Title |
A study on the correlation between exhibition space configurations and visitors’ viewing behavior in museums - From a Viewpoint of Visitor Density in Public History Museums in Seoul Metropolitan Area of Korea - |
Keywords |
Museum ; The configuration of exhibition space ; Circulation system ; Visitor density ; Visitors’ viewing behavior |
Abstract |
Museums in Korea have experienced continuing quantitative growth since the late Choson Dynasty. However, a careful examination of visitors’ viewing behavior has not been properly performed. Accordingly, social education for visitors in museums is not properly conducted despite the vast amount of information that museums possess. Given these circumstances, this study which focuses on the factors that influence visitors’ behavior in museums intends to examine the effects that the configuration of exhibition space and the resulting visitor circulation patterns have on visitors’ behavior with regard to visitor density. From this perspective, and considering five public historical museums within the seoul metropolitan area of korea, a correlation analysis has been conducted based upon quantitative analysis related to the configuration of exhibition space and visitors’ observed viewing behaviors. The result of our study is that the configuration of exhibition space influences the patterns of visitor circulation, distribution of space, and the subsequent state of visitor density. Accordingly, the effects of visitor density on the viewing speed and other viewing behaviors could be identified. Based on these findings, the configurational differences in exhibition spaces were identified as one of the key factors that influence visitors’ viewing behaviors. |