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‘ It ’ s gross, but cool gross ’ : Children ’ s reactions to BODY WORLDS: the Anatomical Exhibition of Real Human Bodies Kimberly M. Burtnyk Manager of Evaluation, Amgen Center for Science Learning California Science Center. Outline. A brief history of BODY WORLDS
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‘It’s gross, but cool gross’:Children’s reactions to BODY WORLDS: the Anatomical Exhibition of Real Human BodiesKimberly M. BurtnykManager of Evaluation, Amgen Center for Science LearningCalifornia Science Center
Outline • A brief history of BODY WORLDS • Previous research on BODY WORLDS • Current research study and findings
A Brief History of BODY WORLDS • BODY WORLDS I • Created 1995 by anatomist, Gunter von Hagens • 200+ real human specimens • Donated bodies are Plastinated • Tissues replaced by polymer plastic through a vacuum process.
A Brief History of BODY WORLDS • Posed whole bodies reveal organs, bone structure tissue, and other anatomical features. • Other specimens include limbs, blood vessels, nerves, organs, repairs (i.e hip replacements.)
A Brief History of BODY WORLDS • Controversial? • Origin of specimens? • Cultural objections? • Is it art, science, both, or neither?
A Brief History of BODY WORLDS Gunter von Hagens, 1995 ◄ Juan Valverde de Amusco, 1559 ►
Previous BODY WORLDS Research • Visitor Polls • 500 Adults surveyed per site • Marketing focus • Limited demographics • But, people who visit love it • Child survey (Vienna 1999) • Vienna • 130 10–12 y.o. surveyed post visit only • Mostly positive esp. for those visiting willingly and with pre knowledge
Previous BODY WORLDS Research • No formal academic learning/impact research • Families never surveyed
BODY WORLDS Family Research: Design Therefore….Families chosen as subjects • With children 7-12 years old (i.e. our primary demographic) • Pre-/post-visit • Affective and cognitive expectations and outcomes measured
BODY WORLDS Family Research: Research Questions • How did children expect to feel and how did parents expect their children to feel in BODY WORLDS? • How did children react to BODY WORLDS and how did their reactions compare with their own and their parents’ expectations? • How appropriate was BODY WORLDS for young children (esp. as reported by children themselves)?
BODY WORLDS Family Research: Research Questions • How did children expect to feel and how did parents expect their children to feel in BODY WORLDS? • How did children react to BODY WORLDS and how did their reactions compare with their own and their parents’ expectations? • How appropriate was BODY WORLDS for young children (esp. as reported by children themselves)?
BODY WORLDS Family Research: Research Questions • How did children expect to feel and how did parents expect their children to feel in BODY WORLDS? • How did children react to BODY WORLDS and how did their reactions compare with their own and their parents’ expectations? • How appropriate was BODY WORLDS for young children (esp. as reported by children themselves) ?
BODY WORLDS Family Research: The Sample • 172 families surveyed at entrance (over 9 weekends.) • Continuous stratified random sampling • Kids interviewed, parents self-reported • Parents and children interviewed/surveyed separately • 150 returned for exit interview • Total number of surveys = 644 • 300 Child pre and post-visit (+ 22 pre-visit only) • 300 Adult pre and post-visit (+ 22 pre-visit only)
Research Findings: Question (1) Affective Expectations • How did children expect to feel and how did parents expect their children to feel in BODY WORLDS? • How did children react to BODY WORLDS and how did their reactions compare with their own and their parents’ expectations? • How appropriate was BODY WORLDS for young visitors (esp. as reported by children themselves)?
