‘It’s gross, but cool gross’: ‘It’s gross, but cool gross’: Children’s reactions to BODY WORLDS: the Anatomical Exhibition of Real Human Bodies Kimberly M. Burtnyk Manager of Evaluation, Amgen Center for Science Learning California Science Center

Outline A brief history of BODY WORLDS Previous research on BODY WORLDS Current research study and findings

A Brief History of BODY WORLDS BODY WORLDS I  Created 1995 by anatomist, Gunter von Hagens  200+ real human specimens Donated bodies are Plastinated  Tissues replaced by polymer plastic through a vacuum process.

A Brief History of BODY WORLDS Posed whole bodies reveal organs, bone structure tissue, and other anatomical features. Other specimens include limbs, blood vessels, nerves, organs, repairs (i.e hip replacements.)

A Brief History of BODY WORLDS Controversial? –Origin of specimens? –Cultural objections? –Is it art, science, both, or neither?

Gunter von Hagens, 1995 Juan Valverde de Amusco, 1559 ◄ ► A Brief History of BODY WORLDS

Previous BODY WORLDS Research Visitor Polls  500 Adults surveyed per site  Marketing focus  Limited demographics  But, people who visit love it Child survey (Vienna 1999)  Vienna  –12 y.o. surveyed post visit only  Mostly positive esp. for those visiting willingly and with pre knowledge

Previous BODY WORLDS Research No formal academic learning/impact research Families never surveyed

BODY WORLDS Family Research: Design Therefore….Families chosen as subjects  With children 7-12 years old (i.e. our primary demographic)  Pre-/post-visit  Affective and cognitive expectations and outcomes measured

1.How did children expect to feel and how did parents expect their children to feel in BODY WORLDS? 2.How did children react to BODY WORLDS and how did their reactions compare with their own and their parents’ expectations? 3.How appropriate was BODY WORLDS for young children (esp. as reported by children themselves)? BODY WORLDS Family Research: Research Questions

1.How did children expect to feel and how did parents expect their children to feel in BODY WORLDS? 2.How did children react to BODY WORLDS and how did their reactions compare with their own and their parents’ expectations? 3.How appropriate was BODY WORLDS for young children (esp. as reported by children themselves)? BODY WORLDS Family Research: Research Questions

1.How did children expect to feel and how did parents expect their children to feel in BODY WORLDS? 2.How did children react to BODY WORLDS and how did their reactions compare with their own and their parents’ expectations? 3.How appropriate was BODY WORLDS for young children (esp. as reported by children themselves) ? BODY WORLDS Family Research: Research Questions

172 families surveyed at entrance (over 9 weekends.) –Continuous stratified random sampling –Kids interviewed, parents self-reported –Parents and children interviewed/surveyed separately 150 returned for exit interview Total number of surveys = 644  300 Child pre and post-visit (+ 22 pre-visit only)  300 Adult pre and post-visit (+ 22 pre-visit only) BODY WORLDS Family Research: The Sample

1.How did children expect to feel and how did parents expect their children to feel in BODY WORLDS? 2.How did children react to BODY WORLDS and how did their reactions compare with their own and their parents’ expectations? 3.How appropriate was BODY WORLDS for young visitors (esp. as reported by children themselves)? Research Findings: Question (1) Affective Expectations

6) How do you think you ’ ll react to seeing the exhibits? Not at all Extremely Will you be curious? Will you be fascinated? Will you be uncomfortable? Will you be interested? Will you be sad/upset? Will it make you think a lot? Will you be confused? Will you be grossed out? Will you be bored? Will it be creepy? Research Findings: Question (1) Affective Expectations

Child Positive Expectations

Research Findings: Question (1) Affective Expectations Child Negative Expectations

Research Findings: Question (1) Affective Expectations How parent expectations for child’s visit matched child expectations: Positive Expectations Parents were …

Research Findings: Question (1) Affective Expectations How parent expectations for child’s visit matched child expectations: Negative Expectations Parents were …

Children expected that seeing BODY WORLDS would be a positive experience On positive affect, parents accurately assessed or were more positive about their child’s feelings about visiting BODY WORLDS On negative affect, parents accurately assessed or were more negative about their child’s feelings about visiting BODY WORLDS On negative affect, children expected to be confused or grossed out by BODY WORLDS Research Findings: Question (1) Affective Expectations Summary

