The latest from our team
IRB 101: What is (and isn't) human subjects research?
This third post defines criteria for human subjects research by breaking down the term “human subjects research.”
IRB 101: Risks to Research Participants
In my first post in this IRB 101 series, I described what IRBs are and why they exist. IRBs exist to protect research participants. In this second post, I focus on risks to research participants.
IRB 101: What are they? Why do they exist?
My hope in leading the IRB 101 workshop and writing these posts is to help others overcome their nervousness about IRBs. Let’s start with a shared, foundational understanding of IRB.
Sampling: What does "representative" mean during and after coronavirus?
Since the reality of coronavirus set in back in March, our team has been having a lot of conversations about study design.
10 things to know about quantitative data: A guide for museum practitioners
Based on my experience presenting quantitative results to museums, I came up with a list of 10 things to know about quantitative results so you can better assess their meaningfulness.
Using Critical Appraisal to Inform Program Improvement
This article describes critical appraisal, a method applied by us to help a museum’s education department make data-driven decisions about programming.
Sample Size: What is an appropriate sample for qualitative studies?
Figuring out sample size for interviews can sometimes feel trickier than for quantitative methods, like questionnaires because there aren’t tools like sample size calculators to use. However, there are several important questions to consider that can help guide your decision-making.
Sampling Protocols: How do I know that my sample represents the actual population?
Sampling is a very important consideration for all types of data collection. For audience research and summative evaluations in particular, it is important that the sample from which data is collected represents the actual population.
Sample Size: How many questionnaires is enough?
Sample size is a standard question we are asked, particularly for questionnaires since we will be using statistical analyses. Read about what we recommend and why.
IRB and School District Review—A Necessary Slow Down
I’d like to piggy-back on the slow movement and talk about Institutional Review Board (IRB) and school district review, which is Slow with a capital ‘s’—for better or worse.
Rethinking Museum Visitors: Using K-means Cluster Analysis to Explore a Museum’s Audience
This article describes how the statistical procedure K-means cluster analysis can be used to deconstruct the complex nature of museum visitors.