Museums are regarded as places of inspiration and cultural experience – boredom is not the first thing that springs to mind. However, an international team of researchers led by Thomas Götz from the University of Vienna has now, for the first time, systematically investigated how frequently boredom actually occurs during museum visits, and found remarkable results: whilst visitors are, on average, only slightly bored, this boredom has a clearly negative impact on knowledge acquisition and their assessment of the museum visit. The research findings were recently published in the journal Scientific Reports.
Although boredom has already been extensively studied in learning and performance contexts such as school or university, learning outside school and higher education – for example, during museum visits – has so far been largely overlooked. Psychologists led by the University of Vienna, in collaboration with the University of Essex, the Australian Catholic University and Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, conducted three studies involving a total of 1,269 participants aged between 18 and 91 to investigate how frequently museum boredom occurs, what causes it and what its consequences are. Visitors to the Sigmund Freud Museum and the Museum of Art History (Kunsthistorisches Museum) in Vienna were surveyed.
Via a questionnaire completed immediately after visiting the museum
A total of 1,229 visitors at both museums were asked, immediately after their visit, to complete a questionnaire about their recent experience at the museum. The questionnaire also included a knowledge test tailored to the respective museum, as well as a question asking visitors to rate the quality of the museum. In addition, qualitative interviews were conducted with 72 visitors at the Sigmund Freud Museum regarding their experience of boredom in the museum and its causes – these were also carried out immediately after their visit.
Low average score of 1.74 for boredom
The good news for museums: overall, boredom was relatively mild, with a mean score across both museums of 1.74 on a scale of 1 (not at all) to 5 (very) – the difference between the two museums was not significant. A total of ten positive and negative emotions (e.g. joy, surprise, frustration, anger) were assessed. This comparison revealed that boredom was one of the most intense negative emotions, yet significantly weaker than all positive emotions experienced in the museum. Despite the relatively low mean score for boredom, there were a number of people who reported very high levels of boredom, right up to the maximum value.
The study is based on the control-value theory of emotions, according to which boredom arises primarily when people feel either over- or under-challenged, or when they perceive an activity as of little value. This was precisely what was confirmed during the museum visit.
Spatial and information design as the key
The study showed that both being overwhelmed and under-stimulated can have causes relating to both the physical space and the content. Too much text or an excessive amount of information, as well as cramped and stuffy rooms, led to visitors feeling overwhelmed. Too little information and bare rooms led to visitors feeling under-stimulated. Under-stimulation was more pronounced in museums than feeling overwhelmed.
In line with the assumptions, people who felt significantly over- or under-challenged reported feeling significantly more bored than those with lower levels of over- or under-challenge. The assessment of the museum's relevance depended on numerous factors, such as links to current professional activities or interests. Also in line with the assumptions, a high perceived relevance of the museum was associated with lower levels of boredom.
More boredom leads to less knowledge
The study clearly shows that boredom has a negative impact on the museum visit: if visitors were bored, they learnt less, which was reflected in poorer results in the knowledge test. Furthermore, they rated the quality of the museum significantly lower.
Tailored information as a countermeasure
What constitutes the right amount of information to avoid visitors feeling either under- or over-stimulated varies from person to person. The same applies to the relevance of the content. "To reduce boredom in museums, museums could cater more effectively to the diversity of their visitors. This could be achieved by offering a depth of information and content tailored to the individual. For example, via barcodes or augmented reality applications, or through tours of varying levels of difficulty and content – ranging from a short 'pocket tour' to an in-depth 'deep dive'," explains educational psychologist and study leader Thomas Götz from the University of Vienna.
"Our findings show that it is important for museums to reduce boredom amongst their visitors. However, this should, of course, always be viewed against the backdrop of museums' overarching objectives; they should, for instance, naturally not become mere venues for entertainment."
A new field of research opens up
With this first-ever systematic investigation into boredom in museums, the researchers are opening up a new field of research. "Museums are key venues for informal learning outside schools and universities. Our findings show that boredom plays a previously underestimated role here too – and thus form part of a growing body of evidence demonstrating that boredom is detrimental to learning and performance in a wide variety of areas of life," says Götz.
Summary:
- Psychologists led by the University of Vienna have, for the first time, systematically investigated boredom in museums.
- 1,229 people were surveyed via a questionnaire immediately after their museum visit. Qualitative interviews were also conducted with 72 visitors.
- Overall, the findings showed that relatively little boredom occurred in the museums: on a scale of 1 (not at all) to 5 (very), the mean score was 1.74.
- However, some individuals were very bored; this was more often triggered by being under-stimulated, and sometimes by being over-stimulated. Too much text and hot, cramped rooms led to over-stimulation. Too little information and bare rooms led to under-stimulation.
- Those who were bored also learnt less during their museum visit. The psychologists recommend offering visitors the option to choose the level of detail they wish to receive as a possible countermeasure.
About the University of Vienna:
For over 650 years the University of Vienna has stood for education, research and innovation. Today, it is ranked among the top 100 and thus the top four per cent of all universities worldwide and is globally connected. With degree programmes covering 188 disciplines, and approximately 11,000 employees, we are one of the largest academic institutions in Europe. Here, people from a broad spectrum of disciplines come together to carry out research at the highest level and develop solutions for current and future challenges. Its students and graduates develop reflected and sustainable solutions to complex challenges using innovative spirit and curiosity.
