Type of Document	Dissertation
Author	Koo, Bokyung
Author's Email Address	bbk5697@fsu.edu
URN	etd-07072006-231035
Title	The Use of Digital Images By Art Museum Professionals: Preferences, Perceptions, and Implications for Museum Practice
Degree	Doctor of Philosophy
Department	Art Education, Department of
Advisory Committee	Advisor Name Title Tom Anderson Committee Chair Pat Villeneuve Committee Member Paul Marty Committee Member Tom Hart Committee Member
Keywords	Arts Administration Museum Technology Museum Professionals Digital Image Collections
Date of Defense	2006-06-30
Availability	unrestricted
Abstract In this study, the researcher sought to explore the perceptions and actual practices of art museum professionals related to their use of digital images in the workplace. The primary purpose of the study was to explore the ways in which digital images and digital collections affect the work of museum professionals. To this end, museum professionals were asked about their previous experiences with digital images, the impact of digital images on their museum practice, and, for non-users of digital images, alternatives used in museum practice. In addition, respondents were asked to describe problems with digital images that they have faced and to speculate about barriers that need to be overcome in order for museum professionals to use digital images more effectively. A mixed methods design involving both quantitative and qualitative methods was used for data collection. Both online surveys and one-on-one interviews were used as a means of enhancing the validity of the findings and conclusions. The online surveys were sent by email to 131 art museum professionals from 40 art museums in the United States in January 2006. Of these, four museum professionals who expressed a willingness to be interviewed later participated in follow-up telephone or face-to face interviews. The findings of the study indicate that digital images have a variety of applications in the work of museum professionals. Art museum professionals perceived digital images to be a significant tool for helping them to meet their needs. The majority (88.70%, n=110) of respondents believed that using digital images saves them research time and effort. Ease of accessibility and interactivity were also a great benefit to them. Yet a number of problematic issues, such as image rights and technological support, also were exposed in the course of the survey and interviews, representing possible barriers to widespread acceptance of the use of digital images by museum professionals. Assuming that a majority of the nation’s art museums have used digital images, one must acknowledge the potential of digital image technology to shape the way art museum professionals interact with digital images. Whatever attributes and services digital image providers offer, they must be flexible enough to allow for the idiosyncrasies of the discipline and strive to make the art museum professionals’ work and research process more efficient, creative, and enjoyable. In the realm of digital image use, many more opportunities await the museum profession as related technologies continue to evolve.
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