Smithsonian
 
About OP&A  | Staff Internships  | Training | Reports
 
  Office of Policy & Analysis
About Us
Drawing from extensive expertise in such disciplines as public administration, organization and management theory and practice, museum studies, sociology, and economics, OP&A offers an array of relevant multi-method research services.
Staff
OP&A is backed up by a highly qualified team.
Internships
Office of Policy and Analysis' (OP&A) internships are available to undergraduate and graduate students. OP&A internships provide experiences in conducting quantitative and qualitative policy-related studies of major Smithsonian programmatic and administrative activities. In addition, the office conducts studies of Smithsonian visitors and program participants.
Training
OP&A provides training for both US and foreign-based museums.
Reports
Planning and Measurement
OP&A is the coordinating office for Smithsonian-wide strategic planning and performance measurement; and assists units in the creation of environments that support institutionalization of the performance measurement system.
Studies of Resources
OP&A has conducted major analytic studies of complex topics currently confronting museums, including exhibitions, collections, and library use.
Studies of Visitors
Studies of visitors to the Smithsonian provide a glimpse into who the Institution’s audiences are for general museum visits, or publicly available offerings, and how they experience the Institution.  These studies include formative studies conducted during preparatory phases as well as evaluative studies that look at the impact of the offerings.  Methodologies used for these studies include: quantitative surveys, qualitative interviews, and visitor tracking.
Studies of Constituents
Constituent groups are important supporters of the Institution and key audiences for Smithsonian programs. OP&A has conducted studies focused on issues significant to some of these groups, including advisory boards, memberships, educators and students, and programs.
Background Papers
OP&A has compiled secondary research papers on various topics important to the Smithsonian’s ability to carry out its mission. These topics include exhibitions, museums, finding, and visitation.