My research and evaluation work has focused on learning and communication in informal science education contexts, program evaluation, and a variety of visitor studies. My specific research interests include investigating use, and the outcomes of visitors' use of technology in zoos and other ISE settings. I am also interest in examining long-term behavioral outcomes from free-choice learning experiences, and exploring the effectiveness of framing communication, using frames aligned with visitor's values. My goal is to ensure meaningful data is provided to our clients, in a timely manner, to inform key decisions throughout the life of a project.
Yocco, V.S., Danter, E., Heimlich, J.E. Dunkel, B., & Myers, C. (In review). Exploring Use of New Media in Environmental Education Contexts: Introducing Visitors' Technology Use in Zoos Model. Environmental Education Research. Proposal accepted for Special Issue on media, animal conservation and environmental education.
Fraser, J., Heimlich, J.E., Jacobsen, J., Yocco, V.S., Sickler, J.,...., & Stahl, J. (In review). Giant-screen film and science learning literature review. Submitted to Museum Management and Curatorship.
Santascoy, J., Yocco, V.S., Berendsen, M., Frank, K., & White, V. (2011). The NASA Night Sky Network and its benefit to museums. Proceedings of the Museums and the Web Conference 2011 Philadelphia, PA.
Heimlich, J.E., Mony, P., & Yocco, V.S. (In Press). Belief to behavior: A vital link. The International Handbook of Research on Environmental Education. M. Brody, J. Dillon, B. Stevenson, & A. Wals (eds.), Washington, DC: AERA/Sage.
Koepfler, J., Heimlich, J.E., & Yocco, V.S. (2010). Communicating climate change to visitors of informal science environments. Applied Environmental Education and Communication, 9(4), 233-242.
Yocco, V., Heimlich, J.E., Myers, C., & Jenike, D. (2010). Lets go to the zoo! Visitors social expectations of a trip to the zoo. International Zoo Educators Journal.
Deedrick, R., Hurtubise, Heimlich, J., Bennett, N., C, Meyer, E., Mony, P. and Yocco, V. (2009). Reaching out - Listening to those who don't visit. Presented at the annual conference of The Ohio Museums Association.
Yocco, V., Heimlich, J., Meyer, E., & Edwards, P. (2009). Measuring public value: An instrument and an art museum case study. Visitor Studies, 12(2), 152-163.
Yocco, V.S. (2008). Bringing evaluation into the fold: Program evaluation at the Columbus Museum of Art. Presented at the annual conference of the Visitor Studies Association: July 2008.
Yocco, V.S. and Meyer, E. (2008). Using an Untour to collect data on under represented populations. Presented at the annual conference of the Visitor Studies Association: July 2008.
Yocco, V.S. and Meyer, E. (2008). Does working here make a difference? Employee perceptions of mission/purpose of an institution and its impact on them. Presented at the annual Conference Visitors of the Visitors Studies Association: July 2008.
