Appendix C: Survey Questionnaires

Survey of Visitors to Museums

Confidential when completed

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Introduction

Hello, my name is ________. You have been selected to participate in a survey that will help build a better understanding of why people visit museums' Web spaces and how those visits are linked to visits to the museum's physical space. This survey is conducted by the Canadian Heritage Information Network (CHIN) in collaboration with various museums. Although this survey is voluntary, your participation is important. Your answers will be kept strictly confidential.

I need to talk to the person in your group who is aged 15 or over and did the most in planning this museum visit.

Note to the interviewer: if the person who did the most in planning the visit didn't hear the introduction, please repeat.

Survey of Visitors to Museums' Web Space

Introduction:

Thank you for taking the time to answer our questions. This survey will build a better understanding of why people visit a museum's Web space and how that visit may relate to an actual visit to the museum's physical space. This study, to be conducted in-house and online, is in collaboration with various museums and the Department of Canadian Heritage.

Although this survey is voluntary, your participation is important if the survey results are to be accurate. Your answers will be kept strictly confidential.

Important note: This survey will be posted on the Virtual Museum of Canada and the website of various other museums from July 16 to September 24. If you already answered the survey, we would like to thank you for your participation. You should only answer once, as the questions remain the same throughout the period.

1. In the past twelve months, how often did you visit the Virtual Museum of Canada?
   • Never
   • Once
   • 2 to 4 times
   • 5 to 8 times
   • More than 8 times
2. In the past twelve months, how often did you visit the Web space of a Canadian museum?
   • First visit
   • 2 to 4 times
   • 5 to 8 times
   • More than 8 times
3. In the past twelve months, how often did you visit the Web space of a museum from another country?
   • Never
   • Once
   • 2 to 4 times
   • 5 to 8 times
   • More than 8 times
4. How often do you physically visit Canadian museums?
   • Never
   • Less than once a year
   • About once a year
   • A few times a year
   • Once a month or more
5. How did you find out about the site of the museum from which you took this survey?
   (Select only one)
   • Link from another museum's Web space
   • Link from the Virtual Museum of Canada Web site
   • Link from another site
     Please specify which site: _______________________
   • Internet search engine
   • Someone told me about the site
   • I learned about it through the media (newspaper, magazine, television, etc.)
   • Other
     Please specify: _______________________
6. In visiting this site today, were you: (select only one)
   • Planning a visit to a museum Go to question 8
   • Following-up on a recent visit to a museum Continue with question 7
   • Neither Go to question 8
7. Did you also visit the Web site before visiting the museum?
   • Yes
   • No
8. What are you looking for on a museum's Web space? (mark all that apply)
   • Information for professional research
   • Information for a college/university project or course
   • Information for any other type of school project
   • General information about the museum (directions, opening hours, admission fees, etc.)
   • Schedule of special events (exhibitions, lectures, films)
   • Information on the collections (specific object or objects)
   • Learning resources (for school programs)
   • Information on the museum's facilities (rooms for booking, etc.)
   • Virtual exhibitions
   • Web-based activities (entertainment, fun and games, contests, etc.)
   • Discussion forum with other visitors
   • Online question sessions with museum staff
   • e-boutique / online shopping
   • Discount offers
   • Other
     Please specify: _______________________
9. What kind of information on the collections do you expect to find on a museum's Web space? (mark all that apply)
   • General information
   • Description of objects in the collections
   • Images of/from the collections
   • Other
     Please specify: _______________________
10. What do you think are the three main goals of a museum's Web space? Put a "1" in the box beside the item you think is the most important, a "2" beside the second most important and a "3" beside the third most important.
    • Promotion/marketing
    • Provide support for the museum's research mission
    • Provide support for the museum's educational mission
    • Provide information about the museum's hours, events, services and facilities
    • Increase access to the museum's information and related resources
    • Provide information that enhances your understanding or experience of the collections beyond what is found in the physical museum
11. Are you:
    • Male?
    • Female?
12. What is your age group?
    • 14 or under
    • 15-24
    • 25-34
    • 35-54
    • 55-64
    • 65 and over
13. Where do you currently live?
    • Canada
    • USA
    • Mexico/Central America/South America
    • Europe
    • Africa
    • Asia
    • Oceania

Thank you for taking the time to answer our questions.

Note that for respondents taking the survey from the VMC site, the questionnaire was slightly different:

• Question 1: the option "Never" was not offered;
• Question 2: the first option was "Never" and "First visit" was replaced by "Once";
• Question 5: It read "How did you find out about the Web site of the Virtual Museum of Canada?". Also, "Link from another museum's Web space" was changed to "Link from a museum Web space" and the option "Link from the VMC Web site" was not offered.