Research Findings: Question (1) Affective Expectations 6) How do you think you’ll react to seeing the exhibits? Not at all Extremely Will you be curious? 1 2 3 4 5 6 Will you be fascinated? 1 2 3 4 5 6 Will you be uncomfortable? 1 2 3 4 5 6 Will you be interested? 1 2 3 4 5 6 Will you be sad/upset? 1 2 3 4 5 6 Will it make you think a lot? 1 2 3 4 5 6 Will you be confused? 1 2 3 4 5 6 Will you be grossed out? 1 2 3 4 5 6 Will you be bored? 1 2 3 4 5 6 Will it be creepy? 1 2 3 4 5 6
Research Findings: Question (1) Affective Expectations Child Positive Expectations
Research Findings: Question (1) Affective Expectations Child Negative Expectations
Research Findings: Question (1) Affective Expectations How parent expectations for child’s visit matched child expectations: Positive Expectations Parentswere…
Research Findings: Question (1) Affective Expectations How parent expectations for child’s visit matched child expectations: Negative Expectations Parentswere…
Research Findings: Question (1) Affective Expectations Summary • Children expected that seeing BODY WORLDS would be a positive experience • On positive affect, parents accurately assessed or were more positive about their child’s feelings about visiting BODY WORLDS • On negative affect, parents accurately assessed or were more negative about their child’s feelings about visiting BODY WORLDS • On negative affect, children expected to be confused or grossed out by BODY WORLDS
Research Findings: Question (2) Affective/Cognitive Outcomes • How did children expect to feel and how did parents expect their children to feel in BODY WORLDS? • How did children react to BODY WORLDS and how did their reactions compare with their own and their parents’ expectations? • How appropriate was BODY WORLDS for young visitors (esp. as reported by children themselves)?
Research Findings: Question (2) Affective Outcomes Child Positive Impact
Research Findings: Question (2) Affective Outcomes Child Negative Impact
Research Findings: Question (2) Affective Outcomes How accurately parents assessed the affective impact of BODY WORLDS on children: Positive impact Parentswere…
Research Findings: Question (2) Affective Outcomes How accurately parents assessed the impact of BODY WORLDS on children: Negative impact Parentswere…
Research Findings: Question (2) Learning Expectations What Children and Parents Expected to see in BODY WORLDS
Research Findings: Question (2) Family Expectations Recollections of Family Conversations Prior to Visiting BODY WORLDS
Research Findings: Question (2) Children’s expectations • “You could learn more and get ahead in class.” (M9) • “You can learn stuff about the body so they don’t eat stuff that is bad.” (M11) • “It’s interesting, learn a lot. If you smoke you know what your lungs look like.” (F9) • “It’s cool to see dead bodies in positions, see all the muscles.” (M11) • “It’s fun for kids to learn about the human body, to see what it looks like inside.” (F7)
Research Findings: Question (2) Learning Outcomes What Kids said They Learned vs. What Parents Thought their Kids Learned
Research Findings: Question (2) Children’s Reactions Summary • In the affective realm, children reacted positively to BODY WORLDS • Many valued it as a learning experience and not necessarily one related to school • It met or exceeded their expectations
Research Findings: Question (3) Appropriateness for Children • How did children expect to feel and how did parents expect their children to feel in BODY WORLDS? • How did children react to BODY WORLDS and how did their reactions compare with their own and their parents’ expectations? • How appropriate was BODY WORLDS for young visitors (esp. as reported by children themselves)?
Research Findings: Question (3) Children’s Opinions Compared to what you thought it would be like before, what did you think of BODY WORLDS?
Research Findings: Question (3) Children’s Opinions Overall, how did your child react to seeing BODY WORLDS?
Research Findings: Question (3) Appropriateness for Children How much did you (child)/your child (parent) like BODY WORLDS?
Research Findings: Question (3) Appropriateness for Children Is BODY WORLDS a good exhibit for kids?
BODY WORLDS Family Research: Research Conclusions • Parents and children had similar expectations of BODY WORLDS. • Parents successfully/did not successfully gauge their child’s reactions to the exhibit. • Parents and children both felt that BODY WORLDS was entirely appropriate for children 13 and under. • Children in particular valued the experience.