Using Questions and Quotes
by USS Constitution Museum Team
- Questions can be an effective tool to promote conversations.
- Visitors like historic quotes.
- Personalize the information so visitors can make a personal connection.
Asking the right question
The Museum wanted to identify questioning techniques that encourage family conversation, so we tested three types of labels. We asked if visitors preferred:
- An actual historic quotation from a sailor
- A question that put them back in historic time, such as “What would you do if you were in this situation?”
- A contemporary question bridging past to present such as “Have you ever been in a similar situation?”
In order to determine which type of label visitors preferred and why, we created three different text panels in these three formats, interviewed 100 visitors to find their preference, and observed over 300 visitors in our prototype exhibit during summer 2005. Visitors preferred the actual historic quotation or the question that puts them back in the historic time period. The contemporary was less popular for all visitors, because they felt it was vague and presented no new historical information or insight. We also noticed gender preferences: males favored historic quotations, while females' favored historic questions. (for more detailed study information see Labels with Historical Characters)
Questions that link the visitor to the story
The simplest and most popular text panel in the exhibit is "How do you compare to an average sailor?"
Visitors compare themselves to the average sailor
Photo by Greg Cooper
Visitors can measure their own height on a measuring tape next to the graphic silhouette of a sailor that reads:
- How tall are you?
The average height was 5’ 6 1/2”. - How old are you?
The average age was 27 but some were under 15 or over 50. - What color are your eyes?
The most typical eye color was gray. - What color is your hair?
The majority of sailors had brown hair tied back in a short pigtail. - What color is your skin?
7%-15% were free black men; etc.
This personal delivery method of otherwise mundane material brings the visitor right into the story and conveys the message that sailors nearly 200 years ago were a lot like us.
