Museum of Modern Art NY Art Education for the Blind Pilot Study

Spring 1993

Principal Researcher: Abigail Housen
Senior Research Associate: Karin DeSantis

Treatment: Group 1: no additional aids/treatment before tour (Control)
Group 2: only verbal description before the tour
Group 3: raised line and verbal description before gallery tour

Assessment: Aesthetic Development Interviews, questionnaires, gallery talk recall questions

Subjects: 44 legally blind adults with varying degrees of sightedness Total Subjects: 44

Findings:

The coding method and manual are robust with a 3-D object and legally blind subjects. Subjects' stage range is consistent with other studies (89% beginner viewers). Higher stages were visually impaired or born blind with degree of sightedness combined with exposure to art viewing. Partially sighted beginner viewers showed same needs and interests as sighted beginner viewers.

Site Coordinators: Sarah Stephenson, Francesca Rosenberg