This paper describes the methodology and participatory research methods used in a Playability Study conducted with children to assess how different factors impact their outdoor play (OP) and independent mobility (IM) in their neighborhood. The playability of an environment refers to how friendly the environment is for children's OP and IM. In addition to providing an overview of the process used for this research, the paper also includes a discussion of lessons learned through the process.
Researchers recruited 105 children (age 10-13) from three different neighborhoods in the Metro Vancouver area to participate in the study. These three neighborhoods differed from each other in terms of physical environments, population densities, ethnic make-ups, and populations of children. The children wore GPS monitors and accelerometers over a period of one week. They also kept a 7-day diary of their activities, completed a neighborhood map drawing exercise, and participated in go-along interviews. During the interviews, the children took pictures of places and routes reflecting their interest in the neighborhood. The children interviews lasted 45-60 minutes and were audio- and GPS-recorded. By using the children's photos and neighborhood maps as prompts during the interviews, the researchers were able to capture more detailed information about the children's perceptions and personal insights related to their outdoor play and independent mobility. This participatory method recognizes children as experts in providing their own perspectives on how they perceive and use their environments. Parents of the children also participated in the study by completing a parent survey and participating in interviews about their children's OP and IM.
Information gleaned from these multiple sources of data allowed the researchers to consider physical characteristics of the built and natural environment in relation to children's OP and IM. It also allowed them to investigate the interactions between individual and social factors impacting children's OP and IM. Yet, there were some methodological and ethical issues related to the process. These issues included GPS error and concerns about discrepancies between the GPS data and children's daily diaries. Other concerns related to respecting children's privacy and ensuring their safety. The authors call for continued high-quality research from diverse disciplines to better understand factors involved in children's outdoor play and independent mobility.
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