Factory tour case study questions to ask before 2027 reviews

What to take away

Good questions make a case study specific. They show whether a site is examining a route change, a new interpretive stop, a booking process, or a staffing practice. Start with the decision, then choose questions that can be answered with records and conversations.

Separate the big question from the prompt

An evaluation question establishes the boundary: "How did the new orientation affect first-time visitors' ability to find the first stop?" An interview prompt helps collect material: "What did you expect to happen after the welcome talk?" The distinction prevents a long interview from drifting away from the case.

For conversations, the Smithsonian's oral-history guidance recommends prepared topics, simple one-at-a-time questions, and open prompts rather than leading questions. That approach works well with guides, volunteers, and local participants. Explain the purpose, request permission, and let people describe their experience in their own words.

The CDC evaluation action guide on question design ties questions to the program purpose, expected use, and resources available. A factory-tour review can use that rule by choosing prompts that inform one named decision instead of gathering comments that have no planned use.

Questions by review type

Use these prompts carefully

Avoid questions that supply the answer, such as "Did the new map make the route better?" They invite agreement instead of useful evidence. Ask for a concrete moment, then request a follow-up: what happened, where, and how did the person respond?

Compare like with like

When comparing two formats, keep the conditions visible. A weekday school group and a crowded holiday weekend do not produce interchangeable evidence. Note date, weather, group type, staffing level, route version, and major disruptions. The table is often more valuable than a dramatic quote because it gives readers the context needed to interpret the answer.

Add a route-access prompt if the change may affect how people move through the site. The U.S. Access Board guide to accessible routes explains connections between accessible elements and spaces. It does not decide a visitor's individual need, but it supports asking about the complete path rather than only one stop.

Close the conversation well

Summarize what you heard, confirm how the comment may be used, and do not promise a change that the site cannot make. Then compare the conversation with attendance data and staff records. A thoughtful comment may reveal a problem worth investigating, but it is not automatically a general result.

Keep an interview index with the date, role, route version, and consent status for each usable response. The National Archives records-management FAQ index provides general guidance on records that can be identified and managed later. It is not a research protocol, but it supports preserving the context behind a quotation or observation.

Decide which question gets a follow-up

At the end of the review, select one repeated issue to test on the next comparable departure. Record the change, owner, and date. This turns a question set into an evidence cycle rather than a collection of interesting responses.

Keep the next test linked to the original question.

Common questions

How many questions should an interview include?

Use a short topic guide with room for follow-ups. Too many scripted questions can prevent the person from describing the useful detail.

Are survey questions and case-study questions the same?

No. The case-study question sets the inquiry; survey items are one possible way to collect evidence.

May a site quote visitors by name?

Only with clear permission. When in doubt, remove identifying details and describe the source generally.