1.How did children expect to feel and how did parents expect their children to feel in BODY WORLDS? 2.How did children react to BODY WORLDS and how did their reactions compare with their own and their parents’ expectations? 3.How appropriate was BODY WORLDS for young visitors (esp. as reported by children themselves)? Research Findings: Question (2) Affective/Cognitive Outcomes

Research Findings: Question (2) Affective Outcomes Child Positive Impact

Research Findings: Question (2) Affective Outcomes Child Negative Impact

Research Findings: Question (2) Affective Outcomes How accurately parents assessed the affective impact of BODY WORLDS on children: Positive impact Parents were …

Research Findings: Question (2) Affective Outcomes How accurately parents assessed the impact of BODY WORLDS on children: Negative impact Parents were …

Research Findings: Question (2) Learning Expectations What Children and Parents Expected to see in BODY WORLDS

CategoryDefinition and examples Anat. terms Specific Anatomy See/Learn about specific/less common anatomical terms: “ pancreas, ” “ breast tissue, ” “ brain cells, ” “ vascular system. ” Neutral Anatomy See/Learn about anatomical terms that are specific but familiar parts of the body: “ hip, ” “ heart, ” “ lungs, ” “ brain, ” “ nerves. ” General Anatomy See/Learn about “ anatomy, ” common terms: “ the human body, ” or groups of body parts such as “ muscles, ” “ organs, ” “ tissues. ” Bodily f ’ cns How the body works See/Learn about “ how the body works ” or any process/function of the body. See Inside the body See/Learn about “ what the body looks like inside ” : “ see inside, ” “ under the skin, ” “ what's under the body. ” Health See/Learn about health related: smoking, disease, healthy, “ fatty foods ” Gen. expct ’ ns Educational “ Educational, ” “ learn science, ” “ know more about, ” “ informative. ” Good for school Good/need/learn for school and or school project. Cool/ interesting Positive affective responses, any statement of enjoyment/excitement, “ fun, ” “ cool, ” “ interesting. ” Negative comment Negative/tentative affective comments: “ wrong, ” “ gross, ” “ disgusting. ” Exhibit Exhibit specific (non-anatomy) Additional exhibit specific information: Plastination, real bodies, made in Germany, controversial, donated bodies. Excluding anatomical terms.

Research Findings: Question (2) Family Expectations Recollections of Family Conversations Prior to Visiting BODY WORLDS

Research Findings: Question (2) Children’s expectations “You could learn more and get ahead in class.” (M9) “You can learn stuff about the body so they don’t eat stuff that is bad.” (M11) “It’s interesting, learn a lot. If you smoke you know what your lungs look like.” (F9) “It’s cool to see dead bodies in positions, see all the muscles.” (M11) “It’s fun for kids to learn about the human body, to see what it looks like inside.” (F7)

Research Findings: Question (2) Learning Outcomes What Kids said They Learned vs. What Parents Thought their Kids Learned

In the affective realm, children reacted positively to BODY WORLDS Many valued it as a learning experience and not necessarily one related to school It met or exceeded their expectations Research Findings: Question (2) Children’s Reactions Summary

1.How did children expect to feel and how did parents expect their children to feel in BODY WORLDS? 2.How did children react to BODY WORLDS and how did their reactions compare with their own and their parents’ expectations? 3.How appropriate was BODY WORLDS for young visitors (esp. as reported by children themselves)? Research Findings: Question (3) Appropriateness for Children

Research Findings: Question (3) Children’s Opinions Compared to what you thought it would be like before, what did you think of BODY WORLDS?

Research Findings: Question (3) Children’s Opinions Overall, how did your child react to seeing BODY WORLDS?

Research Findings: Question (3) Appropriateness for Children How much did you (child)/your child (parent) like BODY WORLDS?

Research Findings: Question (3) Appropriateness for Children Is BODY WORLDS a good exhibit for kids?

Parents and children had similar expectations of BODY WORLDS. Parents successfully/did not successfully gauge their child’s reactions to the exhibit. Parents and children both felt that BODY WORLDS was entirely appropriate for children 13 and under. Children in particular valued the experience. BODY WORLDS Family Research: Research Conclusions