2026-10-13T16:06:29Z https://api.figshare.com/v2/oai

oai:figshare.com:article/33940362 2026-09-18T18:01:51Z category_45 category_106 category_122 portal_5 item_type_3 month_year_09_2026

<p>Excerpt from the focus group with Group A.</p> José Luís Pimenta (25073622) João Carlos Paiva (25073625) Maria João Fonseca (9516803) Sociology Science Policy Mental Health three focus groups particularly enriching environment institution &# 8217 education &# 8212 xlink "> children participants value opportunities placing less emphasis everyday work carried backstage spaces aims attitudes towards museums children &# 8217 program &# 8217 educational program developed natural history museum portugal </ p natural history museums natural history &# 8220 portugal ), developed aiming empower participants 21 participants science museum museum visits museum spaces thematic workshops specialized staff societal development science communication qualitative methodology museums offer key audience inclusive programs heritage preservation guided visits future citizens findings indicate fields ranging enhanced forms deeper understanding cultural outreach active involvement <div><p>Children and adolescents are a key audience for scientific and cultural outreach and literacy. As future citizens, voters, and taxpayers, their education—carried out in formal, informal, and non-formal contexts—is crucial for societal development. In this context, scientific culture is decisive, and museums offer a particularly enriching environment. However, there is limited literature addressing young people’s ability to define the purpose of museums as infrastructures. Using an educational program developed at the Natural History and Science Museum of the University of Porto (Portugal), the “Young Naturalists” program, a study was developed aiming to fill in this gap. “Young Naturalists” engages participants aged 5–15 in thematic workshops, guided visits, and hands-on activities that replicate the everyday work carried at a natural history museum. Sessions are led by specialized staff from fields ranging from archaeology to science communication. The program’s emphasis on authenticity and access to backstage spaces aims to empower participants to engage with museum spaces, collections, and practices, fostering a deeper understanding of the institution’s mission and core activities. A qualitative methodology was adopted, consisting of three focus groups with a total of 21 participants. The study explored young people’s perceptions of the functions of museums, their attitudes towards museums, and the program’s impact on these dimensions. The findings indicate that children and adolescents primarily perceive museums as spaces for learning and heritage preservation, placing less emphasis on exhibition and display. Museum visits are associated with enjoyment and discovery, and participants value opportunities for active involvement, as well as diversity and technology-enhanced forms of engagement. These results can inform the design of participatory and age-inclusive programs that strengthen young people’s sense of belonging to natural history museums.</p></div> 2026-09-18T18:01:44Z Dataset Dataset 10.1371/journal.pone.0357466.t002 https://figshare.com/articles/dataset/_p_Excerpt_from_the_focus_group_with_Group_A_p_/33940362 CC BY 4.0