2025/11/14 by Tess Levinson, Su‐Jen Roberts, Erin Prada +2 · 1 voice
Arts and Humanities · #Art Education and Development #Artistic and Creative Research #Museums and Cultural Heritage
paper · pdf · doi:10.1080/10598650.2025.2578569
openalex created_date 2025/11/14 · openalex publication_date 2025/11/14 · openalex updated_date 2026/06/14
Design-based research (DBR) is a useful approach for answering research and evaluation questions on both ends of the theoretical-to-applied spectrum because it combines the study of educational program context and iterative development with program design and impact assessment. We present a case study illustrating how an internal evaluation team applied four principles of DBR (researcher-educator partnerships, iterative design processes, mixed methods data, and big research questionsFootnote1) to the design, evaluation, and research of a zoo and aquarium youth development initiative. This process promoted high-quality program development, evaluation, and interdepartmental collaboration, while contributing to broader knowledge of museum education and adolescent development. Finally, we discuss how museums and other cultural institutions are already well-positioned to embed DBR practices in their programming and evaluation, and lessons from this case study that can be applied to other institutions looking to embed DBR practices in their programming, evaluation, and research practices.