Experiment 2: Do props effect selection from displays?

Research questions

  • Do props increase or decrease selection from book displays? Props may increase selection by drawing attention to the display. Props may decrease selection by drawing attention to the prop, not to the books displayed, i.e., props may upstage the books displayed.

  • If props increase selection from book displays, do props work better than written or picture signs? Props may work better than signs because objects may be more exciting and unique compared to array of other signs in the library. If props do not work better than signs, then maybe collecting and keeping props are not worth the extra effort.

  • What size of props work best to draw attention to book displays? Large props may work best because they can be seen from across the room. Small props scattered among the books may draw eyes to the books.
Previous research

Testing hypothesis
  • Displays with large props will circulate more books than displays with smaller props, displays with signs, or displays without signs.
  • Displays with small props will circulate more books than displays with signs or displays without signs.
  • Displays with signs will circulate more books than displays without signs.

Instructions for conducting the experiment:
  1. Create four collections of 40 books on a topic that can have small props, e.g., toys, and large props, e.g., 4' to 6' figures. Examples of such topics would be cars and trucks, dinosaurs, Star Wars, and animals.

  2. Obtain small and large props.

  3. Randomly assign the 40 books into four groups of ten books called:

    • Book display group 1,

    • Book display group 2

    • Book display group 3

    • Book display group 4

  4. Compare each group of books with the other groups and make adjustments so that each group is as much as possible like the other groups. Compare the following characteristics.


    • age of books, i.e., either all new or all old or a combination of old and new, but not one group contains new books while another group contains old books.

    • number of pages, i.e., either thin books, thick books or a combination of thick and thin, but not one group contains thin books while another group contains thick books.

    • condition of books and book jackets

    • number of illustrations

    • past circulation histories

  5. Use the "Do props increase selection from displays?" experiment instructions to record the experimental design and results. This worksheet provides instructions for:

    • Assigning book display groups to the control and experimental groups, and

    • Assigning book display groups to the week the book display groups will be displayed.

    • Writing down the results of selection from the displays for each group.

    • If you need help deciphering these instructions, please call Chris Rippel at 800-362-2642.

  6. An Excel spreadsheet helps calculate the results of the experiment. Using this spreadsheet is optional and not required for CE Project credit.

    • This Excel workshop contains a number of worksheets for calculating the results of many experiments. To find the worksheet for this experiment, at the bottom, click the tab called "Exp2Props."

    • Be careful to match the results on your printed with with the correct row on the Excel spreadsheet.

    • The worksheet automatically produces a graph comparing the circulation from each display. This graph can be print be clicking the graph to highlight and then printing.

  7. For CE Project credit, email the filled out experiment instructions or the Excel spreadsheet, tab Exp2Props.