Visitor Survey software

Is any museum-ler using specialist software to undertake visitor surveys (ie not standard spreadsheets)

Would be grateful for any experiences out there.

David

- - - - - - - Outreach Manager - ICT Museum Documentation Association

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David,

This is an interesting question - and prompts some questions on the requirement you have in mind, to help in homing in on solutions. For instance, is the context the use by visitors of a 'questionnaire' terminal, in which case a very 'friendly' interface must be a priority; or use by museum staff 'across the desk' with visitors selected by some criteria; or telephone survey (eg. on awareness of museums in a locality?); or use for analysis of questionnaire results (conventional or electronic).

The range of questionnaire formats/length etc is infinite, and the size of visitor survey sample is perhaps typically not large, so for staff/analysis use maybe spreadsheet is the straightforward answer. However, for (semi)permanent placing in the museum, hoping to trap a self-selected sample of visitor reactions (but accuracy of inferences becomes an issue) certainly a well designed GUI is needed.

Teplephone surveys are possibly the most developed area and market research companies might be a fruitful place to ask.

I'll be interested in the responses, anyway

Bob Melling

Another product recently on the scene is 'SurveyWorks,' developed by Jeff Broughton. I haven't used the product myself, but saw some early versions. I'm sure you can email him for more information: