Exploring the design, development and evaluation of an app for autistic children in a museum setting

This thesis seeks to address the potential of using touchscreen-based services in the museum setting for children with autism. One of the main aims is to examine whether a museum-based app as a mediating tool can enable groups of children with autism to have an engaging experience within a museum environment.This research employs a case-study methodology, and the design of the interface is theoretically informed by adopting a Participatory Design (PD) approach. This thesis contributes to the development of a conceptual framework which aims to identify various factors that can contribute to the active participation of children with autism in technology design process. A qualitative approach has been adopted and data were collected from different angles and diverse sources. Video recordings, field observations, questionnaires, focus group, and a think-aloud protocol provided insights into how the museum visit was perceived through the What’s Bristol? app by a group of children with autism.The results of this study provide important insights into pupils’ actions and interactions with the museum through the Whats Bristol? app. Evidence suggests that a museum-game app can be viewed as a tool to provide opportunities for children with autism to participate in museum-related activities and to interact with the environment with positive outcomes. Through a series of activities and a specific goal, the app acted as a bridge to guide the pupils by focusing on specific exhibits in the gallery. This, then, offered some control over the environment and created an atmosphere that encouraged active participation, focus, and an interest to complete the game. Overall, the findings from this study support the idea that the use of technology-based museum activities can contribute to the inclusion of children with autism as long as their special needs and abilities are met. To achieve this, partnerships with specialists from different fields are an important aspect of providing high quality services and provisions. This study aimed to shed light on an overlooked area of research and to inform future policy and services provided by museums. This, in turn, will help young people with autism access museums in a supportive and inclusive way