“The Information Worlds of Art Museum Curators and Registrars: an institutional ethnography of practice in North Carolina institutions”
Principal Investigator:
Devon Murphy, BFA, MSIS/MA
School of Library and Information Science, Dept of Art/Art History University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Phone: (270) 799-4643
Email: [email protected]
Faculty Advisor:
Ryan Shaw, PhD, Associate Professor and Undergraduate Program Coordinator School of Library and Information Science
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Phone: (919) 636-9660
Email: [email protected]
Introduction
You are invited to take part in a research study led by Devon Murphy, a graduate student in the School of Library and Information Science and Department of Art and Art History at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Taking part in the study is completely voluntary, and you may withdraw from the study at any time. The study’s structure and expectations of participants are outlined below; this explains the anticipated benefits, risks, inconveniences, or discomfort you may experience during the study. Participating in the study may or may not benefit you directly, though the research may uncover new methods to create and evaluate exhibitions/displays, which could lead to benefits for other museum professionals. If you have any questions about the study, feel free to contact the principal investigator or faculty advisor at the contact information provided above.
Scope of Study
This research study aims to examine the information worlds of art museum staff, defined as curators and registrars, in order to determine what information sources are used by different staff when conducting everyday work tasks, such as planning an exhibition catalog or accessioning/deaccessioning an object. In turn, these findings could lead to the improvements of existing records, policies, and online databases or development of new ones. If you are over the age of 18 and currently work as an art museum curator or registrar, you are invited to participate in this study. The principal investigator, Devon Murphy, will be your contact and conductor of the interviews.
If you wish to participate in the study, you will be asked to participate in an individual semi-structured interview, lasting from 45-60 minutes. During the interview, the principal investigator will ask you questions about what information sources you use when conducting specific work tasks (accessioning/deaccessioning a work, planning an exhibition, creating an
exhibition catalog, etc.). You will also be asked to draw a visual representation of these information sources, described as an information source horizon map. No drawing experience is necessary; this is only an exercise meant to help you answer the interview questions. The interview will take place at a time and location of your choosing. There is an option for you to be audio recorded during the session; not being recorded is the default. If you wish to be recorded, please sign on the
appropriate line at the end of this form. If you have provided explicit consent to be audio recorded, you may opt out at any time before or during the study. Extensive notes will be taken instead.
Confidentiality
Your personally identifying information will be kept confidential throughout the entire study. Neither your name nor any other personally identifying information will be used in the study or any future publications; you will instead be referred to by a unique random number identifier. Documents that link you to this identifier will be kept in an encrypted document and folder on UNC’s private network for the duration of the study. These items will then be destroyed at the study’s end. Audio files, consent forms, notes/drawn maps, and any other data will be kept in separate
locations on a password protected computer. Emails sent for recruitment for the study will be destroyed after the study’s end.
Risks and Benefits
The information from this study aims to use new theoretical tools in curatorship and to better organize information used for curatorial work. Any potential risks and discomfort from participating in this study are seen as minimal. You will be given the opportunity to review the transcript or audio recording of the interview to confirm the information you have provided; here you may remove information you do not want included or supply additional information if needed.
Compensation
This study does not provide any monetary or goods compensation.
Questions
You may ask questions about the study at any time during your participation. To do so, or to get more information about the study, please contact Devon Murphy at [email protected] or at (270) 799-4643 or Ryan Shaw at [email protected] or at (919) 636-9660.
If you have any questions about the ethics of the study or your rights as a research participant, please contact the Office of Human Research Ethics at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Phone: (919) 966-7879. Email: [email protected]
Sign here if you wish to be audio recorded