Studying Empirical Aesthetics in Museum Contexts

Abstract

AbstractConducting aesthetic research in museum contexts is examined in terms of the types of questions that can be investigated, research designs, participants, procedures, and interpretation of results. The nature of research in museums is also contrasted with research done in psychological laboratories. The challenges faced in the conduct of this research are examined and specific recommendations are made, including a plea for careful consideration of what we already know about aesthetic experiences in museums and integrating that knowledge into the broader field of empirical aesthetics.