Visitor Studies is an academic journal that focuses on the field of visitor studies. Although there is no universally accepted definition of visitor research, it is often described as encompassing a wide range of research surveys that are designed to better understand the behaviors, attitudes, interests, motivations, and learning of individuals who visit informal/freely chosen educational venues such as museums, parks, nature centers, zoos, and aquariums. Visitor research is sometimes called audience research.
The journal covers diverse research topics, including but not limited to the behavioral patterns of museum visitors, the behavior of family groups in science museums, exhibition design principles, and how to direct attention in natural history museums through modeling. The publication of the journal provides a platform for educators, researchers and museum professionals to explore and reflect on learning processes in informal educational Settings.