Short answer
Design interventions should consider the subjective meanings and spatial challenges faced by recreational runners to foster greater participation and well-being.
- Field
- User-Centred Design
- Source
- Mobilities (2015)
- Method
- Qualitative research
- Evidence
- Moderate effect
Understanding the diverse and often competing meanings joggers ascribe to their practice is crucial for effectively promoting its health and sustainability benefits. This user-centred design research insight is drawn from a 2015 study published in Mobilities. Using Qualitative research, researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: Design interventions should consider the subjective meanings and spatial challenges faced by recreational runners to foster greater participation and well-being.
Jogging's Multifaceted Meanings Enhance User Experience and Promote Health Benefits
Understanding the diverse and often competing meanings joggers ascribe to their practice is crucial for effectively promoting its health and sustainability benefits.
Mobilities · 2015
Key Findings
- 01Joggers ascribe multiple, sometimes conflicting, meanings to their practice (e.g., positive, negative).
- 02Joggers actively develop tactics to negotiate shared space with non-joggers.
- 03The experience of jogging is shaped by spatial interactions, unlike competitive running in dedicated spaces.
Application
Design takeaway
Design interventions should consider the subjective meanings and spatial challenges faced by recreational runners to foster greater participation and well-being.
How to apply
When designing public spaces or health promotion initiatives related to running, consider conducting user research to understand the varied meanings and experiences of potential participants.
Project actions
- 01When researching user activities, explore the 'why' behind their actions, not just the 'what'.
- 02Consider how users navigate and interact with their environment during their activity.
Method & Evidence
Variables
Strengths & Limitations
Strengths
- +Provides rich qualitative data on user experience.
- +Highlights the importance of spatial negotiation in user practice.
Limitations
The study focused on a specific city, so findings might differ in other locations. The research relied on self-reported data, which can be subjective.
Reliability & validity
The study's validity lies in its in-depth exploration of user experiences through diaries and interviews. Reliability might be a concern due to the subjective nature of qualitative data and the specific context of Plymouth.
Think critically
How might the 'competing' meanings of jogging (e.g., for fitness vs. for mental escape) influence design choices for running apparel or urban running routes?
Design Principles
"Design for diverse user motivations and acknowledge the social context of use."
Designers and urban planners can leverage this insight to create more supportive environments for recreational activities. By acknowledging the subjective experiences and spatial negotiations joggers undertake, interventions can be tailored to better resonate with user motivations and reduce potential conflicts.
What This Means for Your Design
Runners have lots of different reasons for jogging, and they have to figure out how to share the path with other people. If we understand this, we can make running more popular and healthier for everyone.
How to use in your project
- 1.Use findings to justify user research methods that explore subjective meanings and spatial experiences.
- 2.Reference the study when discussing the importance of context and user motivation in design.
Add to My Project
Quick Cite
Paragraph starter
This study highlights the importance of understanding the multifaceted meanings and spatial negotiations inherent in recreational practices like jogging. By exploring the subjective experiences of users, designers can develop more effective interventions that resonate with diverse motivations and foster engagement, ultimately supporting the promotion of associated health and sustainability benefits.
Source
Mobilities
Jography: Exploring Meanings, Experiences and Spatialities of Recreational Road-running
journal · 2015
View sourceQuestions About This Research
- What does the research say about jogging's multifaceted meanings enhance user experience and promote health benefits?
- Design interventions should consider the subjective meanings and spatial challenges faced by recreational runners to foster greater participation and well-being. Evidence: Mobilities (2015).
- Why does "Jogging's Multifaceted Meanings Enhance User Experience and Promote Health Benefits" matter for design?
- Designers and urban planners can leverage this insight to create more supportive environments for recreational activities. By acknowledging the subjective experiences and spatial negotiations joggers undertake, interventions can be tailored to better resonate with user motivations and reduce potential conflicts.
- How can designers apply this research?
- Design interventions should consider the subjective meanings and spatial challenges faced by recreational runners to foster greater participation and well-being.
- What were the main findings?
- Joggers ascribe multiple, sometimes conflicting, meanings to their practice (e.g., positive, negative).. Joggers actively develop tactics to negotiate shared space with non-joggers.. The experience of jogging is shaped by spatial interactions, unlike competitive running in dedicated spaces.
- What research method was used?
- Qualitative research.
- How strong is the evidence?
- Evidence strength is rated Moderate effect, based on a 2015 journal from Mobilities.
- What should I do differently in my next project?
- When designing public spaces or health promotion initiatives related to running, consider conducting user research to understand the varied meanings and experiences of potential participants.
- What are the limitations?
- Findings may be specific to the studied urban environment and may not generalize to all recreational running contexts.