We offer a wide range of services including exhibit and programme evaluation at all stages of development; consultation services for planning exhibits and programmes; training in outcome-based evaluation and carry out basic research in learning in informal learning settings.
We strive to deliver research and evaluation services at the highest professional and ethical standard. We fully endorse and comply with the professional Code of Ethics as described by the Museums Association (MA) and the International Council for Museums (ICOM).
Competence and quality of work: Audience Focus Ltd undertakes research and evaluation studies that they have the expertise to carry out and ensure that its design is of high quality, and its conclusions and recommendations are based on reliable and valid evidence.
Informed consent: respecting the right of the study participants to be fully informed about the purpose of the study and how the results are going to be used; gaining their own consent as well as the consent of an adult in the case of children; respecting their privacy and anonymity, and treating the information gathered as confidential; and building relationships of trust with the participants.
Cultural sensitivity: being sensitive to the language and meanings of the research participants by using methods that support that.
Reciprocity: making sure research participants can gain something from taking part in the study. When possible, Audience Focus Ltd tries to embed evaluation in the activity being evaluated - be it an exhibition, a programme or other resources so that it fits with participantsagenda for the visit.
Avoidance of harm: research participants are not harmed in a direct or indirect way, including affecting their self-esteem and values or feeling they are being judged or looking bad.
Advocacy and dissemination: sharing the research results with the community of free-choice learning organisations and advocating on behalf of the study participants.
Ownership and use of data and findings: Audience Focus Ltd uses the data collected for each study in accordance with the Data Protection Act and the informed consent forms signed with the participants. We are also committed in working with our partners in applying the results in ways that will benefit their audiences.
Front-end evaluation undertaken during the planing stage of an exhibition, programme or web site.
The Jameel Gallery of Islamic Art, V&A, London
Two exhibitions at Foundation of the Hellenic World: the exhibition on the Olympic Games and the mixed-media mathematics exhibition in Athens, Greece.
Formative evaluation carried out during the development stage of an exhibition, programme or web site.
Formative evaluation of two exhibitions at Foundation of the Hellenic World: the exhibition on the Olympic Games and the mixed-media mathematics exhibition in Athens, Greece.
Carried out when a project is completed and used to assess the extent to which the project meets its original outcomes as well as the impact it has on visitors and users.
Summative evaluation of the London Voices Online Exhibitions, Museum of London, London.
Larger studies which aim to deepen knowledge and understanding of specific audiences.
The Bridge Study research project: developing a framework for studying the agendas and inquiry skills of school groups in science exhibitions, in partnership with the Science Museum and King’s College, London.
cloudUPDRS: understanding the mobile technology needs of People with Parkinson's.
Assessing the internal processes of a project including its management, communication, collaboration of its partners, product development, inputs, outputs, outcomes and impact.
Evaluation of the Every Object Tells a Story project run by the V&A consortium (V&A, Ultralab and Channel 4) and funded by Culture Online of the DCMS.
Research-driven development of exhibit conepts and implementation.
Concept and exhibit development for the Science of Aliens and Spying, Science Musweum London.
Research-driven development of resources for visitors and other users.
Audience Focus collaborates with museums and heritage organisations to enrich learning and facilitate accessibility for visitors and users. We help organisations build capacity and promote organisational learning.
enagaging staff in doing their own studies and understanding the agendas of both the visitors and their own organisations better;
collaborating with staff to define learning outcomes for exhibitions, programmes, web sites and other educational activities;
providing training on museum studies and museum education courses in the UK and abroad;
Research expertise in large-scale software system development and evaluation.
Research expertise to the European Commission for the assesmenet of Internet of Things technoloiges and systems.
