AB - To increase access, most U.S. museums provide free admission opportunities, either through episodic free days or other means. Although studies document the effects of museums transitioning from paid to free entry for museums considering a less extreme change, such as adding (or subtracting) a free day, detailed comparative data on the characteristics and experiences of visitors attending episodic free days and standard days are needed to inform decision making. This post-hoc analysis of data (n = 370) from the control condition of a larger study [authors] outlines significant differences in visitor characteristics, group composition, group behavior, and interest in and experience with the exhibit on free and standard days at a mid-sized natural history museum, highlighting the affordances and drawbacks of offering episodic free days.

KW - Museum access

KW - admission

KW - demographics

KW - equity

KW - visitorship

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85061447241&partnerID=8YFLogxK

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85061447241&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1080/09647775.2019.1578992

DO - 10.1080/09647775.2019.1578992

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:85061447241

VL - 35

SP - 264

EP - 280

JO - Museum Management and Curatorship

JF - Museum Management and Curatorship

SN - 0964-7775

IS - 3

ER -

Differences in visitor characteristics and experiences on episodic free admission days

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this