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Steve Yalowitz, Ph.D
Senior Research Associate
yalowitz@ilinet.org

Areas of Interest

My interests in research and evaluation are broad, while I have specific experience in conservation behavior research in aquariums and zoos, studying the bilingual visitor experience (I am fluent in Spanish) and how live programming affects various visitor outcomes. My areas of expertise include exhibit and program evaluation, marketing research as well as visitor services studies. With a formal background in psychology I am particularly interested in how the visitor experience varies based on who someone is and what their interests and past experiences are.


Current Projects

  • Interstellar Studios (Chico, CA): 400 Years of the Telescope - 2008 to present.
  • Asian Art Museum (San Francisco, CA): Marketing exit surveys - 2004 to present.
  • Tahoe Environmental Research Center (University of California, Davis): Visualization as a Tool in Informal Science Education at Lake Tahoe - 2008 to present.
  • de Young Museum (Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco): Cultural Encounters at the New de Young - 2008 to present.
  • Denver Museum of Nature and Science (Denver, CO): Expedition Health Family Group Research Study - 2009 to present.
  • National Law Enforcement Museum (Washington, DC): Verizon Education Programs Study - 2009 to present.
  • Cornell University (Ithaca, NY): The YardMap Network: Social Networking for Community Scientists - 2009 to present.


Recently Published & Presented Work

Yalowitz, S. S., & Bronnenkant, K. (2009). Timing and Tracking: Unlocking Visitor Behavior. Visitor Studies, 12(1), 47-64.

Russell, R. Yalowitz, S. S., Jimenez, M., Zeigler, M. & Leon-Castella, A. (2009). Expanding informal science education for Latinos II. Full day conference workshop.

Yalowitz, S. S, & Figueiredo, C. (2009). Taking control of your quantitative data. Visitor Studies Association, Full day conference workshop.

Yalowitz, S. S., & de la Hoz, J. (2009). Como se dice "Evaluation?" The Significant Difference of Culturally Appropriate Evaluation. Expanding Informal Science Education for Latinos Conference, Albuquerque, NM.

Yalowitz, S. S. (2009). Conducting Marketing Research in Museums. American Association of Museums Annual Meeting, Philadelphia, PA.

Yalowitz, S.S., & Deuel, J. (2008). Using multiple measures to define success for a special exhibition. Houston, TX: Visitor Studies Association conference.

Yalowitz, S. S., & Ferguson, A. (2007). Using web surveys in summative evaluations: A case study at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Visitor Studies, 10(1), 34-46.

Yalowitz, S. S. (2007). Understanding your visitors: Where to begin (invited keynote presentation). Lima, Peru: AMIG-PERU conference. (presented in Spanish)

Yalowitz, S. S. (2007). Audience Research at the Monterey Bay Aquarium (invited keynote presentation). Tenerife, Canary Islands: Asociación Ibérica de Zoos y Acuarios conference. (presented in Spanish)

Yalowitz, S. S. (2006). Institutionalizing audience research at the Asian Art Museum. Grand Rapids, MI: Visitor Studies Association conference.

Yalowitz, S.S. (2005). Marketing and exhibits: Working together to understand our audiences. ASTC Dimensions (July/August 2005), 10-11.

Yalowitz, S.S. (2004). Evaluating Visitor Conservation Research at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Curator, 47 (3), 283-298.

Yalowitz, S. S. (2004). Visitor interest, awareness and memory of conservation exhibits at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Monterey, CA: International Aquarium Congress.

Yalowitz, S. S. (2003). Front-end evaluation in renovating an aquarium wing: Multiple methods for multiple questions. Current Trends in Audience Research, 16, 48-56. 


Education

  • Ph.D., Applied Social Psychology, 2001, Colorado State University, Ft. Collins, CO
  • M.S., Experimental Psychology, 1999, Colorado State University, Ft. Collins, CO
  • B.S., Psychology (minor in Spanish), 1994, Colorado State University, Ft. Collins, CO


Professional Affiliations

  • Visitor Studies Association (VSA)
  • American Association of Museums (AAM)

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