Office of Policy and Analysis: Program Planning and Evaluation

This section contains documents on the following issues: Functions, services, and public offerings that carry out Smithsonian and unit missions, protect the cultural and scientific heritage for which they are responsible, and serve the expectations and interests of stakeholders.

Collections

This section contains documents on the following issues: Management, use, and access of the historical, cultural, scientific, and other object, archival, and library holdings of the Smithsonian.

Education

This section contains documents on the following issues: Assessments and evaluations of formal and informal activities whose primary goal is to impart learning.

Exhibitions

This section contains documents on the following issues: Qualitative and/or quantitative studies and evaluations (formative, summative, process) to assess visitor satisfaction and experiences and improve effectiveness; exhibition development process; exhibition audiences.

Information Technology

This section contains documents on the following issues: Use of technology in public programming; assessment of visitor preferences, expectations, and experiences.

Libraries/Archives

This section contains documents on the following issues: Assessing trends in library design and use and the implications for the Smithsonian.

Public Programs

This section contains documents on the following issues: Virtual and on-site programs for Smithsonian audiences other than exhibitions and education.

Research

This section contains documents on the following issues: Systematic scholarly and scientific investigation or inquiry, often involving Smithsonian collections; resources such as libraries that support research.

For more information regarding the studies and reports on this site, contact the Office of Policy and Analysis.